Artist and academic to set up creative projects in Athy

An artist and academic is to set up creative projects in Athy. 

Creative Places Athy announced the recipient of a new ‘Connect & Gather Award’ following an open call, shortlisting and interview process, which took place earlier this summer. 

Visual artist and academic Anthony Haughey is the recipient of the award for the Good News Bureau, an Athy based project that will create a space for communities to come together, be curious, share, experiment, learn and be creative.

Over the next 12 months Anthony will establish a base in Athy town centre and host a series of talks, workshops and community gatherings where new creative projects can be displayed. 

Anthony Haughey is an artist, academic, writer and is co-founder of The Centre for Socially Engaged Practice-Based Research (SEPR) at TU Dublin, where he supervises practice-based doctorates. His artworks and research have been widely exhibited and published and are collected nationally and internationally. More recently, he has completed a three-year residency at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, instigating conversations and facilitating workshops that  explore how we understand and embrace cultural identities, in an exciting time of change in Ireland. 

Announcing the award, Creative Places Athy Coordinator Eilish Langton commented, “I am excited for the communities of Athy to be invited to work alongside, contribute and co-create in this body of work inspired by the Third Space theory, in a dynamic process that will challenge and redefine the boundaries of cultural expression. We are confident that Anthony’s unique vision and profound understanding of the theme, will result in a compelling and thought-provoking experience for all involved”.

Artist Anthony Haughey said “I am delighted to receive the Creative Places Athy Connect and Gather Award. It is a great opportunity to establish the Good News Bureau – a community hub and living gallery space for all in Athy. I would like to extend an invitation to individuals and community groups to join me in this exciting adventure”. 

The Connect and Gather Award aims to support discussion and collaboration with the community of Athy in a participatory, inclusive process that embraces the ‘everyday’. As part of the submission process, expressions of interest were welcomed from local, national and international professional artists/creatives, or arts organisation/collectives.  Creative Places Athy is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and Kildare County Council and aims to support and grow arts & cultural strengths in Athy with individuals, artists/creatives and local communities.

Anthony would like to hear from local community groups and artists keen to be involved in the Good News Bureau in the months ahead.

He can be contacted at haughey.anthony@googlemail.com.