Local artists, Emma Zukovič, James Hatton, Ceara Conway, Laney Mannion and Zoe Uí Fhaolain Green, have been awarded artist-in-residency schemes at the Interface studios in the Inagh Valley.

Interface is located in a former salmon hatchery, sharing the premises with the Inagh Valley Trust, which is working on innovative scientific research projects.

Under the direction of its founder, artist Alannah Robins, Interface offers artists an opportunity to engage with a unique environment and find inspiration in the research taking place there.

Interface supports artists from outside Ireland, but it’s “the work with local and member artists that really makes the place tick”, according to Alannah.

The six local practitioners have each been awarded a two-week residency at Interface, supported by the Galway City and County Arts Offices as well as Ealaín na Gaeltachta.

Laney Mannion has already completed her residency, based on research around rural policy implementation.

For Alannah, the aim with these residencies is to create a new community.

“It’s about bringing locally based artists together with international artists to engage with one another and to make things happen for themselves.

“Our community is growing and this month we are sending two artists to Iceland as part of an exciting exchange residency. The arts can be a lonely field, so the creation of shared space where we can support one another is vitally important,” she says.

And she’s also thrilled that Clifden-based dancer, Linda Schirmer, has received a dance residency award, supported by the Arts Council and County Galway Arts Office. This will allow Linda to develop new work at Interface and in the local community over the next year.

‘The support of the Galway County and Galway City arts offices has been absolutely essential for the development of Interface, as has the support of Ealaín na Gaeltachta,” acknowledges Alannah.

Interface is open to the public for a series of open days during the year and will be open in July, when Marysia Wieckiewicz-Carroll is curating an exhibition for the Galway International Arts Festival.

Pictured: Four of the Interface artists-in-residence, pictured with Ruth Mulhearn of Galway County Council and Alannah Robins of Interface. From left: Laney Mannion, Linda Schirmer, Emma Zukovič, Ruth Mulhearn, James Hatton and Alannah Robins. PHOTO: AOIFE HERRIOTT.