We begin April by raising our gaze overseas, and recognising the value of international practice for Irish artists and arts organisation.

Already, artist Eva Rothschild and curator Mary Cremin have been announced as Ireland’s representatives at this year’s Venice Venice Art Biennale, the most prestigious art exhibition in the world, and we wish them great success. Meanwhile the Special Section of last year’s Venice Architecture Biennale, Close Encounter, has returned to tour Ireland, starting this month at Cork’s Glucksman Gallery. And elsewhere in this Newsletter you will see our call for compelling, ambitious and exciting proposals to represent Ireland at next year’s Architecture Biennale.

Many artists and organisations work in an international context: developing arts practice abroad, initiating and creating projects with international partners, and presenting completed works on the international stage. As part of the implementation of our strategy, we recently published our international policy, in which we recognise that artists and organisations operating at an international level require a strategic, long-term approach to developing partnerships and leveraging opportunities, giving them the time and resources to strategically develop their international practice.

It also acknowledges that international arts practice includes the presentation of international work to audiences in Ireland, providing Irish audiences with increased opportunities for critical engagement with the arts. We’re committing additional resources to the area, and we are now seeking applications for the role of Head of International Arts.

With best wishes,

Orlaith McBride

Director