Residency Details
The Artfarm Residency space is a two bedroom old style stone cottage with solid fuel heating. This residency is self-catering with residents needing to be as independent and self-reliant as possible.
There is no landline, internet or TV. Mobile phone cover may vary depending on the provider.
The ethos here is one of creativity and living in harmony with nature so its very important to be aware of energy use, conscious of principles of zero waste and living with a light ecological footprint.
Help is at hand to introduce residents to the area and local amenities, source materials if necessary and to generally assist in making life comfortable. There may also be times when one is completely alone in this space which can be a challenge for some. Being comfortable and open to solitude is important.
A bicycle is available to use and trips for supplies will be easily accommodated.
Residents are requested to leave the house and studio in the same condition as when they arrived.
Applications now open for 2025
Collaborative projects welcome.
Long term residencies are now being explored.
The philosophy is to support sustainable living, ecology & culture. Please consider what one can bring rather than what one can take from this residency and community therefore selection is based on those who share these ideals.
As an art retreat going forward we are concentrating on creative ecologists who work on issues relating to ecology, our Climate emergency and place based practice. We are undertaking a bioblitz/ habitat mapping of the R10 area so we are interested in hearing from people who can assist with this work.
Air travel and in particular transatlantic flights are carbon intensive so our policy includes taking this into consideration when accepting residency applications.
Please send one A4 page with your philosophy of Life, Ecology, Creativity. Keep it simple, speak from the heart, consider it a broader 'Life Statement'- (who you are and why you would like to spend time here and what you feel you bring to this community and landscape.)
Fees:
This is a voluntary non profit space so we try to keep fees reasonable and accessible.
Fees cover energy use, maintenance, cleaning, laundry etc. Energy use involves electricity, fuel and water.
The essence is to try to live with a light carbon footprint.
This residency has a 'Leave no Trace' ethos in that residents are responsible for any waste they create themselves.
(raising awareness and creating conversations around consumerism, plastic packaging and the waste one creates and who is responsible for it).
Residents look after their own travel and health insurance.
Community
This residency has been established towards Socially engaged practice/ecology and activism so community and place hold particular importance.
Locality
This rural region is one of small farms, forestry, wetlands and bog. The small village of Newbridge is 5 km away consisting of a Church, shop and pub. Two larger villages of Mountbellew and Ballygar are within 10 km with banking and post office facilities, part time library, health clinics, cafe's etc.
Galway City is 60 km west and Roscommon Town is 25 km north.
The 'Living Bog Project' at Carrownagappul near Mountbellew is a significant area of Raised Bog conservation work under the EU life project. The nearby Ballygar Bog is also a special area of conservation as is Cloonshivna Bog. The local River Shiven has high water status and a Blue Dot river and the townland of Muckanagh where it meets the River Suck is a wetland area of conservation and Wildfowl sanctuary.
This area is part of the Suck Valley Way and the Beara/Breiffne Way so there are many signposted walks in the region.
Public Transport is available in Newbridge village with Bus Eireann and Bus4U running daily services linking Galway City, Roscommon etc.
Past Residencies
2023/24
Derek Duffy Creative Ecologist, Painter, Sculptor, musician, horticulturalist and dry stone wall builder.
2022
Annie Tulle Eco Sculptor
Renn Simmons Experimental land photography
Ekaterina Mikheieva (Ukraine) through Artists at Risk organisation
2021
Elise Tolan & Christian Bernecker:Body Movement, Dance, Art, Deep Ecology.
Anna Mullarkey Composer. Work Development.
2019
Richard Layzell Research residency. Participated in the Galway 2020 Elephant in the Room Project.
Atmos Collective Community Music residency in collaboration with Ballygar Arts & Media.
Kevin Flanagan PhD research residency.
Grete Aagard Galway 2020 and Aarhus 2017 European Capital of Cultures project research residency.
2018
Michelle Cahill Creative Producer and Arts Performer. Residency in collaboration with Ballygar Town Hall.
Nuala Ni Fhlathúin Annual Visual Art residency, continuation of previous project work in this area. (Ireland)
Annie Cuatro Sound Artist and instrument maker Contact | Pepilune Cuatro (France)
Gudrun Büchler Writers Residency: gudrunbuechler.info (Austria)
Minne De Lange Visual Artist https://minnedelange.com (The Netherlands)
Lelia Ni Chathmhaoil Visual Artist (Ireland)
My Fellow Sponges Music Recording Residency (Ireland)
2017
Beata Stencel https://bstencel.carbonmade.com/
Michael Whelan www.m-whelan.com
Nuala Ni Fhlathúin https://www.facebook.com/nuala.nifhlathuin
Ths Bluebirds https://www.facebook.com/The-Bluebirds-270408683113525/
2016
Gasper Jemec G126- Rare Exports/Imports (Slovenia)
Nuala Ni Fhlathúin 'Anam Teanga'. Kindly supported by An tOireachtas. This socially engaged bi-lingual art project
explored use of the Irish language in this area. This one month residency led to
engagement with many people in the locality with conversations, interviews and clay
workshop culminating with an exhibition in Ballygar and Rosmuc.
Noel Arrigan Artist Residency for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture bid Pilot Project 'Sugán'.
Sarah Jayne Booth G126 Annual Artist residency exploring themes of art and ecology.
Ceara Conway Artist Residency for Galway European Capital of Culture Bid. Sugán Project: Community Engagement/Choir/
video/performance. Exploration of community, ritual and song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DDwkztyGkw
James Ward Film maker, Flying Knee Productions: residency for Sugán Project collaborating with artist Ceara Conway.
Johanna Pohland Berlin based artist. http://johannapohland.de/frot5.html#
Tracey Friel: Singer/songwriter. Music Residency.
Breda Burns: Invited artist for new work development residency.
Piers Michael Gooding. Australia. Writer’s Residency: Research residency for book on Human Rights Law and mental health.
The Bluebirds Music Residency. The Bluebirds are an all-female close harmony singing ensemble based in Galway.
Previous years included some of the following artists -
Noelia Marin, Zaragoza, Spain.
Cohan Wilson, Derry.
Philip Kavanagh, Dublin.
Louis Haugh, Dublin.
Ramona Burke, Galway.
Siobhan McGibbon, Cork.
Ciara Healy, Wales.
Karl Musson, Wales.