Connected Horizons: The Irish Diaspora

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 Time: 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM GMT (Irish/UK Time) Format: Online Webinar

Join Visual Artists Ireland for ‘Connected Horizons: The Irish Diaspora,’ an online event connecting arts professionals, organisations, and artists who contribute to the global network of Irish contemporary visual art.

This event is structured to foster critical dialogue on the infrastructure supporting Irish artists abroad and to celebrate the breadth of artistic practice currently taking place within the diaspora.

Part I: Organisations

The first half of the event brings together leading cultural organisations to discuss their operational models, strategic programming, and how they actively engage with artists of Irish heritage and the diaspora.

Organisations:

• Irish Arts Center (IAC), New York: Representing the dynamic experience of presenting Irish arts in the high-stakes cultural environment of North America.
• Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI), Paris: Discussing their role as Ireland’s European cultural flagship, focusing on residencies and transnational cultural exchange.
• Irish Cultural Centre (ICC), London: Sharing insights into balancing community engagement and professional arts programming within the UK’s established Irish community.
• Culture Ireland: Discussing their support for showcasing Irish visual art across the world.

The presentations will be followed by an open Q&A session with attendees.

Part II: Show and Tell

The second half features a ‘Show and Tell’ presentation segment dedicated to the voices of VAI members living and working outside of Ireland.

We are seeking three VAI member artists for 10-minute presentations focused on their current practice, the influence of their physical location on their work, and their connection to the Irish visual arts scene.

Artist Participation Fee: Each selected artist participating in the Show and Tell will receive a €50 fee for their time and contribution.

Organisations

Irish Arts Center

Based in New York City, Irish Arts Center (IAC) is a national and international home for artists and audiences of all backgrounds who share a passion for the evolving arts and culture of contemporary Ireland and Irish America. They present, develop, and support work from both established and emerging artists and cultural practitioners, providing audiences experiences that are innovative, dynamic, emotionally and intellectually transporting, meet the highest standards of excellence, and celebrate our common humanity. Since their founding in 1972, the Irish Arts Center has evolved from their grassroots beginnings, inclusive cultural and community organisation committed to preservation of traditional culture, and as an established off-off Broadway theatre, to become one of NYC’s most dynamic and beloved multi-disciplinary institutions serving thousands of artists across a range of artistic practices.

The Irish Arts Center programme comes to life through several frames, including premieres and residencies by established and emerging artists; series developed with artist-curators; commissioned projects and collaborations; literature, humanities and public conversations; performances in communities outside New York City and distribution of work on the digital platform. Their education programme, with 40+ classes and masterclasses in Irish language, history, music and dance, sustains, transmits, and evolves Irish cultural traditions and builds community with people of all ages and backgrounds.

In the fall of 2021, after more than a decade of visioning, development, and planning, the New Irish Arts Center opened its doors for public programming. Designed by architects Davis Brody Bond and Ireland’s Office of Public Works, the New Irish Arts Center contains a state-of-the-art flexible performance space for theatre, dance, music, visual arts, interdisciplinary work, residencies, and special events. The New Irish Arts Center provides a home for artistic innovation, collaboration and development in the world’s cultural capital, and a place for people of all backgrounds to come together to celebrate our common humanity in the environment of Irish hospitality for which Ireland–and Irish Arts Center–is renowned.

Rachael Gilkey

Rachael Gilkey is Director of Programming at Irish Arts Center, a contemporary, multidisciplinary arts organisation in New York. She is a core member of the team, led by executive director Aidan Connolly, which developed the visionand strategic planning for the New Irish Arts Center, a $60 million capital project which opened to the public in December 2021. As Director of Programming, she manages the teams responsible for the curation, production, and marketing of a diverse range of programming in theatre, dance, music, literature, visual arts, film, education and family.

Prior to IAC, Rachael was Development Manager at The Battery Conservancy, a not-for-profit dedicated to rebuilding and revitalising The Battery, the 25-acre public park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Rachael is a founding committee member of the Bronx Book Festival, which launched in 2018 by The Bronx is Reading, bringing the first fully accessible book festival to the Bronx. 

Centre Culturel Irlandais

Ireland’s cultural headquarters on the European continent, the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris is a vibrant contemporary arts centre and residence where Parisian and international audiences cross the threshold to enjoy more than 100 events every year, from curated exhibitions, concerts and festivals to debates, performances and visits. It houses France’s primary multi-media library of resources on Ireland as well as Historic Archives and an Old Library.

Rosetta Beaugendre

Rosetta Beaugendre is Head of Communications and a Creative Producer at the CCI. Dedicated to supporting and showcasing Ireland-based artists in general – and visual artists in particular – she has curated a number of exhibitions at the CCI including the group show ‘Ireland at 100: A Nation Under the Influence’. She led CCI’s Zeitgeist-Culture Ireland trip in 2024 bringing German curators to Belfast and Dublin for studio visits as well as networking with artists, galleries  and visual arts organisations.

The Irish Cultural Centre

The Irish Cultural Centre (ICC) in Hammersmith, London, is the UK’s leading hub for Irish arts and culture. Since opening in 1995, the ICC has championed Irish music, theatre, literature, film, and education, welcoming audiences of all demographics to engage with the island of Ireland’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary artforms. A registered charity, the ICC supports Irish artists, fosters creativity and learning, and hosts a diverse year-round programme of performances, exhibitions, workshops, and community events.

William Foote

William Foote has been the Centre Director of the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith since 2020. Originally from Bangor, Co. Down, William gained his experience in the world of arts and culture through theatre, working as an actor and writer with companies such as Shakespeare’s Globe, Tron Theatre Glasgow and Bard in the Botanics. Since becoming director of the ICC, he has overseen the venue’s 25th and 30th anniversary celebrations, helping to establish the ICC as a worldwide player in celebrating Irish culture, supporting local artists and diaspora, and furthering the community outreach projects. The hard work, dedication and impact of the Centre within the UK framework was recognised by a visit from Their Royal Highnesses, then the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, in 2022.

Culture Ireland

Culture Ireland promotes Irish arts worldwide and has operated as a division of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport since its establishment in 2005. By developing platforms to present outstanding Irish work to international audiences and through showcases at key global arts events, Culture Ireland creates and nurtures relationships with international presenters globally.

Aisling Durkan works in Culture Ireland and is responsible for managing the grant funding rounds and special initiatives such as Ireland at Venice, Ireland’s representation at the Venice Art and Architecture Biennales. Jenny Walton coordinates the Ireland Invites project on behalf of Culture Ireland; in partnership with the Hugh Lane Gallery and IMMA, Culture Ireland showcases Irish visual art to the international biennale circuit. She is also currently Operations Manager of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Research Scheme.

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VAI Member Artist Call for Participation: If you are a VAI member artist based outside of Ireland and are interested in presenting your work for the €50 fee, please register your interest directly through the webinar booking form. Participating artists will be notified of their involvement at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

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