TULCA to launch programme of events for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture

PRESS RELEASE

TULCA Festival of Visual Arts and Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture presents UnSelfing; a programme of exhibitions, performances and encounters with visual art taking place in Galway and across the country, this year. The programme takes as its theme Iris Murdoch’s concept of ‘UnSelfing’; the idea that in order to find truth, it is necessary to seek outside of one’s self; to be attentive the world, to be curious about the people, places and ideas that surround us. 

UnSelfing/Arrivals is a dynamic launch event featuring a newly commissioned performance by Isadora Epstein entitled Weather Gods. This performance will take place on a moving train, travelling between Galway and Gort, highlighting UnSelfing’s theme of interior and exterior journeys. 

UnSelfing/Arrivals will begin with a gathering at Ceannt train station in Galway. Attendees will board the 1.45pm train and be treated to Weather Gods, a new show by Isadora Epstein which combines a mythological weather report with a train trip on the Great Western Railway. Epstein's performance will be accompanied by musicians Davy Kehoe, Daniel McAuley and Ailbhe Nic Oireachtaigh. On arrival in Gort, guests will enjoy a reception and the official launch of TULCA’s 2020 UnSelfing programme at Gort Library, with performances and readings from Iris Murdoch and speeches followed by transport by bus back to Galway city at 5pm. 

Speaking about UnSelfing/Arrivals, Lucy Elvis and Josephine Vahey co-chairpersons of TULCA said: “Arrivals is an exciting way to launch this red-letter year for TULCA. Like audiences at this special performance, and those who will meet our exhibitions taking place across the island of Ireland for 2020, TULCA has been on a journey of discovery and development these past 18 years, attending closely to Galway City and County to find ways of sparking and enriching civic conversations about questions that matter. We’re excited to be commissioning Weather Gods, this new performance piece on the Galway to Gort train. This performance brings audiences from the city and county together for a truly unique experience.”  

Speaking about the overall programme of events for TULCA as part of Galway 2020, Kate Howard, cultural producer said, “It is very exciting that TULCA, Irelands leading festival of visual arts turns eighteen this year! Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture are delighted to be working with TULCA on commissioning a year-long programme of exhibitions and performances presented both here in Galway and across Ireland, featuring very exciting Irish and European artists”.

The inaugural exhibition of the UnSelfing Programme Deep States opens on Friday 6th March at 6pm at Nun’s Island Theatre. The exhibition is curated by Helen Carey and runs until the 27th March 2020. It features Irish artist Dominic Thorpe working with international artists Veronika Merklein, Eunseo Yi, Andrej Mircev and Nikoleta Markovic to create a series of installations and performances that will explore the complex states of freedom and responsibility. Deep States will examine how these tensions are articulated, understood and inform social norms, impacting the personality and character of both individuals and society. The exhibition asks ‘what’ and ‘where’ are the boundaries that define an individual’s freedom, whether corporeal, spatial or mental. Performances and events at the end of the exhibition will pursue the open questions left in the space over the time of the exhibition.

UnSelfing/Arrivals: Official Launch of UnSelfing - TULCA Festival of Visual Arts’ Programme for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture

When: Saturday 29th February 2020
Where: 1.15pm at Ceannt Train Station, Galway
Tickets: €10.00 (booking essential)
Buy tickets: https://unselfing-arrivals.eventzilla.net

www.tulca.ie

Image: Isadora Epstein, Weather Gods

Magical Creatures County Project - Exhibition at Galway City Library

Magical Creatures County Project - Exhibition at Galway City Library

The 2019 festival theme Tactical Magic invited audiences to reflect on the magical effects of art probing the division between truth and reality. The exhibited works drew on intuition, historical beliefs and customs as well as challenging us to consider the historical in contemporary society. 

As part of our Education Programme, two artist facilitators delivered a ‘Magical Creatures’ project within two primary schools that drew on the theme of the festival. The workshops were facilitated by Noel Arrigan with teacher Áine Ní Thuathail and her 3rd class students at Furbo National School. Jennifer Cunningham worked with Neasa O’Dea and her 3rd class students in Cregmore National School.

