Contemporary Socially Engaged Art Practice in Ireland: Modalities and Counter-Narratives: Book Launch and Day Symposium

We are pleased to invite you to the landmark book launch and day-long symposium, celebrating the publication of Contemporary Socially Engaged Art Practice in Ireland: Modalities and Counter-Narratives (Cork University Press), co-edited by Alan Grossman, Anthony Haughey, Helen Carey and the late Ailbhe Murphy.

Contemporary Socially Engaged Art Practice in Ireland: Modalities and Counter-Narratives is a publication collaboration between the Centre for Socially Engaged Practice-Based Research, TU Dublin, Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts and Fire Station Artists’ Studios. Read more here. This timely and innovative publication, authored by leading Irish socially engaged art practitioners and situated across diverse field sites, geographical locations, interdisciplinary art forms and constituencies, critically engages with a range of contemporary social, political and cultural transformations in Ireland.

Co-organised by the Centre for Socially Engaged Practice-Based Research at TU Dublin, Create, Fire Station Artists’ Studios and Belfast School of Art, the symposium accompanying the book launch will feature a keynote address by internationally acclaimed artist, educator, and writer Professor Suzanne Lacy. The programme will further include two artist plenary sessions with contributing authors from the publication and invited panel guests, focused on the themes of ‘Artists’ Methodologies: Collaboration, Ethics and Relations of Solidarity’ and ‘(In)disciplining the Field: Transformations, Interventions and Claim-Making’.

Symposium panellists include Suzanne Lacy, Loraine Leeson, Dominic Thorpe, Fiona Whelan, Jijo Sebastian, Tatiana Dos Santos, Brian Hand, Array Collective, Glenn Loughran, Áine O’Brien, Jonathan Cummins and Emma Geoghegan.

This event brings together a dynamic mix of artists, scholars, researchers, students, educators, curators, community practitioners, members of arts organisations and arts policymakers, to explore questions of participation, collaboration, and social justice, foregrounding the evolving landscape of socially engaged art practice in Ireland and its wider international relevance (see booking link below).

The co-editors and symposium organisers look forward to welcoming you to this special event, marking the launch of this key publication addition to the literature on socially engaged art in Ireland and internationally.

Priced at €59, Cork University Press will be offering Contemporary Socially Engaged Art Practice in Ireland: Modalities and Counter Narratives for just €45 at the event.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. 

Book Launch/Symposium Programme

Registration, TU Dublin, Grangegorman Campus, East Quad Foyer

10.00–10:30: 

Welcome: Caroline O’Sullivan, Academic Lead, Culture & Society Research Hub, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, TU Dublin

Introduction: Alan Grossman and Anthony Haughey, Centre for Socially Engaged Practice Based Research, School of Media, TU Dublin

Dedication to Ailbhe Murphy by Helen Carey, Director, National Sculpture Factory, Cork

10.30–12.30: 

Panel 1: ‘Artists’ Methodologies: Collaboration, Ethics and Relations of Solidarity’ 

Introduction: Damien McGlynn, Create

Panel Chair: Suzanne Lacy, USC Roski School of Art and Design

Panellists: Loraine Leeson, Tatiana Dos Santos, Jijo Sebastian, Dominic Thorpe, Fiona Whelan 

12.30–13.30: 

Lunch (gourmet sandwiches and crisps)

13:30–15:30: 

Panel 2: ‘(In)disciplining the Field: Transformations, Interventions and Claim-Making’

Introduction: Sara Greavu, Fire Station Artists’ Studios

Panel Chair: Brian Hand, NCAD

Panellists: Array Collective (Laura O’Connor and Emma Campbell), Jonathan Cummins, Emma Geoghegan, Glenn Loughran, Áine O’Brien 

15.30–16:00 

Tea/Coffee Break

16.00–17:00

Keynote Address, Suzanne Lacy, USC Roski School of Art and Design, Los Angeles

17:30 onwards: Social gathering in Stoneybatter, Venue TBC