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Leading Longford Cultural Organisation, Engage, Transforms Town Through Art

April 1, 2022

Last year, one of Longford’s alleyways began to take on new life when ground was broken on the most recent addition to the town’s public art collection. Aonach – a colourful public art installation started to take shape as the components of a series of a-symmetrical metal structure were levered into place.

Aonach – a collaboration between leading Longford arts organisation, Engage, and Longford County Council – not only brightens the streetscape as a standalone art piece, but also breathes new energy into the area by providing a framework for a covered craft fair and outdoor exhibition area.

Spokesperson for Engage Rosie O’Hara also designed and project managed the piece, said “It is street art but with a third, functional dimension, to work with the site. We didn’t just want to parachute a piece of art into the community, we also wanted it to be functional and useful.”

Aonach, which refers to ancient Irish assemblies where laws were passed and now has the more common association with a fair or market, is not the only initiative in Garvey’s Yard that Engage is responsible for, in partnership with Longford County Council.

The installation is adjacent to the Garvey’s Yard Artist Studios, located in properties leased by Engage from the council in 2018. Following an extensive renovation programme, the studios were opened in 2019 and now provide opportunities for artists to work and develop their practice in Longford.

The studios facilitate artists working across a number of disciplines and are already a valuable asset to the local arts and cultural infrastructure, adding to the growing creative vibrancy of Longford.

Garvey’s Yard will undergo a further facelift later this year when a mural connecting it with Main Street completes the area’s artistic overhaul, along with the remaining vacant units coming to life as vibrant artists studios.

While the Garvey’s Yard project is one of many that Engage plans for Longford over the coming years, it is part of a bigger picture the organisation envisages for the town: to transform the perception of Longford, through public art projects, into a dynamic place to live, work and do business.

‘’Art ignites change, and through collaborative work with Cruthu Arts Festival and other community organisations, we curated a legacy of street art pieces that have engaged the public, as well as opening opportunities for further development of the local arts scene, inspiring others to emulate the work we started,” says Rosie O’Hara.

“It’s great to see artists we introduced and mentored continue to develop projects in the area.”

Engage has also played an instrumental part in the social development of Longford with its contribution to the Longford Urbact group. It has helped form policy and an action plan for the redevelopment and regeneration of Longford town centre.

The project focuses on improving the public realm and quality of life for those who live, work and spend time in Longford, and is part of a wider initiative involving participants from eight European regions.

The Urb security project – of which Garvey’s Yard, Aonach, is part – is included in this drive, which seeks to create an enhanced sense of pride of place, security and a new sense of identity to areas that currently have a high level of anti-social behaviour and poor public perception.

Engage has come a long way since it was founded in 2013. It was launched on Culture Night that year as an artist-led, voluntary initiative to promote visual art in Longford.

The group was hugely influential in the acquisition and conversion of Providers premise on main street as a dedicated arts space. The scale of the Providers space allowed great scope for exhibiting a broad range of work including installations, sculpture, film, soundscapes and painting.

Additionally, it demonstrated the potential and need for a permanent exhibition space in the town which is now the only county town in Ireland without a dedicated visual arts facility. Links were established with educational institutes by hosting educational events, school visits, artist talks, workshops and projects with transition year and Fetac students.

During that time, Engage lobbied for more permanent exhibition and workspace for artists, and continues to do so.

The building was purchased by Longford County Council in 2017 with the gallery element forming part of the blueprint for a proposed new digital, innovation and creative hub at the site. Despite an unexpected and ongoing global pandemic, this ambitious project continues to be in development.

“We are very grateful to Longford County Council for all the support they have given us in the past, and continue to give,” says Rosie.

“What we have done so far would have been very difficult to achieve without that help.”

According to Longford County Council Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy: “Through projects such as the sculpture and studios at Garvey’s Yard we hope to help reverse the decline in the area by encouraging a greater through-put of people, as well as creating a renewed sense of community.

We are very excited about our collaborations with Engage and we look forward to further projects that emerge from that partnership.”

Others involved in the Garvey’s Yard Aonach project include former studio artist Nick Barker, Cunningham Design & Planning, Fitzgerald’s Custom Fabrication, Frank McKiernan Construction, Sherry Fitzgerald Quinn, Francis Clyne Groundworks, and Longford Tidy Towns. It is supported and funded by Longford County Council Regeneration Department though the Urb security initiative.