Students explored the concept of hybrids through drawing, printmaking, use of found objects and recycled materials to create their own modern-day magical creatures that could inform future myths and legends. This work can be viewed in the Galway City Library until the end of February 2020. The project is funded through the Arts Office of Galway County Council and kindly supported by Galway Public Libraries.

REVIEW: Hilary Morley | Visual Artists’ News Sheet

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Official Documentation - TULCA 2019: TACTICAL MAGIC

As 2019 draws to a close, we release our final video documentation of TULCA 2019: TACTICAL MAGIC curated by Kerry Guinan.

Our annual programme of exhibitions and events are all superbly documented by the highly talented Jonathan Sammon who celebrates his 10th year on the TULCA Festival team. A massive thank you to Jonathan for bringing his beautiful documentation style to TULCA each year. 

Thank you to all the TULCA 2019 artists, writers, speakers and performers: Anri Sala, Barry Mulholland, Christian Fogarolli, Day Magee, Diana Copperwhite, Helen MacMahon, Jesse Jones, Katherine Sankey, Linda Pense, Mark Cullen, Martina O'Brien, Michelle Doyle, Michael Fortune, Paul Duane, Rajinder Singh, SUBSET, Una Quigley, From the Bogs of Augiska, Natalia Beylis, Branwen Kavanagh, Geels Lampa A Ela, Padraic E. Moore, Sinead Mercier, Andy Merrifield, Clodagh Emoe, Aaron Gach and Nikita Coulter. 

Thank you to all our festival funders, sponsors and partners for their continued support: Arts Council Ireland, Galway City Council, Galway City Arts Service, Galway County Council, Creative Ireland, An Post, Galway International Arts Festival, NUI Galway, GMIT (Official), Galway Arts Centre, 126 Artist-Run Gallery, Galway City Museum Ireland, Engage Art Studios, Róisín Dubh, Pálás Cinema, Electric Galway, Galway Civic Trust, Community Knowledge Initiative, The Black Gate, Curo, Galway Public Libraries, Eyre Square Hotel, Salthill Hotel, Citylink The City Bin Co., Kinlay Hostel Galway, Arts in Action NUI Galway.

Stay tuned for a number of exciting announcements in the new year as we reveal our curator for TULCA 2020 and publish a wonderful programme of exhibitions and events as part of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture! 

www.tulca.ie #tulca

Video: Jonathan Sammon

Arts groups ask Govt to give Galway Post plan the stamp of approval

Arts organisations in Galway are calling on the Government to sanction the handover of part of an An Post facility in the city centre for cultural use. They say a former sorting office should be permanently employed as a venue to showcase creativity. 

The building forms part of an extensive parcel of property owned by the semi-State company. It includes the main post office on Eglington Street and a number of linked buildings backing onto William Street. 

An Post has loaned a building close to the pedestrianised centre of the city to the Tulca Festival of Visual Arts this month. It is being used to house the event's main exhibition. 

The space was first used for artistic purposes during the summer, when it was repurposed by Galway International Arts Festival. Since then there has been a major effort to secure it as a dedicated cultural centre. The Ministers for Culture and Communications have both visited the property and local politicians have been lobbying for it to be handed over to the city. 

The absence of a dedicated gallery for large-scale exhibitions has been a source of frustration for cultural producers in Galway for some time.

It is felt that securing a multi-purpose venue, that can be used all year round should be one of the legacies of next year's European Capital of Culture events in the west. 

An Post says its continuing to look at various options to maximise the potential of its property portfolio, including the possible use of part of it for cultural purposes. In the meantime, artists from around the country are benefiting from the exposure provided by the building and the festivals it's served as a home for.

The curator of the Tulca Festival, Kerry Guinan, said the former sorting office was perfectly placed to bring the arts right into the heart of Galway. Her comments were echoed by Paul Fahy of the Galway International Arts Festival. He said the premises had huge potential for those involved in the creative sector. Mr Fahy said it would be a fitting recognition of the role the arts played in the life of the city, if the space could be given a new lease of life during the Galway 2020 Capital of Culture designation. 

By Pat McGrath
Western Correspondent