Lay of the land

Founded in 2016 by myself and Hazel Mc Cague, Lay of the Land is an arts organisation curating and creating site-responsive art projects in Ireland.

We produce powerful, imaginative and considered projects that encourage artists and their practice to engage with the landscape surrounding them through the medium of art. Our projects include immersive residencies and outdoor exhibitions in an ever growing number of remote locations throughout Ireland. We support emerging artists whose practices focus on the landscape, and where themes of environment, community, heritage and collaboration are intrinsic to, and reflected in their work. 

To date we have created 3 large scale site responsive projects TOMBOLO 16, TOMBOLO 17 and SILVA 18. LOTL has supported 14 emerging artist during this time through our residencies and exhibitions. Collectively we have created 43 art works exhibited temporarily in the wild landscapes of Brow Head, Knockomagh Wood Nature Reserve, and An Port Donegal. My role in Lay of the Land spans from art director, web designer, photographer, participating artist, facilitator, production manager to daily admin and accountant. In three years LOTL has grown to be a nationally recognised arts organisation who have recieved The Arts Council of Ireland’s Festival & Events Award 2017, Festival Investments Scheme Award 2018 and the prestigious Art Grant Award 2019.

The project has been featured in The Irish Times, Bloomers Magazine, Above the Fold, Body & Soul and My Lonely Planet.

SILVA 18

Silva saw a change in location from the headland to a lush green woodland on the banks of Lough Hyne, near Skibereen in West Cork. The forest provided the 4 artists involved an opportunity to immerse themselves among ancient trees while creating artworks that responded to the site.

TOMBOLO 17

Following on the success of 2016 LOTL returned to the headland with large ambitions. 8 artists spent two week immersed in the landscape - living, working and creating collaboratively on site. 22 crew worked tirelessly with us to bring our ambitions to life.

TOMBOLO 16

The inaugral exhibition by Lay of the Land. 6 artists headed off to the most southerly tip of the island of Ireland to explore the landscape and make sculptures in response to their experience. The result was an expansive outdoor exhibition open to the public for 3 days.