Artist Support - Úna Kavanagh

Draíocht is thrilled to welcome Úna Kavanagh, for two Gap Days in January & April.

"My Gap Days in Draíocht were a real gift. Two full days to focus in an arts building brimming with creativity, possibility and joy. I spend a lot of time in Blanchardstown as it is my close to/go to/ shopping venue. But today it was just about Art. It’s 20 years since I did a play in The Studio space in Draíocht, at the beginning of my theatre journey. It was a new and striking contemporary space. This Arts Centre still offers so much to artists and to the community.
I met Emer the Director of Draíocht in the morning and again for a beautiful lunch, courtesy of Draíocht and their very lovely café (I will be back!). We had a great chat all about the arts. Thank you so much Emer for the welcome and care.

During my GAPDAYS I drew, I wrote, I stretched, I dreamt, I did admin , I sat in silence. I felt lucky and minded. The GAP Days were so very special. I left with a handful of dreams and drawings to make and shape with. Thank you."

More about the Artist: www.unakavanagh.com

Úna holds a B.A. & M.A. from the National College of Art & Design, Dublin, Ireland. She has worked extensively across disciplines for over 30 years in her native Ireland, UK, America, France, and the Middle East. Úna is a figurative artist whose work includes sculpture, text, painting, drawing, performance, film, installation, animation, script writing, music composition, Performance Art, and Live Art durational performances. Her practice ranges from extensive work in theatre, film, television, and radio to her artistic collaborations. Úna has exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions. Her work is held in private collections both here and the Middle East. She is a founding company member with the muti-awardwinning ANU Productions and has collaborated with them since 2010. She represented Ireland in “Art by Country” in Abu Dhabi 2014 and again in 2019. She is an award-winning actress and has received international nominations for her acting work on screen. She was shortlisted for the SKY Arts Ignition award as part of TATSOI (Art/Science Collaboration) and was the 1st Artist in Residence for the inaugural Festival of Curiosity in 2013. She was selected for the Florence Biennale which took place in October 2017. She has a visual art studio practice in Dublin and Belfast.

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A Gap Day allows a freelance artist to dedicate a day to the creative research and thinking they have put on the long finger. It’s up to them what they spend the day doing – reading, writing, thinking, drawing, walking, dreaming. Whatever they don’t normally have time to do; whatever they think is needed.

Artists are paid to spend a day working creatively, hosted by a cultural organisation close to their home. Gap Day has been run by creative producer Lian Bell and Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre since 2015.

#gapday #dreamthinkcreate

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Draíocht invests significantly in the development of artist's practice by the provision of benefit in kind support such as space, technical support, admin/marketing support and specialist expertise.

Our Artist Support Series, launched during Covid-19, helped 79 artists in 2020 and 50 artists in 2021, with the provision of free rehearsal and creative space.

Space to rehearse, write, create, film, dance, think & plan ... whatever was needed!

With thanks to our funders Fingal County Council & The Arts Council.

#SpaceForTheArts #SpaceForMagic #SpaceForYou