Come along to a community open day featuring an art trail, hands-on workshops and special performances to celebrate 25 years of Mayo Artsquad.

This celebration of community and art takes place in the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life from 2 to 5pm on 27 May 2023.

---

See the full programme of events
Download the programme and event map (PDF 1MB)

---

Mayo Artsquad is a community arts initiative which has been delivering a range of engaging art projects since 1998 - including the annual Onsight initiative on the grounds of the Museum, in partnership with Mayo County Council Arts Service and the NMI - Country Life.

This year, artists across Mayo are participating in a special Onsight event, which will include a temporary arts trail, a programme of hands-on workshops, and some very special performances in the marquee.

The afternoon event is open to the public and aims to be an intimate, celebratory and community-oriented event. 

Mayo Artsquad will be joined by a number of community artists, all of whom have been involved with Artsquad over the past 25 years, either as participants, collaborators on community based projects or as part of past Onsight projects.   

In anticipation of The Murmur of Bees - a new temporary exhibition opening at the National Musuem of Ireland - Country Life this summer - artists have explored the National Folklife Collection, seeking references to bees and St. Gobhnait, their patron saint.  There is also a strong emphasis on biodiversity and a focus on low-impact arts practises and materials. 

For this year’s project, Onsight has joined forces with Leave No Trace Ireland and the event has been developed with their ethos and principle. There will also be a workshop with Leave No Trace Ireland on the afternoon, looking at how people can sustain a healthy and vibrant outdoor environment.  

With this in mind, organiser are encouraging visitors on the day to bring their own 'eco picnic' with these hints and tips available from Leave No Trace Ireland.

Onsight is an annual arts project that takes place in the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life and is a partnership initiative involving the Mayo County Council Arts Service, the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life and Mayo Artsquad.  

This year the project is funded by the Arts Council, Creative Ireland and supported by Leave No Trace Ireland.  

---

Programme of events

Workshops

Taking place from 2 to 5pm at various locations. Drop in anytime. Facilitated by:

Drawing and collage with Cass McCarthy
Textile workshop with Mags Duffy
Ceramics with Henri Hedou
Printmaking with Aisling Flynn
Sean Nós dancing with Brid Kivneen
Drumming with Anthony McNamee
7 Principals of Leave No Trace 

---

Leave No Trace Talk & Walk for Families

3pm 

---

Performances in the Marquee

2.15pm Tania Nally

3pm Gary Smyth and Lee Beale

3.45pm Tony and Ger Reidy

---

Little Top Stars     

Circus skills performers            
Various locations running all day

---

Little Gem Puppets         

First show at 2.30pm (every 30 minutes thereafter)

---

Art trail

Series of new artworks in the grounds of Turlough Park created by:

Andreas Koenig
Breda Burns, Pam Gray & Luisne Artist
Katie Moore
Nuala Clarke
Mags Duffy
Tom Brawn
Tommy Casby