Printmaking Residencies in Ireland

Ballinglen Arts Foundation

Ballycastle, Ireland

The Ballinglen Arts Foundation, established in 1992, is nestled in the quaint village of Ballycastle, County Mayo, Ireland. This unique foundation offers the Fellowship Programme which welcomes both Irish and international artists to immerse themselves in rural Ireland’s inspiring landscape and vibrant community. Unlike typical retreats, Ballinglen encourages fellows to bring family or companions, facilitating a communal and integrative experience. Fellows are provided with private cottages and dedicated studios to explore and create, contributing to the cultural fabric of the local area through engagement with the community’s public spaces, shops, and natural surroundings. The residency’s connection with the community and the dynamic North Atlantic coastal environment provides a profound source of inspiration, reaffirmed by the permanent collection housed in the Ballinglen Museum of Art which features works created by past fellows. This collection not only enhances the cultural heritage of the area but also fosters ongoing engagement with the visual arts. Artists interested in the Fellowship must apply and are selected based on their portfolio and professional standing, with the aim of fostering both their creative growth and the cultural enrichment of the local community.

Cill Rialaig Project

Ballinskelligs, Ireland

Cill Rialaig Project is a contemporary arts retreat founded in 1991 by Noelle Campbell-Sharp, located in a restored pre-famine village (c.1790) on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic in County Kerry, Ireland. It offers free residencies to visual artists, writers, poets, composers, and other creative professionals from around the world, providing isolated living-work spaces without television, telephones, or internet to enable artistic focus and reflection.

Creative Spark

Dundalk, Ireland

Creative Spark’s Artist-in-Residence Programme supports both emerging and established artists working across disciplines. Residents develop their practice in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment with access to specialist facilities including a Fine Art Print Studio, Darkroom, FabLab, Textile Lab, and a Kiln Room. The programme emphasizes skills development, experimentation and community connection, offering opportunities to share work through talks, demonstrations and public participation. Artists can exhibit locally and engage with Creative Spark’s wider community and studios ecosystem. Technical support is available throughout, and studio spaces include shared areas with water supply. The programme welcomes Irish and international artists, with a strong regional connection to County Louth.

Custom House Artists Studios

Westport, Ireland

Custom House Artists Studios, located in the restored Old Custom House at the Quay in Westport, Ireland, houses seven studios for locally based visual artists on year-long tenancies, along with a printmaking workshop and gallery space. Established in the 1980s through local artist initiatives and council support, it integrates artists into the community, provides exhibition opportunities, and hosts events to develop visual arts careers. The facility supports painting, printmaking, and related visual arts practices while offering public access to high-quality arts.

Thoor Ballylee

Galway, Ireland

The Thoor Ballylee Artist-in-Residence program, hosted by the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society in Galway, Ireland, offers a unique residency opportunity in the historic home of poet W.B. Yeats. Opened in 2019, The Studio at Thoor Ballylee serves as a cultural hub, providing artists with a space for workshops, exhibitions, and educational sessions. Each year, the residency supports two artists for two-week periods in July and September, focusing on literature, creative writing, visual arts, textiles, and more. The program includes accommodation, local travel costs, and a modest daily stipend, encouraging engagement with local artists and the community through exhibitions, performances, and workshops.

Watershed Studios

Galway, Ireland

Watershed Studios is an artist residency program located in Galway, Ireland, offering artists of all career stages time, space, and community to encourage growth and experimentation. The program provides studio space converted from a historic fish factory and farm shed, along with newly refurbished cottage accommodation with views of the River Corrib, accommodating six artists at a time.