Athlone Arts and Tourism are delighted to announce a new initiative at Abbey Road Artists’ Studios in association with the Westmeath County Arts Office - the Abbey Road Community Artist Residency Scheme.
Funded by Westmeath County Arts Office, the Abbey Road Community Artist Residency Scheme will offer one studio space in Abbey Road Artists’ Studios to an artist interested in facilitating workshops with community groups for a six month period.
In lieu of paying rent, the artist will give of their time to facilitate workshops with community groups arranged through Athlone Arts and Tourism.
Two workshops per week will be arranged by Athlone Arts and Tourism in the upstairs facilitation space at Abbey Road, upstairs@studio5.
These workshops will aim to engage a number of groups from the community including school, active retirement, special interest, adult learning, and special needs groups.
Miriam Mulrennan, Westmeath County arts officer, says: “The tangible benefits of this scheme are two-fold. Firstly the selected artist is supported to develop their own practice in a studio setting alongside their peers, secondly the scheme facilitates engagement with community and voluntary groups, thus widening participation in the arts. These kinds of synergies are meaningful for all involved, and in the truest sense a hub of artistic activity begins to emerge. I have no doubt that Abbey Road’s sister facility Luan Gallery will also have a role to play as this scheme evolves.”
The ideal Abbey Road Community Artist Residency Scheme candidate will be an artist who has special interest in working in the community with previous community/participatory art experience. This programme aims to nurture artists’ development in community work.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be obtained by contacting Luan Gallery by emailing [email protected], calling (090 ) 6442154, or visiting www.athloneartsandtourism.ie
Community groups interested in participating in the artists’ workshops should also contact Luan Gallery directly.
