The Arts Council celebrates partnership with third-level institutions through artist in residence programmes
21 January 2025
3 min read
- Nine Arts Council artists in residence announced across six universities for 2025
- Each residency worth €30,000
- New artists join six artists and organisations previously awarded residencies in Higher Education Institutions for 2024- 25 academic year
21 January: The Arts Council is delighted to announce the recipients of its 2025 Artist in Residence awards across Literature, Film, and Traditional Arts. They join the six artists and organisations previously awarded residencies in Higher Education Institutes for the 2024-2025 academic year, with a focus on children and young people’s arts.
These residencies, developed in partnership with leading third-level institutions, are a cornerstone of the Arts Council’s commitment to fostering artistic excellence and enriching educational environments.
A reception was held yesterday, 20th January, in the Arts Council buildings to celebrate these partnerships. The event welcomed the incoming artists and representatives from participating institutions. The occasion highlighted the collaborative efforts driving these programmes and their impact on the artists, as well as staff and students of the partner institutions.
Speaking at the event, Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, emphasised the transformative value of these residencies:
“The Artist in Residence programmes demonstrate the Arts Council’s dedication to helping artists build meaningful careers. They help embed creativity in education, providing critical support to artists as they advance their practice, while also creating vibrant opportunities for students and staff to engage directly with professional artistic expression. They make for a profound exchange that inspires and uplifts both the artistic and academic communities.
We are hugely grateful to all the institutions who work with us to deliver these residency programmes. Their partnership and continued support are immensely valued.”
The Arts Council’s investment in university residencies has expanded significantly since Tom Kilroy was appointed as the first Writer in Residence at University College, Galway (now the University of Galway) in 1976.
This year six universities will benefit from this flagship programme, and will reflect the diversity and richness of Ireland’s creative landscape, with programmes spanning English-language and Irish-language Literature, Film, and Traditional Arts.
A further residency programme for digital artists is planned for later this year, in addition to residencies in children and young people’s arts already in place for 2024-2025.
The total investment to date from the Arts Council for residency programmes in 2025 at third level institutions is €260,000, with further investment planned.
This year’s residencies will be hosted across prominent institutions, including:
University College Cork
- Film Artist in Residence: Tom Hall
- Traditional Artist in Residence: Eithne Ní Chatháin
- Writer in Residence: Ellen Dillon
Dublin City University
- Writer in Residence – English language: Sarah Gilmartin
- Writer in Residence – Irish language: Réaltán Ní Leannáin
University of Galway
Writer in Residence: Molly Hennigan
University College Dublin
Writer in Residence: Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Trinity College Dublin
Writer in Residence: Victoria Kennefick
Maynooth University
Writer in Residence: Gavin McCrea
Also in attendance at the reception were six artists who were already appointed to artists residencies in Children and Young People’s arts, supporting artists or arts organisations to spend an academic year in residence in a higher education institution in Ireland that provides initial teacher education.
The artists undertaking residencies for the 2024 – 2025 academic year are:
Mónica Muñoz Marín – Atlantic Technological University
David Rudden and The Ark – Dublin City University
Colm Ó Foghlú and Duffy Mooney-Sheppard – Marino Institute of Education
Liam McCarthy – Mary Immaculate College