Platform 31 Artist Support Scheme

February 28, 2022

PLATFORM 31 ARTIST SUPPORT SCHEME TO RUN FOR SECOND YEAR AFTER SUCCESSFUL PILOT

Nationwide scheme by the 31 Local Authority Arts Offices in collaboration with the Arts Council opens for applications on March 3rd 2022

Following on from its successful pilot in 2020-21, the Association of Local Authority Arts Officers (ALAAO) is once more collaborating with the Arts Council to present PLATFORM 31 – a national opportunity for artists to be supported to investigate how they might develop their practice or make work in a different way.

Designed to support and enable career development for 31 mid-career artists – one artist will be selected from each of the 31 local authorities around Ireland – there are two elements of support for participating artists in this pilot scheme: financial and developmental.

Participating artists will receive an €8,000 bursary to invest in themselves and their practice, combined with participation in a developmental programme.

Informed by last year’s pilot, the PLATFORM 31 developmental programme will provide coaching, advisory support and networking opportunities for participating artists, introducing them to a pool of critical thinkers to share their work and encouraging a national conversation about creating work in local contexts.

Designed to support mid-career artists, PLATFORM 31 is open to artists of any artform, medium and practice – as well as multi-disciplinary artists, living in any of the 31 Local Authority regions in Ireland.

Applications open from March 3rd to 30th 2022.

For more information see https://platform31.localartsireland.ie/ or email localartsireland@gmail.com

 

Call For Expressions of Interest in Killoe N.S. Visual Arts Project

February 7, 2022

Call to Longford Visual Artists

Killoe N.S. is a Participant in this Year’s Creative Clusters Programme.

As part of this nation-wide schools programme Killoe N.S. 6th class boys and girls are focusing on the Titanic and Killoe’s strong association with its disastrous sinking as well as on the Battles of Ballinamuck and Clonfin. We feel that our students would benefit greatly from working with a visual artist on the creative element of the project.

To that end we have budgeted for five two-hour workshops where a painter, photographer, videographer or film maker will assist the students in creating a visual representation of the historic events. The dates and times of the workshops can be agreed between the artist and the school.

Should you require further information about this project please contact Emmet Toher 0857700204.

Closing date for expressions of interest in this exciting project is 3.00pm :11th of February 2022

Submissions should be sent to: Emmet Toher, 6th Class Teacher, St. Teresa’s N.S. Killoe, Co. Longford

E-mail emmet.toher@killoens.ie

Interested candidates should: submit a project description in writing [no more that 500 words] explaining how they intend to approach the project

Five images of work successfully completed in a school context or with children of a similar age group.

A note of fees charged per hour – travel expenses are not included in the project budget.

The successful candidate will:

  • have a proven record of working with children
  • have evidence of Garda vetting under Childcare Guidelines
  • have public liability insurance policy in the sum of €13,000.000
  • have their own transport or at least be sufficiently mobile to attend at Killoe N.S. on the agreed dates and times

Open Call for Artists to Submit Proposals for Iora Nua Project

January 25, 2022

24 January 2022

Longford County Council is delighted to invite locally based artists to submit proposals under a new public art project marking Longford’s infamous historical association with squirrels. 

Longford Arts Office in partnership with Longford Live & Local and Mide Arts Group are currently developing the Iora Nua (New Squirrel) project that is set to reinvigorate three town centres with an injection of artistic flair this spring.  

This project is part of Longford County Council’s Public Art Programme, funded by Longford Arts Office, the Creative Ireland programme and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. 

Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy & Shane Crossan, Mide Arts Group

Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy & Shane Crossan, Mide Arts Group

Iora is the Irish word for squirrel and many people may not be aware that it was at the grounds of Castle  Forbes in County Longford where the North American grey squirrel was first released into Ireland in the  summer of 1911. A number of grey squirrels were presented as a wedding gift on the lawns of the beautiful  castle, but the invasive breed ultimately went on to cause a 20% decline in the numbers of its smaller cousin, the native Irish red squirrel. 

This Iora Nua project involves the placement of giant fibreglass squirrel sculptures in each of the three municipal districts of the county.

The Mide Arts Group is looking for Longford-based artists to submit proposals for the design and rendering of the sculptures’ surfaces. Selected artists will be given a financial grant to cover their time, materials and venue rental in order to render their design on the sculpture. Finished works will be placed at designated sites in Longford Town, Ballymahon and Granard.  

“This is a fantastic project”, said Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy, “It taps into Longford’s association with the squirrel and adds some more colour and fun to towns of the county as we emerge from this pandemic”. 

