Published: Wednesday, 17th February, 2010 5:15pm

Ros companies sought for art@work programme

Artists and companies in Roscommon are sought for this year's renewal of an innovative art programme.

art@work is a residential programme where artists spend three weeks in a company in Roscommon making artworks influenced by the environment, staff and working practices of the company. Since its inception in 2001, the Art@work programme has continued as a unique outlet for contemporary art to be integrated into society - introducing not only art, but also artists, and the processes of making art, to new audiences.

Over the last nine years, the programme has hosted over fifty residencies in companies throughout County Roscommon.

At the launch Monica Corcoran, Head of Local Arts at the Arts Council, praised the companies involved, recognising the predisposition towards innovation apparent in each of them and that the same qualities displayed by both the companies and the artists - creativity, openness to new ideas, innovation - are the bedrock of both high quality arts practice and the smart economy.

This year Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts, worked with Roscommon County Council Arts Office to produce this publication which further investigated the experiences of those involved, providing a rich insight to the motivations, processes and outcomes of each of the residencies.

Tony Ward, Mayor of Roscommon County Council noted that while the artists and staff at the companies benefited greatly from the programme, the profile of art@work also conveyed a positive image of the participating companies as having an exciting, progressive outlooks.

art@work is funded by Roscommon County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland and is open to Irish and international artists from all artforms and to all Roscommon companies, factories or services with ten or more staff. Roscommon County Council Arts Office is currently seeking interest from artists and companies who would like to participate in the 2010 programme, and those interested should contact Philip Delamere Roscommon County Council Arts Office on 09066 37285 or artsoffice@roscommoncoco.ie.