Members Spotlight | Bernadette Tuite 

We are delighted to spotlight Backwater Artists Group member Bernadette Tuite, who was commissioned to create the awards for the Cork International Choral Festival 2026. 

Handmade in clay and thrown on the potter’s wheel, the works were inspired by qualities Bernadette associates with choral singing—breath, rhythm, balance and harmony—capturing the shared energy of collective voice in material form. Drawing from ceramic instruments such as the Nigerian Udu drum, the awards also incorporate a percussive element, allowing them to interact with sound rather than simply commemorate it. 

Created in Bernadette’s studio at Backwater, the pieces were further informed by the choral tradition and architecture of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, with its Rose Window and decorative details influencing both colour and surface design. 

Bernadette says “I am honoured to have received this commission. It offered a meaningful way to engage with the festival community and to explore Cork’s rich cultural and architectural heritage through making.” 

Congratulations to Bernadette on this thoughtful and prestigious commission.