Contact Studios Art Exhibition in Mother Macs to Celebrate 20 Years

Contact Studios Hold Art Exhibition in Mother Macs to Celebrate 20 Years – At the launch of Project Motive at Mother Macs – Kevin O’Keefe, Project Motive Project Manager and Stephen Murphy, Project Motive Curator. Picture: Jordan MacCormaic/ilovelimerick

Contact Studios Hold Art Exhibition in Mother Macs to Celebrate 20 Years

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Jordan Mac Cormaic

Limerick independent visual art studio Contact Studios recently launched an art exhibition in Mother Macs on High Street of all of their current members work.

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Celebrating two decades of Contact Studios, 20 Years in the Making is an exhibition of works by current members of the Studio and Project Motive. The Project Motive is a new collective bringing visual art projects into alternative venues in Limerick City.

This exhibition of current member’s works is a celebration of a studio that has contributed consistently and prodigiously to the Limerick arts community for 20 years.

Founded in 1997, Contact Studios is an artist-run space on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Mental Hospital in Limerick. Contact is the longest established independent visual art studio in Limerick.

Contact Studios has provided a creative environment and work space for over 150 artists with 14 spaces, a darkroom and a communal work area.

The Studios were founded by members of the Real Art Project (RAP) and the Mid-West Health Board (now H.S.E.), with the intention of providing spaces for graduates of Limerick School of Art and Design.

Current member of Contact Studios and Project Manager of Project Motive Kevin O’Keeffe said at the event: “This event is celebrating 20 years of existence for Contact Studios we are the longest running visual arts studio in Limerick, there are over 100 artists that have come through Contact Studios that have great success in the industry.”

He continued: “We’ve also been a major platform for graduates of the school of Limerick Art and Design so that when they graduate they stay in the city so we can keep great talent in Limerick.”

Members of Contact Studios give recreational art classes at Le Chéile, a local Mental Health group operating a centre where they promote and support health and well-being through social, recreational and educational activities. These classes constitute the collective payment in kind for their studios at St Joseph’s.  

In 2001, a new contract was redrawn with the H.S.E., which is still the blueprint for the current agreement. Members collectively give 520 hrs per year to recreational art and craft classes and social drop-in events.

The Studios have provided a platform for many to pursue further study to PhD and Masters Level. Past members have advanced to many areas including arts administration, educational positions and have exhibited widely both in Ireland and abroad.

The 20 Years in the Making exhibition will be in Mother Mac’s until July 4th so be sure to check in, have a drink and support a great Limerick art studio.

To visit Contact Studios’ official website click here

To read more Limerick Art stories click here