Submission Form

Download Submission Form

Deadline for submissions is 5pm Monday, 31 January 2022.  

Presentation Video

The following video illustrates the general aim of the Iora Nua project and captures the existing prototype (currently installed in Longford County Council Offices):

Longford County Council Arts Services announces Arts Bursary Scheme

March 31, 2021

The focus of this year’s County Arts Office Bursary Scheme will be individual professional artists operating in the Longford County Council administrative area.

Grants will be awarded to artists to support continuing professional development. The forms of professional development envisaged are support for the creation of new work, professional development and training, funding for materials and equipment and other creative or professional development purposes.

Artists Bursaries will be in the region of €500.00 though this figure may be varied by the adjudicators based on such factors as the number of applicants and the quality of projects.

For further information contact fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie.

Documents

  • 2021 Checklist & Cover Sheet
  • 2021 Guidelines
  • 2021 Project Proposal
  • 2021 Application Form

the arts council longford arts office

Job Vacancy: Technical Advisor to the County Arts Office

August 29, 2019

Longford County Council Arts Office wishes to invite submissions from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Technical Advisor to the County Arts Office. The successful candidate will be selected following a competitive tendering process. Closing date for submissions will be Friday August 2nd at 1.00pm. Given the nature of the position candidates must apply on-line to fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie marked: Arts Office Digital Technical Advisor.

Download application form

Job Vacancy: Researcher and Textual Compositor to Longford County Council Arts Service

July 26, 2019

Longford County Council Arts Office wishes to invite submissions from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Researcher and Textual Compositor. The successful candidate will be selected following a competitive tendering process. Closing date for submissions will be Friday August 2nd at 1.00pm. Given the nature of the position candidates must apply on-line to fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie marked: Researcher and Textual Compositor.

Download application form

Garveys Yard Art Studio by Engage Longford

May 13, 2019

Engage Longford are accepting applications for our recently completed artists studios located just off Main Street at Garveys Yard in Longford Town centre.

There are 4 studios in total, all with great natural light, energy efficient light , high speed broadband, 24 hour access, free parking and refuse collection.

Monthly rent includes utilities and rental opportunities may vary from 3-12 months duration. Costs are 130 per month for first floor 9′ x 15′ foot studio and 180 per month for ground floor 15′ x 15′ studios (which also have an optional outdoor covered workspace of 10′ x 10′).

Applications including c.v., letter of interest outlining intended use and up to 10 images of recent work (submitted as 1 pdf document) can be sent to engagelongford@gmail.com

garveys yard studio

Helena Grimes ‘Anthology’ Exhibition

October 3, 2018

Exhibition running from 4th – 20th October 2018, Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 5.30pm, The Belltable, Limerick.

‘Anthology’ is an art exhibition of selected drawings and prints by Helena Grimes. The artworks on show emerge from Grimes’ last four years of practice, presented in The Belltable as part of The Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival.

Helena Grimes

Grimes is an Irish artist and illustrator based in Limerick, originally from Longford. Since graduating from Limerick School of Art and Design in 2014, Grimes’s drawings have established a distinctive style, with each new piece exploring a new boundary and seeking to tell a different tale.

Grimes’ familiar line drawings act like fables. The whimsical creatures in her compositions act as metaphors of the human mind, present at different stages of social challenges. The environments portray a layer of familiarity; intertwined with dream-like elements to isolate the mind and hold the gaze of the viewer, enabling a deep engagement with their own subconscious. Her work addresses timeless themes of grief, anxiety, power and regeneration, which become infused with the artist’s inner most thoughts, mythology and fragments of her imagination.

The artist describes having an addictive relationship with drawing. It is her agency to reflect, release tensions, and to understand human society and inner self. Inspiration comes from the natural world, fairytales, mythology, books, people and life itself.

Helena Grimes’ work has been exhibited in various locations nationally as well as internationally in the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Egypt, Turkey and the USA. Her work has been purchased for several private collections in Ireland, the UK and the USA, as well as municipal art collections. In 2015, her work ‘Every Soul has a Dark Forest’ was commissioned by the University of Limerick for their collection. The accordion book went on to win an award at ABLE in February 2016. She was nominated for Screaming Pope Prize in June 2016. Her solo show ‘A Fine Line’ opened October 2017 in Limerick.

