Workshop History
History
Lorg Printmakers (formerly Connaught Association of Printmakers) is a non-profit organisation that came together in order to create a twenty-four hour access print workshop and artists' resource organisation in Galway. Between 1998 and 2005, printmakers in Galway were fortunate enough to be have limited access to the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology's printmaking facilities through the membership of a print club, which allowed a capacity of fifteen artists. However, due to increase in demand, this facility needed to be increased. Before the Lorg workshop opened, printmakers had to travel to Dublin, Cork, Limerick or Belfast in order to use the print workshops in these cities. These circumstances were not always financially viable and time restrictions were imposed. It was because of this need to meet the growing demand for extra facilities that the campaign for a print studio in Galway evolved. A group of Printmaking graduates, Ursula Kelly, Denise McDonagh, Paula Gleeson, Leigh-Anne Seale and a number of other local supporters came together and formed Lorg Printmakers to resolve this. As a further development, the steering committee of Lorg Printmakers founded the Connaught Association of Printmakers (C.A.P.), in May 2004, which was set up to help promote interaction between member artists by means of regular meetings, quarterly newsletter, e-mail and text alerts. The newsletter contained and still contains vital information on upcoming exhibitions, residencies, bursaries, grants, etc.
Lorg Founding Members L- R
Denise McDonagh, Leigh-Anne Seale
Ursula Kelly & Paula Gleeson.
In October 2005, the Lorg committee secured premises in the Liosbán Industrial Estate, and after renovations, the doors were opened on the 5th of May, 2006. Since then Lorg has been involved in many local and national festivals and exhibitions including the Galway Arts Festival, The Tulca Season of Visual Art, the Clifden Arts Festival. Lorg has run over 30 education courses and workshops for people of all levels of ability including photography, printmaking, professional practise, and computing and environmentally friendly printmaking techniques. Lorg has also run a number of very successful outreach projects including the Westside Bus Project, the Tuam Afeasta Photography Project and the Touring Experiment Prison Project. Lorg has grown from strength to strength and totals 130 members currently. Members pay a yearly fee for the use of the facilities and can also purchase supplies and materials at the workshop. In November 2008 Lorg secured a unit at the newly built Ballybane Enterprise Centre. Lorg re-launched in the new premises at Unit 8 Ballybane Enterprise Centre in March 2009. In January 2009, Lorg became a Limited Company and are now officially Lorg Fine Art Printmakers Ltd.
Ballybane Enterprise Centre
Mission Statement
Lorg aims to enhance, encourage and support a stronger printmaking community in the West. Through the provision of an open access, professional printmaking workshop in Galway, Lorg will heighten the awareness of Printmaking as an accessible, unique and innovative art form. The Lorg workshop provides both emerging and established artists with the opportunity to make and exhibit their work and also to connect with other artists and community groups. Lorg recognises and promotes the role of art in creating opportunities for social inclusion, education and civic pride. Lorg supports this role through a series of regular outreach & community engagement projects and education programmes. Regularly organised member shows and training classes allow local printmakers to advance their artistic careers by expanding their knowledge of all printmaking processes, and providing them with the opportunity to sell their work. Lorg strives to collaborate with as many artists' studios and other arts organisations as possible, furthering members' contact and experience with the local, national and international art scene. This facility also serves to support the much celebrated status of Galway City and County as places of creativity and productivity.