Studio downtime | Opportunities | Athlone Arts and Tourism

Mindful of the very different elements of art making and craft work as processes, Athlone Art and Heritage have met with representatives from the Ballinahown craft village to explore collaborative possibilities. Having received a couple queries about space in the Abbey Road Studios from craft makers hoping to create a body of work – Athlone Art and Heritage have been in discussion with Aileen and Helen to see if a solution can be found that respects the integrity of the different fields of practice, but at the same time encourages collaboration in these challenging and resource-stretched times.

As a pilot project Athlone Art and Heritage are going to monitor studio usage in Abbey Road, and during times where a wait-list is not in play for the studios – 1 x studio space will be considered for craft-makers with the details to be agreed on a case-by-case basis. Alongside this innovative approach to collaboration, discussions of ‘step-down’ retail opportunities for the craft makers in Ballinahown will form part of this pilot scheme.

It should be noted that this is a pilot project only, and is in keeping with the unique collaborative approach of Abbey Road Studios and the practicing artists it endeavours to support.