Two Kildare artists to work on programme in Athy town

Following a national open call, Kildare artists Mark Durkan and Mary Jo Gilligan have been awarded the Woodstock Artist in Residence opportunity, to work with the communities in Athy West Urban, over a period of 10 months.

The artists aim to produce a body of work ‘that responds to the people and place and create a vision for the future of the area.’  The Artist in Residence opportunity is part-funded by Slaintécare Healthy Communities and Kildare County Leader Partnership’s Empowering Communities Programme.

Cathaoirleach of Athy Municipal District, Councillor Brian Dooley explained that “the benefits of the arts across all sectors in our society are of huge importance and have the potential to be transformative to an area.”

Elsewhere, visual artist, Ciara Chapman, a native of Carlow, will work with Athy Access Group in collaboration with KARE, Athy Irish Wheelchair Association and other stakeholders to create work to engage people around the barriers and impediments facing people with disabilities.  The project will be presented on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3rd December 2023. This opportunity is part funded by County Kildare Access Network CKAN.

Michael Hurley, Health & Safety and Access Officer, Kildare County Council commented “County Kildare Access Network (CKAN) are delighted to be partnering with Creative Places Athy on this innovative project to raise awareness and the profile of accessibility and disability in Athy.  Furthermore, we feel it will help in our vision of making Kildare inclusive and accessible to all.”

Both of these opportunities will allow the artists and communities to work meaningfully together over a period of time on projects that explore common goals and interests.

Creative Places Athy coordinator, Eilish Langton said; “Collaboration, participation, time, intent, and spaces to have creative experiences are central to the success of these projects. Key to the delivery and ongoing development of the Creative Places Athy programme is the interagency and cross sector approach. We are committed to building on relationships with as many organisations as possible throughout the programme.”

Creative Places Athy, led by Kildare County Council, now in its second year, continues to develop and support work to strengthen the existing arts & cultural sector in Athy. Through socially engaged art projects that are rooted in community development principles, the programme is expanding to explore local, traditional, and contemporary arts practice opportunities.  The programme is delivered with support from the Arts Council and through Local Property Tax, provided by the Athy Municipal District.