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Platform 31

I'm very pleased to be selected for participation in the inaugural Platform 31 programme - a nationwide artist development award scheme for mid-career artists led by Ireland's 31 local authority Arts Offices in collaboration with The Arts Council of Ireland.


Platform 31 is a national opportunity for artists to develop their practice and test new ideas of collaboration, research, audience development, place-making and sharing their work. Designed to support and offer career development for 31 mid-career artists (one artist in each of the 31 local authorities around Ireland), the scheme will establish a peer networking framework for participating artists, introducing them to a pool of critical thinkers to share their work and learnings, and encouraging a national conversation about creating work in local contexts. The exact nature of this artist support framework, which will last for approximately 6 months from February 2021, will be informed by the proposals and interests of the 31 artists selected. The aim of the scheme is to allow artists time to reflect on how they might test new ideas, research new approaches and make work in a different way, while being connected with and supported by peer practitioners.

Participating artists range widely across practices and artforms and were chosen through a two-stage national selection process, with my participation coming under the County Fingal (North County Dublin) banner.

Full artist list, including profiles and details about each, is available here. You can follow the Platform 31 project here and through the Local Arts Ireland social media accounts.

This award will allow me time and space for new writing, and the opportunity to contribute to a national conversation across artforms. I look forward to developing my work further over the coming months and participating in the scheme's creative and critical exchanges.

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