Ballinglen Arts

Ballinglen Arts

Founded 1992
Location Main Street Ballycastle, Co Mayo, F26 X5N3 Ireland
Website ballinglenartsfoundation.org

The Ballinglen Arts Foundation’s mission is to generate, implement and manage projects in the visual arts for the benefit of the public and which are intended in particular to enhance cultural awareness and understanding as well as the vitality of the societal and economic climate in North County Mayo. The Foundation endeavours to achieve these objectives by the creation and operation of its Programmes: Fellowship (residency awards to visual artists), Education/Learning (Schools Programme), Exhibition (in the Ballinglen Museum of Art and the Ballinglen Gallery) and Workshops and Master Classes (adult learning experiences).

Ballinglen instigates and participates in travelling exhibitions of works from the Ballinglen Permanent Collection as well as by Ballinglen Fellows and young artists on the Schools Programme in addition to curating exhibitions for other arts organisations. Ballinglen’s core Programme of Fellowships offers opportunities for professional practising Irish and international artists by the provision of facilities and resources, including Ballinglen’s studios for the purpose of the further development of their work. Ballinglen’s Community Arts Programmes including schools classes (free to each student for day long experiences), lectures, seminars, interactive studio visits with Fellowship and exhibiting artists, hands on printmaking sessions and the use of the Dolan/Maxwell library. The Ballinglen Museum of Art creates its own exhibitions and implements high quality travelling exhibitions with other institutions. All of Ballinglen’s Programmes are designed to incorporate unforeseen education and community involvement elements as opportunities present themselves. Ballinglen is dedicated to contributing to the fabric of the local and North County Mayo community as well as to the Irish and international artists, and members of the public who visit the area. ¹

History

The Ballinglen Arts Foundation was formed in 1992 to bring professional, established artists and younger artists of recognised ability, from Ireland and from abroad, to live and work in North Mayo to benefit both the artists and the community. Its programmes, a series of interrelated projects in the visual arts, provide a direct socioeconomic and educational benefit to the community whilst contributing substantively to the development of each artist’s work.

Since 1968, Margo Dolan has been working in museum education and non- profit institutions and galleries devoted to modern and contemporary work. In 1984 she and her husband, Peter Maxwell, founded Dolan/Maxwell Inc, a major Philadelphia art gallery. Peter Maxwell trained as an artist and has worked as an editor, art director, promotional and architectural designer. In 1991, they decided to transform Dolan/Maxwell into a private gallery operating by appointment. This enabled Margo and Peter to move to Ireland full time to found and operate The Ballinglen Arts Foundation. Peter died in Philadelphia in 2016. Margo continues their hands-on Directorship of Ballinglen going forward. In summer 2017, a grand celebration for Peter Maxwell and Ballinglen’s future took place at The Ballinglen Centre.²

Exhibitions

Selected exhibitions

2022, Seaworks, Paul Kenny, Fellow of Ballinglen, photographer. Bun na Sphéire (The Bottom of the Sky) moving image work inspired by time spent on residency at Ballinglen.
2021, Stoney Road Press 20 Years – A Survey. The Ballinglen Museum of Art, Ballycastle, Co. Mayo. August 2nd – October 31st 2021. Including photographers Amelia Stein (IRE) and Dorothy Cross (IRE)
2021, Working Between Colour and Tone The Ballinglen Museum of Art Permanent Collection Exhibition at The Ballinglen Museum of Art, Ballycastle, Co. Mayo. Including photographers Paul Kenny (UK Irish work), Jim Vaughan (IRE)
2020, Without Boundaries- Eleven at The Archive Room, Architecture at the Edge 2020, The Ballinglen Museum of Art. Including photographers David Caras, David Gibson (USA)
2020, 28 Years Rambling through the Landscape. The Ballinglen Museum of Art Permanent Collection Exhibition— Inaugural Exhibition. July- December 2020, Including photographers Alex Boyd (Scotland) Rachel Brown (USA), David Gibson (USA)
2020, Prospecting the Future, Exhibition curated by St Patricks College, Lacken Cross 5th and 6th Years (funded by Excel, Mayo County Council outreach programme) 05/12/2019 to 31/01/2020. Including photographer John Lowings (UK)
2020, ‘Left Field‘ Works from the Ballinglen Arts Foundation Collection, Cork County Council Curated by Sarah Kelleher, LHQ Gallery, Library HQ Carrigohane Road Cork, 31/10/2019 to 17/08/2020. Including photographers Paul Kenny (UK) John Lowings (UK)
2018, The Ballinglen Arts Foundation Collection Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin 19 Jan-19 March 2018. Including photographers David Gibson (USA), John Lowings (UK)