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Our Approach

What we do

Open Circle Community Arts Collective is a community-based organisation that provides women living in Kilkenny with high quality arts learning experiences facilitated by professional artists. Open Circle’s mission is to inspire interest and maximum participation in the arts both locally and nationally for Kilkenny women. Connecting women from right across the county to the breadth of resources and arts organisation in Kilkenny is key to building and sustaining a thriving, vibrant arts community.

Women from all walks of life join Open Circle Community Arts. Notably we place equal emphasises on community and art at Open Circle. We believe that meeting new people, building friendships, collaborating, and visiting new places and spaces in Kilkenny is as important as learning to print, draw or sculpt.

Previously we have offered an 18-month Visual Arts Programme, complemented by short blocks of writing projects. We also respond to opportunities, as they arise, to work with specific community groups and we programme pop up events and activities in different locations throughout County Kilkenny.

While we are not currently delivering our projects as we have done pre 2020 due to the Public Health situation brought about by Covid 19 we are providing outdoor engagements and digital experiences for you to enjoy.

Join our mailing list and follow us on social media to find out how to Get Involved.

Pride of Place Award

Open Circle Community Arts works in partnership with local and national agencies to foster sustainable community development, with the arts playing a dynamic role in addressing the needs of women in Kilkenny culturally and socially. Local partners include: Kilkenny County Council, Arts Office & Kilkenny/ Carlow ETB Past and present local & national funders, partners & collaborators include The Arts Council of Ireland, Healthy Ireland / Healthy Kilkenny, Creative Ireland, Blackstack Fine Art Print Studio, National Design & Craft Gallery, the Butler Gallery, St Luke’s Hospital, VISUAL Carlow, KCAT Arts Centre, Woodstock Gardens, Rothe House, Amber Women’s Refuge, Newpark Family Resource Centre, and Danesforth Community centre Open Circle Community Arts was founded in 2013. It is maintained and supported by Kilkenny County Council Arts Office and managed by a board of directors. Judges acknowledged:
“…the key to this entry is that it makes the arts accessible to women of all ages engendering mutual encouragement and inspiration in those involved and a very palpable sense of community…”