Studios

Studios

Backwater Artists Group provides 28 purpose-built studios with security of tenure and 24-hour access.

Studio Facilities 

  • 6 Sculpture studios 
  • 22 Painting/Mixed Media studios 
  • Natural light in all studios 
  • Sink and multiple power sources 
  • Heating throughout 

Sculpture studios include: 

  • Adjustable lighting 
  • Overhead material storage 
  • High ceilings suitable for large-scale work 
  • 3 studios equipped with 3-phase electricity 

Shared Facilities 

Studio Members also have access to: 

  • Darkroom facilities 
  • Digital Suite (27-inch iMac with imaging software) 
  • Woodworking facilities (including mitre press and underpinner) 
  • Studio 12 exhibition space 
  • Members Development Programme 

Studio Membership Structure 

Studio spaces are allocated through competitive open call. 

Membership options include: 

  • Short-Term Studio (3–6 months) 
  • Four-Year Studio Membership 
  • Eight-Year Studio Membership (open to 4-year members) 
  • Twelve-Year Studio Membership (open to 8-year members) 
  • Sharer Membership (subject to eligibility and waiting list approval) 
  • Four-Year Studio Members are company members and may attend and vote at the AGM. 

Studio Fees 

€161 (single) 
€170 (shared) 

Eligibility 

It is expected that artists applying for our memberships are professional artists. To establish your eligibility for this opportunity, please indicate to us that you can satisfy at least three of the following criteria.

  • You have had a solo exhibition or event in an established contemporary art gallery or exhibition venue.
  • You have been selected for participation in an exhibition or other visual arts event by a panel of qualified jurors, other professional artist(s) or professional curator(s) of artwork.
  • You hold a degree or diploma from a reputable art college.
  • You have sold work (whether by commission or otherwise) to a government department, local or statutory body, museum open to the public, established corporate collector or other major body or institution.
  • You have been awarded a bursary, residency, prize or grant by the Arts Council or other art funding body.
  • You have had work critically acclaimed by a published art writer or critic.
  • You have been awarded tax exemption status by the Revenue commissioners, or are on Schedule D as self-employed artist in Northern Ireland
Application Process 

Studio spaces are allocated through an application process. We continuously accept applications for Short-Term Studio space and operate on a waiting list system as studios become available.

Long Term Studio spaces are awarded through periodic open calls as they become available. Sign up to our mailing list to hear when these open calls take place. Due to sustained demand, we encourage artists to join the Backwater Artists Network prior to applying.

How to Apply

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit the following as a single PDF:

  • Completed Application Form with your Artist statement and bio
  • Artist CV (max 2 pages)
  • Portfolio (Up to 10 good quality images clearly captioned to include Title, Medium, Dimensions, Year)
  • Any additional requested materials (eg: video links, written reviews)

Applications are assessed by a selection panel.

For any enquiries or to request an application form, please contact Studio Manager Elize de Beer at elize@backwaterartists.ie

My membership of Backwater Artists Group Studios is essential to my life as a practicing artist in Cork City. The studios and facilities are impeccably maintained, providing working conditions that are warm, dry, secure and fit for purpose. Their central location and accessibility make them an ideal setting for studio visits, as well as for the collection and delivery of artworks. Overall, the studios are run with efficiency, transparency and an openness to new suggestions. Just as importantly, the studio rent remains fair and reasonable, ensuring that professional studio space in the city centre remains accessible to working artists. Photo by RTE

Ailbhe Ni Bhriain

 

Backwater Artists Group has been an essential foundation for the development of my work and a vital place to come and create. The studios are large, affordable, heated, and centrally located in the city, something that feels like gold dust in this precarious moment. Having a reliable space to work, alongside regular contact with other artists, has made me feel part of the fabric of a wider community and has been a strong motivation to continue persevering in my practice. The studios are a lifeline, providing a secure, comfortable, and generous environment in which to make work. They are large enough for me to share with members of my collective and function as an important meeting point, sustaining a collective practice that requires its own space.

Kate McElroy/Intersite

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