Dean Art Studio offers workspaces to 20 multidisciplinary artists

The Dean Arts Studios has opened a new location, with 20 workspaces on offer for Irish artists of all mediums. The creatives include musicians, actors, writers, painters, and more.

The Chatham Street complex was opened as an initiative of Press Up Hospitality Group in an effort to invest in, uplift and support Irish artists of all disciplines. Press Up is dedicated to this mission, and have invested over €1 million in emerging Irish artists in the last three years alone.

The new residents were chosen out of over 150 applicants by a panel of arts and culture professionals. These residents include multidisciplinary artists Jesse Jones and Chinedum Muotto; sculptors Nuala O’Donovan and Karen Donnellan; stage and screen writer Sonya Kelly; author Olivia Fitzsimons; photographers Vera Ryklova and Letizia Lopreiato; painters Owen De Forge and Brid Higgins; set and costume designer Katie Davenport; musicians, composers and performers Adrian Crowley, Jessica Kavanagh, Ena Brennan (Dowry) and Rafino Murphy (Uly); Afro-Brazilian dancer and choreographer Alessandra Azevedo; Iranian artist Diaa Lagan; urban lifestyle magazine Slight Motif; writer and actor Shane O’Reilly.

NCAD graduate painter Carl Hickey has also been awarded a studio space as a part of DAS' partnership with NCAD. DAS has committed to the annual purchase of one graduate artwork to be added to the Press Up Art Collection. Art activist Thais Muniz joins artists Brian Teeling, Salvatore of Lucan, and Elayne Harrington as part of the IMMA x Dean Art Studios Residency Programme.

Dean Art Studios sitting residents include boundary breaking theatre makers THISISPOPBABY; Irish music incubator First Music Contact; music photographer Ruth Medjber; songwriter and performer Paul Noonan; embroidery artist Domino Whisker and contemporary artists Leah Hewson and Aoife Scott.

Irish refugee charity The SCOOP Foundation have been awarded a studio, which they will award to artists on a rotating residency. Art therapist Oksana Tsymbalova, who was Head of Art Studio at Odessa Science and Art Museum prior to the outbreak of war in Ukraine, joins DAS as well.

"The Dean Art Studio is an environment that understands and supports artists, and this residency allows me to engage with my practice in a manner that respects my work, free of the extra financial pressures that can upset the creative process," explains photographer Vera Ryklova.

The studios launched on July 28th, with an event hosted by Panti Bliss: Queen of Ireland.