OnSight Live! Mayo artist commission announced

MAYO County Council Art Service, in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland - Turlough Park and Mayo Artsquad - have announced the launch of an exciting artist commission for OnSight Live! 2026 - 2027.

OnSight is a long-established partnership project between the National Museum of Ireland - Turlough Park, Mayo County Council Arts Service and Mayo Artsquad. The project commissions artists to develop new work in response to the Irish Folklife Collection.

Over time, OnSight has evolved across disciplines and outcomes including visual art, installation, performance and poetry. In 2026 - 2027, OnSight will focus on music.

OnSight Live! invites a professional music-based artist or composer to create original work in response to the Irish Folklife Collection and to engage in creative collaboration with a group of young musicians in the development of new compositions.

Artists are invited to develop original musical work in response to artefacts, narratives and themes within the Irish Folklife Collection.

The collection reflects everyday life in Ireland across domestic, agricultural, social and ritual contexts. A central element of the commission is creative collaboration with a group of young musicians - teenagers (aged 13 to 18 years) - with an existing background in music.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application process is a single stage open call. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 29, at 5 p.m.

Music-based artists or composers from outside County Mayo are welcome to apply.

Applications should be submitted through the Consult portal. Detailed guidelines for applicants and application forms are available on consult.mayo.ie/en/applications.

For further information on how to register on the Consult portal, please contact Mayo Arts Service on (094) 9064387 or email mayoarts@mayococo.ie.

A site visit for artists will be arranged at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, on Monday, April 27. The visit will offer an opportunity to explore the galleries, view the collection stores and meet with the project partners. Attendance is advised but not essential.

To book a place on the site visit, please email tgaffney@museum.ie.

For further information about the commission, please contact Tiernan Gaffney, curator, National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park. Email tgaffney@museum.ie.

OnSight is funded by National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Mayo County Council and the Arts Council.