Sample-Studios

Congratulations to all the graduating class of 2026- we were so excited to join your celebration today and present 10 Graduate Awards - this will provide 10 emerging artists with 6 months of training, mentorship, access to facilities, curators visits, resources and most importantly, the magic of being part of a powerful peer network for professional artists. As part of our mission to launch, support and sustain creative careers, our Graduate Awards offer a bridge to professional practice that aims to keep talent in Cork.

We’ve been all over the country this week with our partners shortlisting graduate artist filmmakers for our Parallax Emerging Film Artist Award funded by Our jurors were in this week and are looking forward to visiting more degree shows soon. Watch this space for the cream of the crop in emergent artist and experimental film and moving image work, presented in Sample-Studios’ Gallery, The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, at the 71st Cork International Film Festival this November

Sample-Studios are excited to announce that we have been awarded a Cork City Council Circular Economy/Waste Prevention Grant 🙌

This grant will allow us to offer an innovative new art & sustainability pilot programme entitled RAW (Reduce Artist Waste) to 20 of our artist members this Autumn, facilitated by Eco Artist, Sample-Studios member, and Sample 15 Artist Bursary Recipient, Ashleigh Ellis. RAW is a series of training workshops designed to empower artists to use natural materials and reduce waste in their practice. The pilot will take place across two sessions in August and September so watch this space for more updates!

Special thanks to Cork City Council for supporting this work!

Member Monday!

Aisling Roche is one of the recipients of the Sample-Studios 'Sample 15' Artist Bursary. Her Solo Exhibition 'NACRIA' is currently on display in Grilse Gallery until 28 June.

Through the Sample 15 Bursary, Aisling is currently undertaking a structured, 12-week programme of mentorship with artist Rachel Parry to support an in-depth review of her practice in terms of conceptual direction, methodologies, and strategy.

"Rachel's practice - her innovative use of materials and sensitivity to ecological processes - are deeply aligned with the questions I am exploring. This mentorship not only enhances my technical and conceptual abilities, but also contributes to the long-term resilience of my professional practice."

Big congratulations to Aisling on these successes, and more to come in the future!

For more info on the Sample-Studios 'Sample 15' Artist Bursary, visit https://tinyurl.com/bdfsp2de

⏳ The countdown is on! ⏳

PlaySpaces by Chris Finnegan opens this Friday, 5 June at Sample-Studios Gallery: The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cork Midsummer Festival 🎉

Created with children from across Cork City, this joyful exhibition and city-wide play trail transforms Cork into a world designed by children, for children 🌈✨ Expect secret hideaways, playful installations, cosy dens and imaginative spaces inviting families to explore, dream and play together.

📍 Sample-Studios Gallery: The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, Fitzgerald’s Park
📅 5–28 June 2026
🎟️ Free Admission

Plus, save the date for our Opening Reception on Friday 19 June, 5–7pm, with a special kids disco hosted by Stevie G 🪩🎶

Cork City is about to become one giant playground… 👀

What would Cork City look like if children were in charge?

From 5-28 June, discover 'PlaySpaces' by Cork artist Chris Finnegan, a joyful exhibition in Sample-Studios Gallery: The Lord Mayor's Pavilion developed in collaboration with Cork Midsummer Festival. This exhibition forms part of a city-wide play trail designed by children, for children.

'PlaySpaces' invites families to explore cosy dens, secret hideaways, playful installations and imaginative spaces created in collaboration with children from Múin Afterschool, St. Vincent’s Primary School, and The Crann Centre. In The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, discover a unique Play Space accompanied by the models, drawings, and photographs designed in collaboration with children as the ambitious project unfolded.

Don't miss the Opening Reception on Friday 19 June, 3-5pm, featuring a special kids disco hosted by Stevie G - all are welcome!

Come and see The Lord Mayor's Pavilion transformed into a space where children are not just visitors, but creators!

📍 Sample-Studios Gallery: The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, Fitzgerald’s Park
📅 5–28 June 2026, open Tue-Sun 11am-5pm
🎟️ Free Admission
🚪 Opening Reception: Friday 19 June, 3-5pm

Reflecting on another outstanding year for inclusive creative education in Cork City through Sample-Studios Cork Creative Careers Programme. Thanks you to all the schools and groups who took part and made this year such a success. Thanks to our incredible, hard-working tutors Kate McElroy, Aoife Claffey, Olivia Golden, Stevie G, Elize de Beer, Etaoin Melville, Fiona Boniwell, Ava Hayes, and Sarah Buckley who deliver outstanding and inspiring workshops. A very special thanks to our supporters for making this important work possible. We’re very proud of the results of this programme and it couldn’t happen with their support – thanks to The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, The Late Late Show RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, The Ireland Funds, and RDJ LLP.

Photos by Chris Finnegan

📝 Applications open: Bursary Award Round 2

Our Bursary Award supports individual artists to develop their artistic practice across a range of artforms.

Deadline: Thurs 18 June, 5:30pm

➡️ Find out more and apply: https://artscouncil.ie/funding-opportunities/bursary-award-round-2/

📷 Dara McGrath

We've been having ball partnering with MTU Arts Office to offer our Creative Breaks programme to their staff!

Creative Breaks offers employees an opportunity to take a creative break in a series of artistic activities facilitated by a professional artist and Sample-Studios member during their work day. The activities are designed to encourage team building within a fun group environment but also encourage individual creativity and a sense of wellbeing. We're looking forward to more!

Images: Kate McElroy offers photography workshops in May 2026.

Summer's off to a fine start at Sample-Studios! The great weather coincided with our first members outing of the sunny season, which took us to visit Mick Wilkins of Kilnagleary Studios in Carrigaline. It was a fascinating morning learning about lost wax casting, wood carving, clay firing, and much more. Mick is prolific in the public art realm and our members got lots useful insights into working at large scale and accessing public art opportunities.

Thanks to Mick Wilkins for hosting us and for showing us around his studios!