This old coach house is about to be transformed into an arts centre
It will be ‘a place where meaningful experiences are made’.
That’s the plan for a derelict rural coachhouse in East Cork, where Greywood Arts has received planning permission to renovate a village centre outbuilding into an arts centre and community creativity hub.
The renovation plans include two affordable, shareable artist studios for short or long term lease.
Greywood Arts opened as an artist’s residency in 2017 and has since brought nearly fifty writers, visual artists, musicians and performers from all over the world to Killeagh.
The group aims to make the arts part of daily life in Killeagh and East Cork by offering a range of cultural activities “and opportunities for self-expression”.
The new space will give rural artists a place to work where they can teach classes, exhibit their art and connect with other creatives.
Establishing a dedicated arts education space will allow Greywood Arts to programme ongoing classes for all ages, workshops with visiting artists, as well as camps during school breaks, meetings and other events.
The organisers are hopeful regarding funding proposals made earlier this year with the assistance of SECAD and Cork County Council. However, the group will still need to raise approximately €75,000 to complete the renovations and open the coach house creative hub by 2021.
Hidden history
The adjacent Georgian house, where the artist’s residency is based, holds a significant presence in the streetscape. It is entered in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and located within the Architectural Conservation Area for Killeagh.
The property’s rich history begins as a family home, becoming an RIC barracks which was burned by the IRA in 1920. The now derelict coach house became a sawmill until the 1950s.
“The environment we cultivate starts with making people feel welcome and included.” explains Artistic Director Jessica Bonenfant.
“It’s a joy to see the participants in our cultural and educational programming making meaningful personal and group experiences. We want to help shape the cultural landscape of East Cork, and to do this to the best of our ability, we need more space! It’s exciting to be at the beginning of this new phase of our journey, and we wouldn’t be here without the tremendous support of the community.”
There will be a project unveiling and champagne reception at Greywood Arts on Saturday, August 24th at 8pm. Locals are invited to discover Greywood Arts’ plans for the future, see the coach house renovation plans, learn about the property’s history and enjoy live music.
RSVP to create@greywoodarts.org if you’d like to go along.
