History

History

Backwater Artists Group was founded by artists for artists in 1990

In those days the arts infrastructure of the city was in the rudimentary stages of its development. Whilst artists did live and work in the city, not many graduates embraced the artistic life or even believed the idea of a shared group studio model was possible. It was the Cork Arts Collective that blazed the trail for future studio set-ups in the city. Inspired by their initiative, four young graduates of MTU Crawford College of Art & Design Deirdra Nolan, Tina Cronin, Éilis Ní Fhaoláin and Christopher Samuels established Backwater Artists Group.

The idea for the name of the group came about from discussions held by these graduates in a house on Back Watercourse Road, in 1989. They first rented a space at Watercourse Road Industrial Estate in 1990 but moved a year later to 12 Pine Street and 3 Devonshire Street, increasing their capacity to 30 artists. They then focused on securing a permanent home and went about lobbying Cork City Council to acquire a building. In 1995 the City Manager of Cork agreed to assist in the purchase of a premise that would house both Backwater and Cork Printmakers, With the help from the then Minister of Arts Michael D. Higgins, the Arts Council and the Department of Arts, Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht funding was secured to make the necessary renovations. A premise was finally identified and by 1999 the studios on the Wandesford Quay were finally complete.

The story behind the group reveals many years of patient and dedicated work, vision and determination by our founding members. Their vision was to not only create a space for themselves, but for a community of artists. There had the foresight to negotiate a long-term lease (99 years) with Cork City Council. This and other structures put in place at the time ensures that the studios can continue to grow and develop to this day.

Wandesford Quay

Wandesford Complex under construction
Wandesford complex under construction

Wandesford Quay is a former warehouse built around 1842-1852 according to old maps in the Unitarian archives. Its first use was as a grain store, probably for the nearby distillery, and subsequently, it became a timber yard and Coleman’s Printers. In 1998, when Cork Printmakers and Backwater Artists Group were looking for premises, Cork City Council obtained the building from Coleman Printers in exchange for 4 acres of land in Mahon suburbs. The Arts Council, the Dept of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and Cork City Council provided the funding to renovate the building for use as artists’ studios, print workshop and gallery. The Architect, 

Jack Coughlan in charge of the renewal of this listed building intended the intervention in the main building to be quite minimal with typical features such as floor, window opening and the unusual system of cast iron beams and columns into the annexe area to be preserved. 

The huge arched doors at the end and the pulleys have been kept in tribute to the building’s augural purpose as a granary.  Blessed Virgin Blue was chosen to compliment the soft sandstone.  The gate was a 1% art scheme commission designed by Backwater Artists Group. 

Crosses Green is built over the site of the 13th-century Dominican friary of St. Mary de Lusula: St. Maries of the Isle.  It was under the shadow of the cliff on which the earliest churches of St. Fin Barre were built and remained a prestigious burial ground for the city until after the dissolution of the Reformation. The site is now called the Wandesford Quay Complex and comprises of Cork Printmakers, Backwater Artists Group and The Lavit Gallery. The courtyard area has a public artwork by Harry Moore as well as occasionally showcasing diverse art projects and events.

Further information and essays on the history of the group are available here:
A Building Block into the Future – An essay by President Michael D. Higgins

  1. Backwater Twenty – 10 Publication
  2. Establishing a Studio Group – An Artist’s Perspective – An essay on the set-up of Backwater Artists Group by founding member Deirdra Nolan
  3. The Wandesford Quay Project – Backwater Artists Group exhibition catalogue 1999
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