Seçil Yaylalı, Interface, Falling in Love Outward, 2022
Handmade glass bottles, wheat seeds, cotton
Photo: Aoife Herriott
Introduction
Interface is a studio and arts programme for visual artists, dancers, writers and musicians. Situated in the beautiful Inagh Valley, in the heart of Connemara, it was established in 2017 by Alannah Robins. The core ethos of Interface is to provide catalysing opportunities for artists to engage with other creatives and audiences both locally and further afield and to build a sustainable community of artists with a special focus on art and ecology. The studio is located in a former salmon hatchery, a facility that is now shared with a number of innovative scientific research projects.
Interface offers artists an opportunity to engage with a unique environment and to be inspired by the exciting ecological and scientific research taking place in a spectacular landscape.
Interface offers:
• Membership programme
• Residencies programme – International, National & Regional
• Exhibitions & events
• Professional development & workshops for the community
• Ecological restoration & Woodland Symposium
Programme Overview
Membership
Interface has a current membership of over 130 professional artists from a range of disciplines. Members have access to shared and individual studio spaces, equipment hire, and professional development supports which include workshops and an online ecological reading group.
Residencies
Residencies take place both at Interface and with our international partners. Interface provides artists with accommodation, studio space and a professional fee, as well as ongoing supports through introductions to mentors and local advisors to share knowledge as is relevant to the individual artist.
Exhibitions & Events
Interface is open to the public for a number of exhibitions each year, in association with partners including Galway International Arts Festival and Clifden Arts Festival. In addition, audiences are welcomed to a range of talks and open days throughout the year, in which the artists in residence share their work in progress. Interface members are also represented annually at international trade fairs.
Professional Development & Workshops for the Community
A dynamic programme of workshops includes print-making, bookbinding, story-telling, dance and traditional bronze casting. These are available to the public in general as well as to the members. Members are also offered meetings with curators as well as online meet ups.
Ecological Restoration & Woodland Symposium
The Hatchery building is surrounded by 37 acres of Sitka spruce forest. A plan is under way to restore this monoculture forest to native woodland. Interface has implemented several projects in which artistic interventions reflect on this exciting ecological initiative:
Springhill Trust
In 2022, the reforestation project gained the support of the Springhill Trust. This has enabled Interface to give immediate attention to supporting the regeneration of the lake edges. A dedicated team has been assigned to manage the replanting of native species and to support nature’s own natural regeneration processes, protecting oak saplings from bruising by deer and sheep.
Woodland Symposium
A team of artists are gathered annually to reflect on the ecological restoration and to build a body of work reflective of the project over the long term. They are being led by an interdisciplinary team of ecologist Marie Louise Heffernan and archaeologist Michael Gibbons. The vision of the project is to support a slow-art response with longevity, which evolves with the slowly changing ecology of the site. The group of artists return year on year, with artists dipping in and out over the years.
ATU Connemara
Since 2021, Interface has been partnering with ATU Connemara to deliver interventions by the students in the forest environment. The students are led by international artists and designers.
Achievements so far
Over the first seven years, Interface has:
• hosted & fully funded 78 artists in residence from 23 countries
• supported 9 artists to undertake fully funded international exchange residencies in Sweden, Turkey and Iceland
• built a membership of over 130 artists
• hosted over 30 artist’s talks, open days and gatherings
• produced 12 exhibitions
• presented the work of Interface artists at 6 international art fairs, at Earth Rising, IMMA & at a Res Artis conference in Tehran
• developed a dynamic online programme of activities, including an online ecological reading group
Liz and Yvonne Keane 2022 Interface, Origins, with Órla Mc Govern 2022
Photo: Emilija Jefremova
An ordinary fable about Sinking Zahra Zavareh, Interface, Falling in Love Outward, 2022
• won the Galway County Council Cathaoirleach’s Award, 2024
• grown financial support from the Arts Council to €120,000 per annum
• developed partnerships with Galway County & City Councils; Ealaín na Gaeltachta; Galway International Arts Festival; Clifden Arts Festival; ATU (SDCA, Galway & Connemara); Burren College of Art, Galway Arts Centre; artist-led institutions Pasaj (Istanbul), Detroit Stockholm, Fish Factory (Iceland)
• secured capital funding from LEADER and from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports & Media to weatherproof the studio, to expand the equipment base to include a comprehensive set of audio equipment and a print-studio as well as solar panels to increase the organisation’s sustainability, 2018, 2020 & 2023
Planning for the Future
New On-site Studio Units - Building Plans
Interface is currently working with renowned architect Sean Harrington to build a cluster of self-contained studio/residential units with universal access adjacent to the hatchery building. The development of these units will bring Interface to a new level of excellence. It will enable artists to live on-site, without the requirement to have a car and drive long distances every day. It will also enable artists to immerse themselves fully in their work and the location. The development will also support the increased sustainability of the organisation through facilitating an additional model of residencies and income streams.
Funded Residencies
Interface’s residencies have proved themselves to be a vital chain in the ecology of arts in this region. They have offered many artists that essential early opportunity to explore and resolve ideas, to connect with other artists and professionals and to present their work to the public. Interface aims to expand sources of finance for the residency programme, in order to increase the resilience of the organisation. Several of the residencies are co-funded by local authorities, and the organisation plans to increase this co-funding model through philanthropic donations.
Expand our Supports to Artists
The programme of supports and professional development opportunities for member artists and the wider artistic community serves an important role in the region. The expansion of this programme will positively enhance the opportunities and professional development of all associated with Interface, and will enrich the cultural life for people living in and visiting Connemara.
DERRYCLARE LOUGH
Testimonials - What People are Saying
Interface has successfully developed an artistic programme integrating the ethos of its core residency activities and exhibitions into excellent arts partnerships. In its short history, it is having a very positive impact on the visual arts landscape from its distinct position in Connemara.
Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council of Ireland
The presence of international artists at Interface for extended periods enriches the local community, and the work generated there reaches out to a wider audience of local artists, art lovers, scientists, writers and musicians.
Bill Whelan, Composer & Aosdána Member
I have huge admiration for all the work you have carried out with Interface both in the gallery and studio residencies in addition to your ongoing development of The Hatchery Building and grounds.
Paul Fahy, Artistic Director, Galway International Arts Festival
The presence of world class artists, musicians and performance artists here in our community is invaluable. It adds a lot of value to the cultural experience of the students who locate themselves in Letterfrack and Connemara as well as the wider community.
Paul Leamy, Head of Department, ATU Connemara
An excellent arts programme with ongoing community engagement who are availing of local, national, and international opportunities of various scales. The level of peer support and professional development of artists is evident throughout their work and the nomination process.
Galway County Council Cathaoirleach’s Award
International Acclaim
Noelle Gallagher’s film Forest/ry, conceived and produced at Interface:
Screened at Washington DC Environmental Film Festival, and Earth Rising 2023, IMMA
Winner, Best Documentary Sound at Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Madrid
QR link to DC Environmental Film Festival:
Linda Schirmer’s film Carrying Wood, commissioned by Interface:
Screened at XIV Festival Internacional de Danza y CineDanza El Sauzal, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
