Research

Research

At the outset of the project, three areas of research were identified;

• The first of these was research into a pedagogical model of arts education focusing on contemporary practice in the rural context. From November ’05 – May’06, GMIT is conducting a series of 6 public seminars to stimulate and provide a focus for discourse on contemporary rural art practice. Seminars to date;
  
  
• The second area of research was to focus on new strategic approaches to contemporary art practice taking place across Europe, and through this research to identify European artists to participate in the third strand of Ground Up [now called Rural Vernacular]. One Russian, one Hungarian two Irish and one Swiss/Irish artist will participate in the project, to commence in June ’06.
  
  
• The third strand of research was to develop a Rural Cultural Forum, an idea borrowed from Littoral Arts Trust [UK]. This is envisaged as a mobile platform project where cultural exchange, discussion, and other unknowns could take place between artists, rural communities and other stakeholders in the rural context. We have met with a group of rural leaders/activists to seek advice, but have yet to find a way forward with this project.