A unique strength of the Centre is its wide range of technical resources, supports and space existing within the same complex and available for artistic development and creative practice. Our facilities are based in three buildings: a 1,500 sq.mt industrial premises known as the ‘Factory’ on New Line, Manorhamilton; a 4-storey 680 sq.mt Georgian building called ‘Sheehan’s’ on Main Street and next door another Georgian house of 665 sq.mt, known as 'McKenna’s'.
All our facilities are available to everyone and prices start from €10 per day.
The Centre is organised around the following key facilities.
Factory:
- Gallery
- 9 x Artist Studios
- Metalwork & Foundry Workshop
- Ceramics Studio
- Ceramics Glazing & Kiln Room
- Large Fabrication Area
- Stone Working & Grinding Unit
- Woodwork Studio
- Mouldmaking Studio
- Waxworking Studio
McKenna's:
- Pop-Up Shop / Gallery
- Residential Artists' Studios
- Analogue Photographic Darkroom
- Digital Design & Editing Suite
Sheehan's:
- 8 x Artist Studios
- Traditional Printmaking Studio
- Printmakers Dark Room & Exposure Unit
- Printmakers Digital Studio
SUMMARY OF FACILITY HIRE RATES
A. SUBSIDISED ARTISTS RATES
These rates are for individual artists to develop their own creative, artistic and professional practice and who are working without funding. Subsidised rates are supported by the Arts Council.
1. WORKSHOP BAYS – space only, workbenches & basic energy only from €10 per day.
2. PRIVATE STUDIOS – space, worktops & basic energy only from €20 per day.
3. TRADITIONAL PRINTMAKING - from €20 per day.
4. WOODWORK, METALWORK, CERAMICS WORKSHOPS from €20 per day.
5. UNFUNDED ARTISTS RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION IN MCKENNA’S HOUSE
I. PRIVATE ROOMS from €25 per night.
II. PRIVATE ROOM WITH ACCESS TO ALL TECHNICAL FACILITIES - €125 a week; €500 a month.
III. SELF-CONTAINED RESIDENCY STUDIOS - €150 a week; €600 a month.
IV. SELF-CONTAINED RESIDENCY STUDIOS WITH ACCESS TO ALL TECHNICAL FACILITIES - €200 a week; €800 a month.
B. FUNDED ARTISTS RATES
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESIDENCIES
PDR’s provide a practical research and development base for artists working in all media who need time out to investigate a specific idea and/or explore a technical or material process, of their choosing, in order to advance their practice. Artists on PDR’s typically build-in technical training into their residencies availing of the Centre’s experienced technicians to do this. PDR’s come without the requirement of an exhibition or any specific outcome at the end, apart from a short progress report to LSC.
In Stone, Wood, Mouldmaking, Metalwork, Ceramics, Trad Print, Digital Print, Analogue Photography, and exclude materials.
FACILITY:
- Private Rooms from €35 per night €125 per week; €500 per month
- Private Room with access to all technical facilities - €175 a week; €700 a month
- Self-Contained Residency Studio Apartment - €250 per week;, €1,000 a month.
- Self-Contained Residency Studio with access to all technical facilities - €300 a week; €1,200 a month.
DIRECT ARTISTIC TECHNICAL SUPPORT – See prices below. You will need to estimate how much support you will need.
1. FACILITIES
Residential Studios
You will be provided, subject to availability, with either:
Residency Studio No. 2 or No. 3: Each have a private double bedroom, separate studio area with kitchenette and own bathroom (Apt 3 ) or shared bathroom (Apt 2).
Residency Studio No: 1 has a private double bedroom with large studio in the next-door room with shared kitchen and bathrooms.
All Residency studios have access to the communal wifi, kitchen, washing machine & bathrooms.
Technical Facilities provide standard equipment across the different workshop areas in either: Stone and Large Fabrication area; Ceramics; Woodwork; Mouldmaking; Metalwork and Foundry; Traditional Print; Video Editing; Analogue Photographic Darkroom; and Digital Design.
Access is 6am – 9pm Mon-Sun. Generally, artists will bring their own hand and power tools. Basic energy use is included.
GENERAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT (in house staff)
All artists working at the Centre are provided with General Technical Support up to a maximum of 10 hours per month. This involves assistance with setting up work spaces to meet H&S standards, organizing materials, the provision and operation guidance of non-restricted tools and equipment; ongoing H&S support and full technical support for installation of gallery exhibitions. If you require further support it will be charged at €20 per hour.
2. DIRECT TECHNICAL SUPPORT
This is direct hands-on help, support and advice in making new artwork. It is provided by an experienced professional artist with a proven track record of expertise in specific material processes and techniques, mostly from the North West region but some from across Ireland who have registered with Leitrim Sculpture Centre as Technical Support Consultants. All work is made in collaboration with the artist and can range from standard to advanced.
Direct Artistic Technical support is discretionary and best determined by the level of the expertise and experience of the artist. Artists who do not require Direct Artistic Technical Support will need to demonstrate they are experienced and trained in the safe use of the technical areas they wish to work in.
- Standard Technical Support – This support covers the safe operation of restricted equipment and induction in a variety of basic techniques and processes when the process is NOT new to the artist. Cost = €50 per hour
- Advanced Technical Support – This support is required where the artist is new to a process or where the artist is experienced but requires a more in-depth approach or has a specific problem that requires advanced experience/technique and hands-on support and development. It is also required for assistance in the safe operation of certain restricted equipment (i.e. operation of furnaces, kilns or large machinery in woodwork for example). Cost = €50 per hour
- Workshop Induction - One-off induction is a requirement of all artists, new to a specific technical area and involves up to a maximum of 1 hour's introduction to the safe use of the workshop space and equipment or plant. Cost = 30 per hour if provided by a freelance artist.
