Quay move for Cork's Lavit gallery

John Daly

In a move that will likely enhance its artistic endeavours, the Lavit Gallery has relocated to Wandesford Quay.

The industrial warehouse, constructed in 1840 and restored 1995, is located by Clarke’s Bridge, and home to Cork Printmakers and Backwater Artists Group.

With the Crawford College of Art and Design around the corner on Sharman Crawford Street, it forms an artistic hub for continued collaboration with its fellow organisations.

“It is great to have likeminded artistic neighbours,” says gallery director Aoife O’Connell.

“We have worked with many of the artists in both Backwater and Cork Printmakers in the past, and will continue to work with in the future. Also, we have the added benefit of working on shared ideas for the Wandesford complex as an artistic space.”

Tours are planned for Heritage Week and programmed events for Culture Night, with all groups working together to encourage greater visitor traffic into this growing artistic quarter just off Washington Street.

Purposely redesigned as a gallery, and which formerly housed the Fenton Gallery and CIT Crawford Gallery, the Lavit occupies a bright and airy space, more accessible to staff, artists and visitors.

“Our aim is to encourage visitors to the gallery, not just to buy art, which is essential, but to see, experience, and engage with the work,” Aoife explains.

“One of our recent ventures, Art & Coffee, has been a growing success. We invite the public to join us in the gallery, either an artist in the exhibition or a staff member will talk about the work, with coffee provided.

"It is a very casual set up, where questions are encouraged, but not in the formal setting of a lecture-style talk,” says O’Connell.

The gallery’s run-up of exhibitions from now through October includes: CASe —Veronica Bolay, Don Cronin, Sheenagh Geoghegan, Stephen Lawlor: Fledglings — recent CCAD graduates; and Here, Now — Una Sealy.

The complex is owned by the City Council, and is managed by a board comprised of Council members, Cork Printmakers and Backwater Artists group members.

“The gallery operates as a not-for-profit registered charity. Each year we strive to cover our running costs through a mix of donations, sponsorship, grants and, of course, sales, taking a commission from any purchases made in the gallery.

"Many of our buyers know the quality of artists’ exhibiting, and chose to buy with us because we are a not for profit, and therefore are supporting the artist and the exhibition space,” she adds.

Sponsorship has come in many forms over the years, with Parfrey Murphy Charted Accountants supporting the Lavit’s Student of the Year exhibition for a number of years.

A graduate is selected from the CCAD and is awarded a cash prize and a solo exhibition, sculptor John Burke was the first awardee in 1967.

“Since its inception, it has had many sponsors, but the roll call of artists is something we are proud of, and we have continued to work with these artists over the years, such as Eilis O’Connell, Vivienne Roche, Maud Cotter, Alex Pentek and many others.”

This continues with Sue Dolan, as the 2018 recipient, having her solo exhibition in February 2019.

“Many businesses in Cork have been generous to sponsor exhibitions and catalogues, such as the Imperial Hotel and Barry’s Tea, but we are constantly looking for new partnerships to secure consistent funding for our projects,” says O’Connell.

Looking to the future, Aoife O’Connell says the new location has inspired the Lavit gallery team and voluntary board members to actively consider how they can best serve their objectives to help support artists and the art viewing public in the city.

“We are building our plan to continue our work furthering the Arts in Cork, and to take advantage of the new lease of life the move has given the Lavit Gallery, to continue developing a programme of exhibitions and events to support artists, and promote an interest in the arts."

"Over many years the continued support of the people of Cork has kept the Lavit going, and we believe that they will continue to do so in our new home on Wandesford Quay.”