Previous Studio Artists and Co-Directors:
About
Basic Space is an independent art organisation with a programme of residencies, exhibitions and educational events in collaboration with practitioners and art institutions throughout Ireland.
We primarily work with emerging and early-career practitioners.
The majority of our projects are hosted or in collaboration with external institutions, where we act as a critical force, challenging attitudes and policy.
Basic Space operates a representative programme, prioritising practices by women, black/brown, disabled and queer artists.
Current Co-Directors:
Siobhán Mooney is an independent curator with a particular interest in emerging practices and site specific work outside the gallery space. Siobhán is currently artist liaison and curator for ‘Earth Rising’ an Eco Festival in IMMA. Recent roles include: Membership and Special Projects manager at Visual Artists Ireland, Co-curator (as part of Basic Space) of Periodical Review 12 held in Pallas Projects 2022/23, curator of ‘Home Place’, a photographic exhibition by Gerry Blake in DLR Lexicon and curator of a number of site specific light installations by Helen MacMahon for Listowel Festival of Light. Siobhán graduated with an MA in curating (MAVIS) from IADT in 2014 and was the 2019 winner of the Black Church Print Studio Emerging Curator Award.
Laura Harvey-Graham is a Déise-born Dublin-based editor, writer, and arts worker. She is the founder and editor-in chief of literary/visual arts journal An Capall Dorcha, editorial board member of Artefact and committee member of the Irish Association of Art Historians. She has previously been a co-director with Platform Arts and has worked with Todomuta Studio (Seville). As a writer, her work has been published in the Three Fates and the College Green Journal. She currently works full time as Marketing and Communications Manager for MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland.
Ella Litton is a Dublin based Visual Artist. She is currently perusing a Masters Degree in Art History, Collections and Curating at UCD, after graduating with a BA in Fine Art from TU Dublin in 2022. Since graduating, she is employed at IMMA under the Departments of Engagement & Learning (Talks & Public Programming, Art & Ageing) and Retail & Editions.
Litton’s practice flows between both making and curating. As a recent graduate herself, Litton’s focus is to give emerging creatives the platform to discuss their practice, aiming to expand the dialogue between artists and spectators.
History
Basic Space was founded in 2010 by Kari Cahill, Greg Howie, Hannah Fitz and Hugo Byrne and occupied a vacant warehouse on Vicar Street, which was host to studios and exhibitions. Basic Space subsequently was a resident of the Irish Museum of Modern Art’s Residency Programme, followed by a move to the Vacant Space Scheme’s Eblana House in 2013. Eblana House was a multi-use space with studios, a workshop and exhibitions, which closed in April 2016. From 2016, Basic Space has occupied a number of spaces in Dublin, expanding collaborations with art institutions throughout Ireland to programme residencies, exhibitions and educational events.
To date, Basic Space has provided studios for 47 artists, programmed exhibitions and events throughout Ireland, fostered international collaboration and nurtured many of Ireland’s leading artistic practices.