Dundalk's Bó Studios expands to house ten artists

An Táin Arts Centre and Bó Studios said they are delighted to announce its second expansion in 18 months.

The studios were established in 2020 in Dundalk town when ceramicist Etaoin O’ Reilly was completing the Emerging Artist Residency at An Táin Arts Centre and was dismayed at the lack of suitable affordable artist studio space in the town.

Coming together with the three other founding members David Callan, Blathnaid McClean and Olivia Hill, who has since moved on from the studios, Bó Studios was established and An Táin Arts Centre was delighted to have secured funding to support them.

Since then the studio space has expanded twice, once in 2023 and now for the second time to bring the total number of artists housed in the space at No 6 Jocelyn Street to 10.

Louth Meath ETB recognised for role in building Ireland’s first 3D concrete printed houses

LMETB was among the first to introduce training for 3D concrete printing (3DCP) into Ireland

The current collective is made up of, ceramicist Etaoin O’ Reilly, Mixed Media and sculptural Artists, David Callan and John Connolly, print and image maker Stephen Hurley, printmaker and Fashion Designer Blathnaid McClean and illustrator and printmaker Linda McConville.

New members include Grainne Murphy a print and image maker whose work is often inspired by folklore and emotion; Úna Curley, a mixed media artist, who explores our emotional relationship with time, materials and heritage; Jenny Slater a mixed media artist and art therapist whose work explores ordinary daily experiences, motherhood and everyday losses and Julie Corcoran who works through photography and printmaking. Her work has been described to have a mystical
element.

Bó Studios has dedicated space for each artist in a mix of open plan setting and individual studios, which offers its members the opportunity to collaborate, support and exchange skills, thereby growing their individual practice and in turn contributing to the visual arts scene in Dundalk.

Speaking about the expansion, Director of An Táin Arts Centre Paul Hayes said: “The need for artist space is crucial and we are delighted we are able to respond to that need by supporting ten artists.

“We had a huge response to our open call and are certain that the four new artists, will have a very positive impact on what is already a vibrant artist studios.”

The Bó Studios artists are currently working towards their annual Open Studio & Exhibition for Culture Night which takes place on Friday 20th September from 6pm - 9pm and they will have their second collective exhibition in the Basement Gallery of An Táin Arts Centre in February 2025, which will feature work from all ten members.

Bó Studios is funded and supported by An Táin Arts Centre, The Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Create Louth, the Arts Office of Louth County Council.

For more information on each of the artists visit https://www.antain.ie/bo-studios/