Draíocht Recipient Announcement

Farmer, 2023 by James McLoughlin

Fingal County Council and Draíocht Blanchardstown announce the recipient of the 2025 Draíocht Artists Studio residency award, Visual Artists James McLoughlin.

This Residency consists of the use of Draíocht’s Visual Artist’s Studio for the period above rent free.

A fee of €4000 for the 4-month period together with €1,000 material costs are in addition. Artists are expected to make full-time use of the space. The studio is available for use Monday to Saturday.

Located in the heart of Dublin 15, Draíocht is an arts centre steadfastly committed to serving its local community and influencing arts practice far beyond. Its development was instigated by a passionate cohort of people from within this unique community, with its rich tradition of drama and musical theatre and fast-growing young and culturally diverse population. Their vision and determination was rewarded when Draíocht opened in 2001, a purpose-built space with two theatres, two galleries, an artist’s studio, a workshop space and a café.

Fingal County Council Arts Officer, Sarah O’Neil commented ‘We are delighted to have James in the Draíocht studio. The primary purpose of the residency is to provide time and space for an artist to develop their practice in a comfortable, practical and supportive environment.’

James McLoughlin added, ‘I am delighted and honoured to be the recipient of the 2025 Fingal County Council and Draiocht studio residency award. Having the support and space to focus on creating new work after a long period of study is invaluable time to consolidate and re-examine my research and practice.’ 

James McLoughlin

About the artist: 

James McLoughlin is a visual artist whose interest is drawn to the intersection of the human and non-human and the imbalanced and abstract relationship humans have with their fellow species and environments. Working primarily through expanded printmaking, he is a studio-based artist interested in work that prompts the viewer to reflect on the absurdity and effects of imposed systems and constructs that are indicative of human activity. Narratives around the climate crisis populate his work through mediums of print, paint and materiality.

McLoughlin is an artist and printmaker born and raised in Dublin, moving to live and work in London in his teens before returning to Ireland in 2015 and currently resides in County Louth. In 2019 he completed a University Certificate in Visual Arts Practices at NCAD and in 2023, he graduated with a first-class BA honour's degree from NCAD in Fine Art, having work purchased by the Office of Public Works, he received the graduate residency award at Damn Fine Print. James has exhibited nationally, throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland and has been published by the Visual Artists Ireland news sheet.

In 2023 James continued developing his practice with an MFA in Fine Art at TUS Limerick School of Art and Design and graduated in 2025 and where he also attended a residency at Limerick Printmakers.

For more information please see:
www.fingalarts.ie
www.fingal.ie/arts

www.draiocht.ie