Joanne Ryan and Ann Blake to bring the city’s history to life through story, music and imagination

Artist in Residence 2026 – Joanne and Ann will develop an original, family-friendly promenade performance inspired by the museum’s remarkable collection and the many stories that have shaped Limerick’s identity. Picture: Maurice Gunning

Limerick-based theatre practitioners Joanne Ryan and Ann Blake have been selected for the Artist in Residence 2026 programme at Limerick Museum

Limerick Arts Office is delighted to announce that Limerick-based theatre practitioners Joanne Ryan and Ann Blake have been selected for the Artist in Residence 2026 programme at Limerick Museum.

The creative partnership, undertaken by Ryan and Blake in consultation with local historian Sharon Slater, will see the artists develop an original, family-friendly promenade performance inspired by the museum’s remarkable collection and the many stories that have shaped Limerick’s identity.

The residency will provide the artists with an opportunity to explore the museum’s collections and uncover stories from the city’s past, transforming them into an imaginative theatrical experience for audiences. Through a combination of storytelling, music and performance, the project aims to offer a fresh and engaging way for families and visitors to encounter Limerick’s history.

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Rather than presenting history solely through traditional displays or written records, the planned promenade performance will invite audiences to experience the museum in a new way. The work will use the museum itself, its collections and the stories connected to them as inspiration, creating an interactive journey through the past.

The collaboration with local historian Sharon Slater will further support the project’s exploration of Limerick’s heritage, helping to connect the creative performance with the people, places and events that have contributed to the city’s unique character.

The Artist in Residence programme at Limerick Museum provides artists with the space and opportunity to engage deeply with the museum’s collections while developing new creative work. For Ryan and Blake, the residency will offer the chance to combine their theatrical experience with the rich cultural and historical resources held within the museum.

Their residency will take place from September 1 to October 31, 2026, during which time they will work towards the creation and development of the new performance.

The project reflects the growing potential for museums to become spaces not only for preserving and displaying history, but also for experiencing it through creative and participatory forms. By bringing theatre, music and storytelling into the museum environment, the residency promises to make Limerick’s heritage accessible to audiences of all ages.

The family-friendly focus is particularly central to the project, with the artists set to explore ways of making the city’s history engaging and memorable for younger audiences as well as adults. The promenade format will also allow audiences to move through the museum while encountering characters, stories and moments inspired by its collections.

Limerick Arts Office said, “We are looking forward to seeing the creative work develop over the course of the residency and to witnessing how Ryan and Blake respond to the museum’s extensive collection and the stories it contains.

The resulting piece will offer audiences an opportunity to see Limerick’s history from a different perspective, blending fact and imagination to create a theatrical experience rooted in the city and its heritage.”

The residency marks an exciting new chapter for Limerick Museum and the city’s creative community, bringing together professional theatre practitioners, local historical knowledge and a major cultural collection.

Congratulations to Joanne Ryan and Ann Blake on their successful application for the Artist in Residence 2026, and best wishes to both artists as they begin their residency this September.