Arigna Fuels, Bank of Ireland (The Square, Roscommon), Feelystone, FDK Engineering, Gleeson’s Guesthouse and Molloy’s Bakery & Roscommon County Council Arts Office for ‘Art@work’
The Business Challenge
Roscommon County Council Arts Office seeks to encourage greater access and participation in creative processes in Roscommon. They aim to provide new and innovative environments for artists to work and provide an outlet for contemporary art practice to be integrated into the fabric of the community.
The Solution
In partnership with a collection of small local businesses, they developed a residential programme called Art@work where artists (of varying art forms) spent three weeks in a company making art using either the materials of the company or inspired by the environment, staff or working practices of the company. To start the process, artists visited each of the participating companies. They develop proposals as to how they would approach the residency. The Arts Office and the relevant company then agreed in principal to the feasibility of a selected proposal after which the artist and the company negotiate schedules, induction and other details of the residency.
Benefits to Company
Art@work demonstrates the participant company’s openness to the creative process and their encouragement of creativity in staff and stakeholders. The results of each residency relate strongly to host environments and attract interest and involvement. Staff played an integral role developing the work by using their skills and experience. Residencies also provide a unique PR tool for the companies which generated local and regional media attention.
Benefits to Stakeholders
For participant staff, the presence of a cultural element in their workplace helps to stimulate an understanding of the creative process. For the artist, the residencies offered the opportunity to explore different methods of work and to produce work in a unique context, allowing for public participation in the creation of their work.
Roscommon County Council Arts Office seeks to encourage greater access and participation in creative processes in Roscommon. They aim to provide new and innovative environments for artists to work and provide an outlet for contemporary art practice to be integrated into the fabric of the community.
The Solution
In partnership with a collection of small local businesses, they developed a residential programme called Art@work where artists (of varying art forms) spent three weeks in a company making art using either the materials of the company or inspired by the environment, staff or working practices of the company. To start the process, artists visited each of the participating companies. They develop proposals as to how they would approach the residency. The Arts Office and the relevant company then agreed in principal to the feasibility of a selected proposal after which the artist and the company negotiate schedules, induction and other details of the residency.
Benefits to Company
Art@work demonstrates the participant company’s openness to the creative process and their encouragement of creativity in staff and stakeholders. The results of each residency relate strongly to host environments and attract interest and involvement. Staff played an integral role developing the work by using their skills and experience. Residencies also provide a unique PR tool for the companies which generated local and regional media attention.
Benefits to Stakeholders
For participant staff, the presence of a cultural element in their workplace helps to stimulate an understanding of the creative process. For the artist, the residencies offered the opportunity to explore different methods of work and to produce work in a unique context, allowing for public participation in the creation of their work.
Dancer and Choreographer Catherine Donnelly performing ‘Money Matters’ at Bank of Ireland Roscommon Town