Residencies
Dunamaise Arts Centre supports and promotes residency opportunities for artists and performers, through a variety of art forms and projects. Current opportunities and resident artists are posted in this section below.
Some recent residencies/projects we have participated in include:
- Leave a Light on 2021: A wellbeing collaborative project, funded by Healthy Ireland Laois and commissioned by Dunamaise. Artists and local students created window designs, under the leadership of Caroline Keane. The results were viewed as beautiful art installations in business windows across Laoise from 21st to 31st Oct, 2021.
- THE STATUES OF EMO COURT (Poem & Short Film by Pat Boran): The film is a mindful reflection on the statues surrounding Emo Court; commissioned by Dunamaise and funded by the Arts Council. Available to view on Pat Boran’s Youtube channel.
- Forever Young: Spring 2021, we invited older people to participate in Always Human. Led by poet and tutor Denise Curtin Dunne, with support of the KEEP WELL Campaign, we celebrated memories and moments by creating a souvenir in writing. The project was created by Cabrini Cahill. Cabrini devised & Dunamaise commissioned new ways of connecting artists and older audiences during Lockdown. A commemorative book was published.
- Open Stage Residency Programme: We invited performing artists & arts workers to apply for this support, offering mini-residencies throughout the year. We wanted to support professional performers and arts workers in development of their practice OR in making new work. To date we have supported numerous artists and art forms, & hope to continue this support moving forward in 2022.
Young Curators – 2022
Based on a concept developed and implemented at Backstage Theatre in 2020, the Nasc Young Curators programme is an eight venue network initiative aimed at giving young people a voice in the work programmed for young audiences. Dunamaise Arts Centre is continuing its work with 2 young adults to select an exciting programme of theatre / music / dance / film / visual arts events – presenting a dynamic Young Curators selection across all eight of our partner venues in the NASC Theatre Network.
Following on from the exciting Lasta Festival in June 2021 – our selectors will get a chance in 2022 to programme live events for in-person audiences.
2022 – A new Approach
In 2022 we have adapted the young curator programme, responding to feedback from the 2021 curators and allowing for individual venues to plan and agree the programme scope and approach with their own curators. The main changes include:
• Engaging Curators for a longer period to allow a deeper and more meaningful engagement with the venue and a more in-depth input into venue programmes
• Expand on the opportunities for the young curators to engage with theatre professionals and to benefit from mentoring and collaboration over a longer period
• Afford more opportunities for young curators to experience industry and network events, and more embedded local partnerships.
Our curators are mentored by Dunamaise Staff, and paid fees & expenses for their programming work with us. Programmed by young people for young people, this dynamic programme aims to feature a high-quality selection of events.
MEET THE TEAM
Pauline Dunne (she/they). A Laois based Animator and Illustrator. Pauline has a broad Arts background - a combination of ushering, Box Office, freelance visual art, and directing a local branch of Youth Theatre. Narrative interests Pauline as an artist and as a creator - with a passion for storytelling through both theatre and visual art. Pauline loves stories that make you laugh, right up until they make you cry, and those that engage and encourage you to make your own stories.
Alannah Murray (she/her) is a Dublin-based creative producer with a background in live performance, Irish visual arts and festival programming. Alannah has a strong interest in interdisciplinary practices and experimental projects.
The NASC venue network includes the following venues: An Grianán, Letterkenny; Backstage Theatre, Longford; Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise; glór, Ennis; Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick; Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire; Siamsa Tíre, Tralee; Town Hall Theatre, Galway.
REBECCA DEEGAN
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE - REBECCA DEEGAN
Rebecca is a painter from County Laois, and our current resident artist at Dunamaise Art Centre. She works mainly with oil paint, and aspires to create dark, emotive and atmospheric pieces. Her most recent series of figurative works explores the idea of "emotional vampires”. As well as visual art, Rebecca also has a love for photography, film, and ballet. Rebecca is situated upstairs in the Art Room where she paints and creates her artworks. She exhibits widely all over Ireland, and her unique work is often a popular addition to alterntive markets and festivals. In September 2018, Rebecca curated an exhibition in our Gallery entitled "A Painted Otherworld". Here she brought together a fantastic group of artists with links to Laois, who's work explores the surreal and fantastical. Her paintings, and prints of her works are available for sale on request, and Rebecca is also available for commissions.
Rebecca is available to groups and individuals who would like to book a visit to our Gallery or her studio for an artist talk, further exploring her work.
Rebecca also faciliatates regular Life Drawing Sessions here at Dunamaise. These are un-tutored sessions offering a variety of poses and models, suitable for practicing artists of all levels.
You can find out more about Rebecca and her work on her website rebeccadeegan.com as well as her Facebook & Instagram (Rebecca Deegan Artist)
