New cultural hub launched in Limerick City

CONNOLLY, Ireland - Nov. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- H-Q features four artist studios, a bookable project space for all art forms and a visual art gallery, while an artist residency scheme is also in the process of being established.

Supported by the Limerick Arts Office, the initiative has been developed by artist Gemma Gore, and Occupy Space Directors Orlaith Treacy and Noelle Collins.

According to Arts Officer Sheila Deegan: “This is a great leap of faith by the Directors and provides a multi-purpose space in the heart of the city for use by artists and arts organizations of all kinds. It is a welcome development in light of the forthcoming Limerick City of Culture where there will be a big demand for space for exhibitions and performances’

Occupy Space Director Orlaith Treacy explained that the aim of H-Q is to provide affordable, professional artist studios with a dedicated management structure, an artist residency scheme and to set up a new home for Occupy Space.

She continued: “After a long period of research and negotiation we moved into No.9 Lower Cecil St. A big thank you to St. Michael's Sporting Club for generously offering us this space at a reduced rate, they have been very supportive. Thank you also to the Arts Council and Visual Artists Ireland for their financial support and to The Limerick Arts Office for the ongoing advice and support to us.”

“This new facility provides the potential for collaboration, integration and a critical dialogue amongst the wider arts community,” Ms. Treacy added, “This is further enhanced through the development of artist residencies with which we hope will open up the potential for studio exchange and collaboration between local and international artists.”

H-Q has already hosted Limerick City Gallery's Land Labour Capital conference and screened the Creative Time Summit live from New York with Limerick School of Art and Design's MA SPACE (Social Practice and the Creative Environment). Occupy Space will be opening Common Ground an exhibition of artists previously in the Ground Up Artist Collective, Amanda Dunsmore, Fiona Woods, Sean Taylor, Aine Philips and Deirdre O'Mahony, on the 7th of November at 7pm running until the 30th of November in H-Q. H-Q will also be hosting Conflux Limerick, a one-day music festival, on the 16th of November with bands such as The Blue Monk Quartet and Robin Parmar.

Occupy Space was founded in 2009 by the members of Wickham Street Studios through the Creative Limerick initiative in a 'slack space' on Thomas Street. The organisation has been evolving since its inception as an artist-led space and developed as a separate entity from Wickham Street Studios at an early stage. Following the closure of the Thomas Street space in May 2012 the Occupy Space team have worked in partnership with existing venues within Limerick city such as Limerick City Gallery of Art, The Belltable Arts Centre, Istabraq Hall and Ormston House, to deliver a programme of exhibitions, artist talks and workshops. Occupy Space is now resident within No.9 Lower Cecil St. working in partnership with H-Q.

H-Q, No.9 Lower Cecil St. Limerick, is open Wedto Saturday (incl.) from 12-6pm. For more visit www.h-q.ie and www.occupyspace.com.