Open invite to exhibit in Council Atrium

Offaly County Council is opening up its atrium to become a greater focal point of community and cultural activity by inviting applications from community groups, arts organisations, schools and artists to make an application to use the space.

Explaining the new initiative, Arts Officer, Sinead O’Reilly said: “We know there is an increase of high quality arts projects happening in the community, from schools to camera clubs and youth groups, some of whom may not have an opportunity before to bring their work to a wider audience and we welcome proposals from all sectors of the community.

“This includes individuals or groups of artists who also wish to propose exhibitions.”

Over the past ten years, Offaly County Council has programmed many types of high quality exhibition in its Atrium, which have highlighted and celebrated the quality of cultural activity in the county and stimulated public interest in community and cultural affairs.

“We will continue to use the space ourselves, but our resources are more limited and we hope that by collaborating with the community like this, we can ensure the county building is at the heart of community and cultural activity in the county and that it is continually a lively, engaging and diverse space.”

Those wishing to make an application need to be mindful of the scale and contemporary nature of the building and ensure that they have a high standard of presentation, appropriate to the designed space.

Offaly County Council will make available its exhibition facilities to all exhibitors for free for up to a month at a time, but the cost of exhibiting will be borne by the organising group or individual.

Full details and an application form can be downloaded from www.offaly.ie/arts and submissions are invited now for exhibit for the period August 2013 – March 2014. (Closing date is Friday, July 193) Queries are welcome to arts@offalycoco.ie or to Clare 057 9357400.