One-to-One Mentoring Sessions with Eamonn Maxwell at Luan Gallery

September 20, 2018

eamon maxwellArtists will receive mentoring over an extended period of time. This would be an initial meeting to discuss particular issues that are facing individual artists, a follow up meeting after one month and a final meeting a month later. During that time the artist would be expected to develop an area of their practice and in regular communication with the facilitator endeavour to resolve any issues. Places are limited to 7 artists.

Artists need to submit an artist’s statement, CV, examples of previous work and a paragraph outlining what help, support, information or advice they would hope get from the sessions , as well as confirming their commitment to attending all three sessions to info@luangallery.ie

Dates: 8th October, 12th November and 10th December 2018
Times: 9.30am – 5pm (one hour sessions available)
Fee: €30
Location: Luan Gallery, Athlone
Booking: info@luangallery.ie
Website: athloneartsandtourism.ie

Next Page »

Latest News

  • Leading Longford Cultural Organisation, Engage, Transforms Town Through Art
  • Platform 31 Artist Support Scheme
  • Call For Expressions of Interest in Killoe N.S. Visual Arts Project
  • Open Call for Artists to Submit Proposals for Iora Nua Project
  • Longford County Council Arts Services announces Arts Bursary Scheme
  • Job Vacancy: Technical Advisor to the County Arts Office
  • Job Vacancy: Researcher and Textual Compositor to Longford County Council Arts Service
  • Garveys Yard Art Studio by Engage Longford
  • Helena Grimes ‘Anthology’ Exhibition
  • One-to-One Mentoring Sessions with Eamonn Maxwell at Luan Gallery
  • Longford Urban Forest – report
  • …and where are you from? Art of Longford Townlands
  • Artist in Residence to the Longford Urban Forest Project
  • Longford Urban Forest Project
  • Embracing the Arts at the Backstage Theatre, Longford
  • A Recyclable Jungle: Longford town to become an urban forest for Cruthú 2018
  • Disposable Public Art Project
  • Mardi Gras Comes to Longford
  • Three Thoughts, One Breath
  • 3 Perspectives
  • Spring Equinox Art Exhibition
  • Would you like to make your art more profitable?
  • Carlow Arts Festival Annual Open Submission & Art Award
  • The Pram That Helped The Rising
  • Celebrating the People of Longford
  • Longford Artists Join Forces for November Exhibition
  • Creative and Interested Minds Sought for Street Theatre Project
  • Longford Culture Night 2016
  • Mardi Gras Comes to Longford
  • Paying attention to ordinary Life: an exhibition of new works by Gary Robinson
  • Open Call: Artists to Exhibit
  • Warriors One in Three
  • Irish TV Want To Profile Longford Artists
  • Win A Month-Long Retreat
  • Painting… New Sky Arts Program
  • Engage Exhibition for Culture Night
  • Cruthú Festival on TG4
  • Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival invites Submissions
  • Walter Murch in Galway
  • Longford County Council Arts Services announces Arts Bursary Scheme 2015
  • Engage Longford – Thomas Brezing Exhibition
  • Toys & Kings – Art Exhibition by Gerard Keaveney
  • St. Mary’s National School Edgeworthstown Visual Art Commission
  • World Poverty Week Art Exhibition
  • Expressions of interest for public artwork in Bailieborough, County Cavan
  • Longford Writers & Artists Combine to Create an Explosion of Creativity
  • Culture Night
  • Winners of Book Cover Naming & Design Competition Announced
  • Hugh P Mcgrath Exhibiting in Sligo
  • Emerging Artists Exhibition 2014
  • Warriors One In Three
  • Book Cover Concept Design Competition
  • Cruthú Arts Festival 2014
  • Limerick’s Longford Artists
  • Imirt Le Do Thoil
  • Painting en plein air in Longford
  • Gary Robinson at Cill Rialaig Arts Centre
  • Engage to host Praxis Exhibition
  • Portrait Artist of the Year 2014
  • Engage Longford Inviting Submissions
  • President Higgins to visit Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre
  • 2014 RDS National Craft Awards Call for Entries
  • Calling all Calligraphers
  • Longford Welcomes Public Art Projects
  • Gary Robinson at Origin Gallery
  • Recruitment of an Artist / Facilitator for Ballyconnell
  • Amanda Jane Graham at Ormston House
  • Gary Robinson Exhibiting in Ballina
  • Residential Drawing and Painting Workshops on Coney Island
  • Love Longford 2013

Longford County Arts Office, Aras an Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford, Ireland
Phone: 086 8517595 Email: fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie

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