ARTFarm

Rural Artist Residency Retreat

ARTFarm is an artist led rural arts retreat with an environmental ethos. It is part of a durational art project exploring the role of artists and the arts at this moment in time, questioning social/ecological responsibilities, investigating artist as activist and seeking new artistic paths. Artists are welcome to come with an aspiration to inspire, share, experiment and develop new ideas. The aim is to navigate towards explorations of art in a rural context, art and ecology, socially engaged art practice and contemplative art practice. A space to try new creative paths placing emphasis on ecological ethics and sustainability.

The vision and motivation for the ARTFarm residency programme is to offer artists, writers and other creatives a 'time out':- a quiet space away from the everyday. The emphasis is on Art and Ecology. The residency is in a quiet rural setting, the ethos if one of low carbon footprint and living in harmony with nature. It is important that artists are self reliant and are comfortable with quiet and solitude. There is no TV or landline telephone but there are miles of country roads, a varied landscape of wetlands and bog, forestry and small farms. Since 2012 ARTfarm has been collaborating with G126 Artist led gallery in Galway city connecting urban and rural and creating unusual residencies, open days, talks and exhibitions. Residencies run February - November.

A free 'Drop in' Art Space is facilitated in the nearby village of Ballygar one morning a week. Resident artists would be made very welcome at this gathering and given great encouragement if they were inclined to share their skills and knowledge in any way.

Cosy two bed-roomed old style country cottage.

• Large bright 1000 sq foot old stone Studio.
• 3 Bay Hay Barn and old Turf Shed.
• Small studio space in the residency cottage
• Two acres of rich 'gazing' land.
• A basic Tool kit of hand tools are available.

There is a good supply of art materials available and a wealth of strange and wonderful objects awaiting those who like to work with recycled materials. Artist must work in a way that is free of health and safety issues. Artfarm is an Eco Art retreat so toxic or hazardous materials are not acceptable.

A well stocked library of books.

The small village of Newbridge is 5 km away consisting of a Church, shop and two pubs. 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. 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 and Roscommon town.