Artist Studios - A Year in Review

Artist Studio Managers from Cork, Dublin and Waterford, Ireland, reflect on 2021 - the challenges of studio closure, the highlights of finding new ways of working and supporting artists, as well as key lessons for 2022.

Aoibhie McCarthy, Artistic Director of Sample-Studios Cork is joined by:

• Sandra Kelly, Visual Arts and Outreach Manager of Garter Lane Arts Centre in Waterford City and
• Emily Brennan and Gemma Brown, Co-directors and Co-Founders of BKB Visual Arts Studio in Glasnevin, Dublin.

Garter Lane Arts Centre is a vibrant and thriving venue for visual arts, theatre, dance, comedy, music, film, and literature in the heart of Waterford City. Sandra Kelly manages gallery exhibitions, studios for 7 artists and an education and outreach programme. Her outreach programme includes a diverse range of creative activities for babies, toddlers, children and their families, young people, senior citizens and artistic practitioners. Sandra holds a BA in Visual Art and a MA in Arts and Heritage Management and has recently completed a year-long course with NODE in International Curatorial Studies.

BKB Visual Arts Studio was founded in July 2019 by Emily Brennan, Gemma Brown and Bianca Kennedy, following their graduation from Dublin Institute of Technology BA in Fine Art in 2018. They have developed the studios and visual arts programme through difficult months of Covid-19 responsive closures to build a thriving visual arts community of practitioners in Glasnevin, Dublin.

Sample-Studios is one of Ireland's largest artist studios, based in Churchfield, Cork City. It provides affordable artist studios, professional development, mentorship and residencies for professional visual artists. Sample-Studios presents a year-round programme of exhibitions and events in The Lord Mayor's Pavilion and St. Luke's Crypt in Cork City and delivers five education and community outreach programmes.