Louth County Council Announces Nine New Public Art Commissions

Following an extensive open competitive tender and selection process, Louth County Council has announced the appointment of artists and creative teams to deliver nine new public art commissions across the county.

The appointments follow a rigorous procurement process that began in December 2025, with the competition attracting submissions from artists and multidisciplinary teams from across Ireland and beyond.

Expert panels comprising arts professionals, project stakeholders, and local authority representatives assessed applications, selecting successful proposals based on artistic excellence, innovation, and community engagement.

The commissions, which are already underway, will be completed by the end of 2027. They are funded through the national Percent for Art Scheme and form part of Louth County Council's Public Art Programme and its ongoing commitment to enhancing public spaces, celebrating local identity, and increasing public engagement with contemporary art throughout the county.

Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said: “These nine commissions represent a significant investment in creativity, community and place-making across County Louth. We are fortunate to have a vibrant and talented artistic community, and it is encouraging to see such strong interest in these opportunities from artists working across a wide range of disciplines."

The nine commissions included six sculptural pieces and three Artist-in-Residence projects.

The sculptural commissions will feature in six new council social housing developments at Bakery View, Boice Court and Greenhills Grange in Drogheda; An Mullach in Louth Village; Fulacht Fia in Dundalk; and Ravel Drive in Dunleer.

The six sculptural artists selected were Alex Pentek, Simon Carman, Colin Davies, Hans van Meeuwen, David Beattie and Stephen Burke.

The three Artist-in-Residence projects include a mixture of photography, visual art and dance.

In Dundalk, local photographer Ciaran Dunbar was selected for a project with Muirhevnamór FC, which will explore the role of grassroots sport within communities and examine how local clubs often function as important social, cultural and emotional support structures.  The project will culminate in a publication, and the young participants have also taken part in workshops to design the club’s new away kit.

In Drogheda, dance artist Selma Daniels will work with a number of local schools to collaboratively create a 30-minute dance performance which will be delivered in schools and for public audiences. The completed work will be showcased as part of Cruinniú na nÓg in June 2027.

The third project will see renowned photographic artist Jackie Nickerson work with the community in Clogherhead on a project exploring how identity is shaped collectively.

Working collaboratively with residents, she will create site-specific installations, pop-up exhibitions and will produce a fine art publication. The project will serve as a social and historical document of a specific community in 2026, creating a permanent record of local narratives.

Moya Hodgers, Arts Officer, Louth County Council, said: "The scale and quality of the response to this competition was extremely impressive, reflecting both the strength of the artistic sector and the growing recognition of Louth as a place that values creativity and cultural participation.

“The selected artists bring a diverse range of practices and perspectives, and their projects will result in new works and experiences being delivered in communities right across the county. Together, these commissions will make a meaningful contribution to Louth's cultural landscape and ensure that high-quality contemporary art is accessible to a broad public audience."

For more information, visit www.louthartsoffice.ie