Projects Arts Centre Open Day 2023

Following the success of our first annual Open Day last year – we were delighted to open our doors again, and to offer a real taste of the Project with an exciting line-up of live performances, delicious bites, dance, DJs, films, workshops, talks, tours and more… 

Our Quiet Opening

This year’s Open Day began with a ‘Quiet Opening’, placing a specific focus on disability and gender diversity. From 12-2pm, the building will hold space for artists, audiences, and communities who would benefit from a sensory-adapted environment. 

Project welcomes everyone who would like to attend this section of the day. Audiences are asked to wear a mask to protect our immunocompromised artists and audience members.   

From 2-5pm, the building will be activated through a series of events including live dance, workshops, screenings and DJs. 

Check out the full programme below! 

Lianne Quigley  

Lianne Quigley, a Deaf artist, tells stories through visual language (Visual Vernacular), expressive movements of the hands, and lyricism in the body. In a short opening performance, she demonstrated a powerful blend of storytelling techniques, both unique to the Deaf community and universal in its impact.

Chronic Collective  

Chronic Collective gave an empowering talk about the radical act of making art accessible. As disabled artists and curators, Chronic Collective flip tradition on its head. They network without leaving their beds, they cancel last minute and understand that’s just part of being sick in this world.  

Léann Herlihy 

Léann Herlihy presented a gentle screening of segments from thier docu-film Beyond Survival (2022) followed by an open-conversation.  

Day Magee  

Day Magee presented a screening of their film Ophelio followed by a short discussion on the making of this work and their work more broadly. 

Renn Miano 

Renn Miano hosted Crip Queer Fits – a vibrant and inclusive swap shop event full of self-expression and empowerment. This event celebrated the unique styles and identities of the queer and disabled community, allowing a safe and welcoming space for people to come and discover, embrace, and amplify their authentic selves. 

Open Day Part 2 

WORKSHOPS

Favour Odusola 

Favour Odusola and dancers led an Afro Dance promenade through the building to the Space Upstairs, where he facilitated a fun packed open level workshop!!  

Kian Benson Bailes 

Kian Benson Bailes facilitated an intergenerational clay workshop and casual artist talk. Kian’s exhibition in Project earlier this year, Culchie boy, I love you / Grá mo chroí thú, mo chábóigín féin, referenced Irish folklore, mythology and craft traditions in an exuberant expression of rural queer experience. This playful workshop explored ceramics processes and techniques to make the “fairy whistles” that form part of his recent work.  

Jessie Thompson 

Dance Artist Jessie Thompson led an Improvisation workshop and performance – Jessie draws on her practice of Contemporary and Hip Hop styles to explore a range of tools open to dancers from any background. 

Communities & Collectives  

Grupa 

Irish-based creative community Grúpa  activated Project’s Cube space with photography, videography, design and performance throughout the afternoon.  

Club Comfort 

Music and nightlife collective Club Comfort took over the lower foyer to launch Mesh Net – a new publication that reflects on the history, experience and significance of dancing in Ireland, from ancient times to the present, edited by Kate Butler and Roo Honeychild. 

Dance on Film 

We were delighted to award winning Dance on Film by Project Artists, Junk Ensemble, Shaun Dunne and Zoe Ní Riordáin.

Artists

Project Arts Centre Open Day 2023 was kindly supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Dublin City Council and Dublin City Arts Office