Objectives

TO REMAIN ARTIST LED

Art Trail was founded in 1996 by visual artists and remains an organisation directed and led by practising artists. Art Trail is inclusive and supportive of all professional artists’ practice, recognising work in all media and disciplines while maintaining a standard of excellence

TO CRITICALLY DEVELOP AND REFLECT

Art Trail is committed to presenting a varied programme of exhibitions, performances, public art, workshops, talks, seminars and occasions for critical reflection. Through the critical responces programme artists are provided the opportunity to gain critical feedback on their work from leading artists and critics in a range of artistic approaches

TO BE PROCESS BASED

Art Trail offers public access to the creative space of professional artists and facilitates discussion on work in progress through studio visits, tours and talks. Art Trail presents work in progress for critical and public comment enabling artists to test the direction of their art practice 

TO CREATE NEW AUDIENCES FOR VISUAL ART

Art trail continues to develop new audiences for the visual arts by increasing understanding of arts practice through access to work in public non-gallery spaces, interventions, public talks, open studios and tailored tours for schools and college groups 

TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Art Trail aware of the different constituents of artists’ audiences (fellow artists, public, art market, curators, gallerists, media) and provides a wide range of opportunities for interactive engagement between participating artists and these audiences, as well as developing the market for visual arts

TO DEVELOP NEW PERSPECTIVES

Art trail achieves a national/international perspective by hosting artists-in-residence from abroad. Art trail also invites internationally recognised artists and arts professionals through its programme, encouraging and facilitating interaction and exchange between Cork artists and these guests

TO OPERATE WITHIN CORKS VISUAL ARTS INFRASTRUCTURE

Acknowledging and Centralising Cork's Visual Arts Infrastructure Art Trail creates and manages a series of programmes and events that highlights the strength of Cork's visual arts infrastructure and promotes co-operation between different visual arts organisations  

TO ENABLE PUBLIC AND SITE SPECIFIC ART

Art Trail enables site-specific projects as part of its programme and encourages artists to make work outside of their normal studio practice. As well as using gallery spaces, it seeks to place work in the pubic domain in order to engage new audiences for visual art and inspire the creation of site-specific work

TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION

Art Trail initiates critical dialogue on artist's practice and aims to provide a record of this commentary through various media including commissioned essays, documentary video and artists' reports. The Art Trail programme and website offers an introduction to artists' practice in the region

Art Trail thanks all artists and contributors to Art Trail over the 12 years of our operations.

Board of Directors: Kevin Tuohy (Chair), Danny McCarthy, Sharon McCarthy, Chris Clarke, Serge VandenBerge, Tara Walsh