Private Studios
Leitrim Sculpture Centre has studios to let for professional artists. The studios vary in size up to 26 sq.mt. and form part of a complex of 17 studios.
Sheehan’s & McKenna’s Studios - Are located in two attractive Georgian premises, on Main Street in the centre of town, and are ideal for painters, printmakers, digital media creators, artist/designers etc. and all those working in 2D or light construction media.
Factory Studios – Are located in the main LSC building and would suit artists working in the areas of stone, wood, ceramics, hot glass, mouldmaking, metalwork, forge and foundry.
Access to the Studios is from 6am to 10pm and rent includes: utilities, broadband, kitchen and 50% discount on rates for all the main technical facilities at the Centre.
Contact us for an application form if you would like to apply for space: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
Project Studios
The Gallery consist of various spaces totalling 300 sq.m. These can be used by artists wishing to view or develop new work in a gallery context or try out installation and/or projection ideas.
Factory Project Space, on the first floor of the Factory is a 54sq.m. studio that caters for performance, drawing, workshops and artists projects. The studio is well lit, heated and has a wooden floor which is ideal for movement and performance based work. The room can also be used for community and artists workshops, master classes, drawing projects or as a projection space for talks and meetings.
The gallery space is 300 sq.metres open planned with extensive wall space 13 ft high. It has an extensive window front of 60 ft and the specialist Erco gallery lighting as well as ample daylight. The Gallery shows individuals or groups of artists and provides for special projects, workshops or community events.
National and international artist led groups or curators may hire the facility and exhibit their own projects.
The facilities include
InFocus IN5316 Projector 1920x1080
Dell 2400 Projector 1024x768 XGA
The Bronze Foundry and Metalwork areas are equipped to cater for most metal and casting processes undertaken by artists. The operation encourages direct hands on use of the facilities and experimentation is encouraged across a range of casting and mould-making processes.
Facilities Include
Large sunken bronze furnace
Blacksmithing forge with anvil
Welding with TIG and arc
Large front loading gas kiln with scissor hydraulic table
Sandblaster
Benches and vices
Centricast C300 mouldmaking machine with Seba 20kg melting pot
Sandcasting equipment
Metal sheet guillotine
Metal sheet roller
Chop Saw 355mm
Pillar Drill
Bench grinder
The centre operates 2 Kilns which are used in combination with glass processes.
Facilities Include
Large Electric kiln. Front loading on rails.
Ulster Ceramics College electric kiln 8.1. Front loading - 68cm deep x 46cm wide x 75 high. Capacity – 225 litres.
Ulster Ceramics College electric kiln 4.2. Front loading - 45cm deep x 39cm wide x 69 high. Capacity – 120 litres.
Nabertherm 190 electric kiln. Top loading circular – 59cm wide x 69cm high. Capacity – 190 litres.
Paragon SC2 Silver & Glass Kiln – for small work from silverclay and enamelling to glass and bead annealing.
Lincoln Wheel
Stone and wood facilities are housed in the largest open planned space in the factory at 275 sq.metres. The space has a height of 15 metres and benefits from direct access to the yard where large stone or other materials can be delivered directly and worked.
The Stone area has a range of lifting gear to cater for movement of heavy sculpture and the delivery of large scale work often used in public commission work. The facility has the provision of a water wall which draws stone dust away from the user and keeps dust to a minimum in the surrounding atmosphere.
Facilities Include
Martini Aeroimplanti waterwall
Bench grinders
Pallet trucks
Konig gantry with block lifter
Facilities Include
Table, band and mitre saws
Pillar drill
Router
Horizontal drill
Lathe
Wet & Dry bench grinder
A separate unit is dedicated to the development of mould-making 75sq.m and modelling techniques used across all mediums in the moulding and copying of surfaces and 3D objects. In the same way that metals are liquefied and poured into moulds, liquids like plaster; wax and rubber can be poured to take impressions of planes and spaces.
Mouldmaking Facilities
- Dedicated Investment mould room
- Wax working area
- Silicone & Latex mouldmaking
Mouldmaking Processes
Clay, Plaster and Wax Moulding: An introduction to good mould principles
The simplest of mould materials, clay can take up impressions of objects, surfaces and actions. Plaster will quickly set and remain hard. These in turn allow wax editions to be taken. Each step in a mould process depends on the degree to which the properties of each material interact. For example; plaster/wax (water/oil). Useful techniques, especially for the reproduction of models from one material to the next in the casting process.
Life Casting Plaster
Bandage and/or alginate rubber can be used in taking impressions from fine surfaces and objects, notably the body and parts thereof. Often used by artists to reproduce life detail in wax and then bronze and stainless steel.
Direct Wax
As an alternative to the copying function of the wax in the casting process, the wax can be freely constructed, using various softening, welding and paint-on techniques. Expanded Polystyrene can be usefully combined with wax, tin foil and other fibre and organic materials to build up surfaces and volumes. An experimental and exploratory approach has been successful in the past.
Located in a separate building behind Sheehan’s and includes Etching, Lithography and Silkscreen facilities. We promote the use of non-toxic printing processes and develop alternative methods for avoiding the use of solvents and chemicals harmful to health and to the environment such as electro etching, galv-on etching etc.
Facilities include
Professional etching and litho press – Bed size:
Etching Press – Bed size:
Silk Screen Press – Max screen 58” x 44”
Drying Rack – Tray size 42” x 32”
Large Silk Screen Exposure and Drying Cabinet - Max screen size 50” X 36”
Square hot plate 60×60
Litho and silkscreen equipment
Assorted gravers, burnishers, chisels and scrapers
Lino and wood gouges
Japanese marking knife
Arkansa stones
Mezzotint rockers and Roullets
Diamond dry points
Stop out varnish, soft and hard grounds