From Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th February, artist Deirdre O’Mahony led this intensive weekend master class revolving around three lectures that reflect upon key issues affecting contemporary rural places:
- Local or “Local” Local, ideas of “Community” in contemporary rural Ireland.
- My Place your Space – Land, Regulation, and Unruly Subjectivities
- Is That All There Is? Productive Land/Consumer Destination the Future of Farming
This intensive masterclass was attended by 12 artist-practitioners with prior experience in social and community-based art practice in rural places. Each shared their experience of working in a rural context and/or with socially engaged practice. A combination of lectures, discussion, practical exercises, a group meal a and field trip created a framework for the group to interrogate and explore aspects of working with community and its associated ethics, practicalities and challenges.