Uillinn a day’s work
A major cultural milestone will be marked in county Cork this month as the West Cork Arts Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Marking 40 years since its foundation and ten years since the opening of its purpose-built home, Uillinn, in Skibbereen, the centre will host its largest and most ambitious members and friends exhibition to date from this Saturday.
Running until 3 July, the exhibition, titled ‘Uillinn / Angle’, invites artists to explore the concept of perspective both literal and conceptual, and how differing angles influence how we see and interpret the world.
Open to all current members and friends of West Cork Arts Centre, the exhibition is drawing submissions from painters, sculptors, printmakers, and installation artists. This year also sees a focus on outdoor works for the centre’s courtyard, along with a designated drop-off point at the Sarah Walker Gallery in Castletownbere to support artists in the Beara region.
As part of the celebration, the centre has introduced a number of special anniversary awards that recognise excellence and offer support to artists. These include the Morgan O’Driscoll Award, a €2,000 cash prize for a work of distinction; the Cnoc Buí Exhibition Award, which provides the winner with a solo exhibition opportunity in Union Hall; and the Uillinn Studio Award, which includes a four week residency at Uillinn with a non-cash equivalent value of €2,400 and an accompanying €500 stipend.
The awards will be adjudicated by a jury comprising representatives from Uillinn, The Blue House Gallery, Cnoc Buí, and Working Artists’ Studios.
The public will also play a role in the selection process with visitor votes considered by the jury when determining the winners, making audience engagement an integral part of the decision-making.
Ann Davoren, Director of Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre for the past 20 years, has been a central figure in the organisation’s transformation. Reflecting on this significant year, she said: “To see West Cork Arts Centre grow from a grassroots initiative to a place that now supports artists, inspires the community, and presents ambitious, world-class programming is incredibly rewarding. This exhibition is a celebration of everything and everyone that has come before us.
“It’s also a statement of intent for the future. The inclusion of the public voice in our awards process is especially meaningful, reflecting who we are and why we exist,” she added.
Founded in 1985 by a group of dedicated artists and community members, West Cork Arts Centre began as a grassroots initiative to support and showcase local creativity. Over the decades, it grew steadily from a small, volunteer-led organisation to one of Ireland’s most respected regional arts centres.
In 2015, after years of planning and development, the Centre opened the doors to its purpose-built home, Uillinn, in the heart of Skibbereen.