Maeve Collins, Julie Griffiths and Monica de Bath, collectively known as Ground Up Artists Collective (GUAC), have been awarded a commission for Bealtaine 2020 through Age & Opportunity’s Bealtaine Festival, in association with the Arts Offices of Clare Co. Council, Galway Co. Council and Roscommon Co. Council. The three selected artists will lead out on a project supported by other GUAC members.
The commission will develop collaborative artworks between GUAC connected groups; sharing art practices and cultural traditions through an exchange of knowledge, skills and experience. Using bread making as a universal trope Ground Up will embark on threading together artisanal skills and cultural perspectives with activities such as Somalian bracelet making, Syrian basket weaving, Georgian knitting and German salt dough sculptures to explore united activities and dialogues. The commission explores sited and ambulatory activities to form a tapestry of workshops with an openness to generating a collective journey with various groups in Clare, Galway, Roscommon and Dublin.
Ground Up Artists Collective (Monica de Bath, Maeve Collins & Julie Griffiths) have been awarded a three month research residency to be realised at various stages between May 2019 and May 2020. The residency is in support of a developing commission in partnership Age & Opportunity and the associated Arts Offices and will culminate with Bealtaine programming for May 2020 taking place with Clare, Galway and Roscommon County Councils.