2019

Our programme was filled with exciting events including workshops with visiting artists and longer engagements with local professional artists in 2019. We created a space for women from Kilkenny to share ideas, conversations and to express themselves both collectively and individually.

Artist Julie Moorhouse engaged the groups in lots of experimental drawing and making, Julie Cusack introduced painting and collage using alternative tools and materials. Carrie Lynam introduced creative stitch as a way to make marks and express ideas both personal and political. Visiting artists took a deep dive into specialised craft techniques such as Eco Printing and Indigo Dyeing of fabric at one-off workshops that were open to all. Sheila Jordan hosted a wet felt making workshop for European Artistic Craft Day.

A series of workshops titled ‘Digging for Words’ was facilitated by Poet & Writer Nuala Roche, taking inspiration from the discovery and excavation of human skeletal remains at the site of the Medieval Mile Museum. Following the success of the 2013/2014 Social Fabric project we started our Social Fabric Phase II project funded by Creative Ireland began at the end of the year. Working with a community group at Danesfort Community Centre, we explored the idea of a different kind of portrait, using stitch and indigo dying, facilitated by artists, Deirdre Harte, Hillary Bell and Sheila Jordan.

At the end of 2019 we said good bye to the Open Circle House in Johns Green and prepared for the move to our wonderful bright spacious new home on the SOS campus on the Callan Road.