Context Background:
The second phase of In Context, 1999-2003, continued the accomplishments of the In Context 1 Public Art Programme. It was the largest local authority art commissioning programme of its time, and subsequently was held as a model of good practice in Public Art programming. Through In Context 2, South Dublin County Council, advised by consultants Artworking, delivered a diverse series of projects under the auspices of the In Context Per Cent for Art Scheme and funded through the Department of the Environment. This provided both emerging and established artists with an opportunity to engage with the community and to incorporate art into the public domain in new and interesting ways.
Description:
Lia Mills devised and co-ordinated Loose Horses, with the aim to encourage people to write stories set in the South Dublin County.
Four of the stories were commissioned, one each from Ivy Bannister, Pat Boran, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Lia Mills, while the other four were solicited through an open competition. The competition attracted a huge response and highlighted the degree of talent and the level of writing activity in the area. Each of writers selected through open submission; Martin Devaney, Pat Gough and Joan Sloey, are either resident or members of creative writing groups within the South Dublin County.
Lia Mills and In Context 2 used many methods of publication to give the stories a wide distribution. The Echo newspaper published the stories as a series throughout the summer of 2001 and Tallaght Community Radio broadcast them. They also appeared on the Internet. Loose Horses is available on CD from The County Library service, through their countywide branches. A series of pamphlets were distributed free at local libraries, community centres, and other distribution points.
Website : http://homepage.eircom.net/~loosehorses
Artist Biography:
Lia Mills is the author of two novels (Another Alice and Nothing Simple) and a memoir, In Your Face, which tells the story of a diagnosis of oral cancer and its treatment. She also writes short stories and literary non-fiction. An experienced facilitator of creative writing workshops, she has worked on several public art commissions. She is currently working on her third novel.
Mediation:
Published as a series in The Echo newspaper throughout the summer of 2001
Broadcast on Tallaght Community Radio (107.2 FM)
The County Libraries have the stories on CD available to loan, through their countywide branches
A series of 7000 sets of pamphlets was distributed free at local libraries, schools, community centres, and other distribution points in August/September 2001
Article on Loose Horses in Ann Marie Hourihan’s column The Sunday Tribune, 8th July 2001
Commissioner Type:
Local Authority
Commissioner:
South Dublin County Council SDCC
Programme:
In Context 2
PerCent for Art:
yes
Commissioning Process:
Open competition: two stage selection process. Part of a programmatic approach for In Context 2.
Funding:
Dept. of Environment Heritage and Local Government
Budget Range:
10,000 - 30,000
Project Start Date:
01/08/2000
Project End Date:
01/09/2001
Associated Professionals:
Project Manager: Artworking - Jenny Haughton & Aisling Prior