Announcement of Loughshinny Boathouse Studio Award 2024

Fingal County Council Arts office invites applications for the Loughshinny Boathouse Studio Award, a new studio residency award open to professional visual artist(s) working in any medium. Building on from An Urgent Enquiry, a residency commissioning programme in collaboration with Wexford County Council and Dublin City Council, supported by the Arts Council’s Invitation to Collaboration Scheme in 2019, this opportunity offers an award of €20,000 and a fully funded studio for a nine-month period, commencing in September 2024.

Loughshinny boathouse is located in the beautiful setting of Loughshinny, a coastal village that lies between Rush and Skerries in North County Dublin.  The boathouse is a dual-purpose building providing a lifeguard station from June – August and a studio for artists from September - May.  The objective of this award is to provide a space for a professional artist working in visual art to develop their artistic practice in response to the coastal environment of Loughshinny and surrounding areas, with a focus on biodiversity and climate change.

Fingal boasts a rich biodiversity that spans its coast, countryside, and urban centres, which contributes to the daily lives and livelihoods of Fingal citizens and future generations. This natural diversity is an invaluable resource and the challenge for Fingal is to develop and grow in a way that preserves and enhances our environment for the future.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Brian McDonagh commented “I am happy this wonderful opportunity will be really useful for the selected artist, providing an ideal space to explore and produce new work responding to Fingal’s coastal biodiversity.”

Speaking about the award, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said “I am delighted to announce this new studio award in Loughshinny. Fingal County Council is committed to supporting the professional development of artists and recognises the importance of the arts in raising awareness and appreciation of our natural environment.”

Sarah O’Neill, County Arts Officer commented, “Fingal Arts Office is pleased to provide this exciting award which aims to foster innovation, experimentation, collaboration and enable artists to excel in their creative practice as outlined in the Fingal County Council 2019 – 2025 Arts Plan.”

The closing date for the submission of applications is Tuesday 30th July at 4pm.

For further information and to apply please see: www.fingalarts.ie  www.fingal.ie/arts

Image: Loughshinny Boathouse, Co. Dublin courtesy of Fingal County Council Architects Department.