Join us for a fun-filled educational day with the GSoI – packed with learning, networking, and all things glass!
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Date and time
Sat, 11 Oct 2025 10:30 – 16:00 GMT+1
Location
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park Turlough Park F23 HY31
GSoI aims to enhance the creative, business and administrative skills of our members and hope you will join us for our annual Education Day at the Museum of Country Life in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
This is an opportunity to gain valuable information about applying for funding, or a chance to save money running your workshop more sustainably with our invited experts. Heather Rose will share her expertise on all things arts applications and Seamus Dunbar will discuss energy conservation in the studio. Alison MacCormaic will also be leading a workshop using the museum collection to develop drawing from life skills.
Please join us for a day filled with advice, creativity and the chance to meet up with fellow glass enthusiasts.
Information talks also provided via Zoom link.
This event is led by GSoI Connaught group
AGENDA
- Informative talks
- ‘Applying for Funding’ with Heather Rose
- ‘Energy efficiency in Glass Working’ with Séamus Dunbar
- Develop Drawing Skills with Alison Mac Cormaic
- Social meet up
- Guided Museum tour
- Lunch at museum cafe Synge & Byrne
‘Applying for funding’ by Heather Rose
Heather Rose is a creative producer based in rural Sligo with a particular interest in work for young people, immersive work and work that pushes boundaries. She runs Rose Producing and was creative producer for Super Paua 2020-2023, a theatre collective making work for young people. Recent work includes Éist! Listen! (audio installation in 5 Wexford libraries), Joy! by Púca Puppets (Civic Theatre) and Pegasus the Clothes Horse by Alison Ní Mháirtín (National Opera House). Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019 she produced for the Pleasance Theatre and the house touring network in the UK, and spent 8 years as a touring stage manager- highlights include the Edinburgh Fringe, the West End, and the Sydney Opera House.
Heather Rose – Creative Producer
heather@roseproducing.com
FB: @Rose Producing
Insta: @Rose.Producing
Web: roseproducing.com
‘Energy efficiency in Glass Working’ by Séamus Dunbar
Séamus is a sculptor living in Manorhamilton, where from 1995 onwards he was instrumental in establishing and developing the Leitrim Sculpture Centre.
In 2013, through participation in a funded programme called “Harnessing Creativity”, he began exploring possibilities for sustainability and renewable energy as an alternative to extractive industries which were being pushed on the region at the time. As a result of contacts and conversations arising from the programme and subsequent exhibitions, he drew together a network of like-minded people. In 2016 the group joined the SEAI’s network of Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs), as North Leitrim SEC and since then they have conducted research, workshops and information events to promote sustainable goals and community control of renewable energy resources, supported by their mentoring team the Contract Research Unit at Sligo ATU.
Séamus continues to serve as chairperson of NLSEC while pursuing his activities as a sculptor.
Drawing workshop
In this drawing workshop participants will select and respond to individual objects in the NMI collection. Alison Mac Cormaic will guide the class through a unique method of representational drawing that uses ratio and relationship points to investigating shape, form and surface textures. The techniques are easy to understand and suitable for anybody who is interested in developing accuracy and individuality in their drawing skills.
Bio: Alison Mac Cormaic is originally from Scotland and now lives near Loughrea in County Galway. Her art practice centres on three elements: working with glass, recording through drawing and celebrating colour. Visually recording, wherever possible from life, she translates her designs into painterly mosaics, bringing a hand drawn quality to the finished work. Alison has been awarded a number of sculptural, architectural and educational commissions for The Arts Council, National Universities and County Councils and exhibited in Ireland, France, the UK and Italy. She completed a BA(Hons) in Architectural Glass at Edinburgh College of Art during the 1990s and holds an MA in Design History and Material Culture from National College of Art and Design, Dublin (2016) and a Professional Diploma in Education (2019) from Galway University.
