About

Who We Are

Backwater Artists Group is one of Ireland’s longest-established artist-led organisations. Founded in 1990 by artists for artists, we provide 28 subsidised studio spaces and professional support for visual artists in the heart of Cork City.

We currently support over 100 studio and network members and have supported over 600 artists since our establishment. Alongside our studios and facilities, we deliver an ongoing programme of exhibitions, public engagement and professional development and a dedicated bursary programme supporting emerging artists.

Our purpose is to support and advocate for visual artists while maintaining a site of artistic production at the centre of Cork City and fostering meaningful public engagement with contemporary visual art.

Our History

Backwater Artists Group was established in 1990 by graduates of Crawford College of Art & Design, inspired by earlier artist-led initiatives in Cork.

After operating in several temporary spaces throughout the early 1990s, the organisation secured its permanent home at Wandesford Quay in 1999 through partnership with Cork City Council, the Arts Council and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

In 1999 the current building — a former 19th-century grain store — was renovated to accommodate studios, Cork Printmakers and The Lavit Gallery, forming a significant visual arts complex in the city.

The long-term lease negotiated by the founding members ensures the continued stability and development of the studios today.