The Foundation Arts Festival is an initiative by Tullamore Community Arts Centre in association with Offaly County Council and The Arts Council of Ireland, aimed at highlighting international contemporary arts practice and providing the local community with opportunities for artistic and cultural participation and engagement in preparation for the opening of Tullamore Community Arts Centre.
When the festival started in 2013 it provided a platform for innovative work by more than 20 Irish and international artists. It also delivered nearly 30 arts workshops, talks, performances and events, a third of which were specifically for families, children and young people. Using empty business premises in Tullamore to host the exhibition and events, as well as the local library and on-street locations Foundation13 Arts Festival worked closely with the community and brought new life and vibrancy to the town.
In 2014 the festival developed further, exhibiting the work of over 50 Irish and international artists, delivering 30 arts-based workshops, hosting events for local community fundraising groups, organising 16 talks, performances and music events, including visits from local schools and participating in Culture Night. The festival also awarded 3 prizes: the Undergraduate Award, a €1000 prize for the further development of the recipient’s arts practice, the Critics Choice Award, the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in a Dublin gallery and €500 towards exhibition expenses and the People’s Choice Award, a prize of €500.
This year, as well as encompassing over 2 weeks of exhibitions, educational workshops, talks, theatre, music events and awards, Foundation15 Arts Festival will be partnering with The Irish Museum of Modern Art to offer the public an even more exciting, energetic and provocative art experience. This new partnership underlines the growing importance of the festival to Tullamore, the Midlands and to contemporary arts practice in Ireland.
See the Foundation14 Arts Festival website
See the Foundation13 Arts Festival website