National College of Art & Design, Dublin

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 - How are you planning to spend the next few months? Whether you're starting a new job, taking some time to relax, or exploring other opportunities, we would be interested to hear your plans.

𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶 - Have you got exciting opportunities for recent NCAD graduates? Did you know that we share a monthly Careers Newsletter with students and recent graduates, providing a great opportunity to reach our talented pool of artists and creatives? We'd love to hear about opportunities to work or collaborate! Drop us a line at [email protected].

Share your summer plans or professional opportunities in the comments. We'd love to hear from both recent graduates and established alumni looking to connect and support each other.

Another wonderful cohort of learners completed their CFA Professional Certificate in Art and Ecology Principles yesterday. Here they are dressed in Buddleia dye yellow.

Brilliant news for early-career artists! 🎨 We're excited to share a fantastic opportunity through our new partnership with the 𝗟𝗶𝘂 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 in New York.

Liu Shiming Artist Grants 2025 are open for applications - Up to 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 $𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗨𝗦𝗗 each, specifically designed to support visual artists in the early stages of their careers.

🔸Who can apply?

Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide who:

▪️Earned an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in studio arts between 2015 and 2023, OR

▪️Had their debut gallery or juried exhibition between 2015 and 2023.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.

📌 Key details:

The application opened on 22nd May.
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.
Recipients announced: 2nd December 2025.

With funding opportunities being quite rare for emerging artists, this represents a genuine chance to get financial support for your creative work.

📲 For more information and to apply, visit www.lsmartfund.org/grants-2025

We’re pleased to see NCAD alumna Lily Rafferty featured in this week’s Sunday Business Post.

Lily studied Moving Image Design at NCAD and, during her time here, developed a strong interest in social media. While still a student, she worked with Ryanair and Duolingo, helping both brands grow their presence on TikTok. It’s great to see her work and creativity being recognised.

Congratulations to Lily on the feature!

📲 Learn more about the BA in Moving Image Design at NCAD: https://shorturl.at/iciuX

Looking for ways to help recent graduates? Here are some simple ways you can help our newest graduates get started in their careers:

🔸𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Even short-term or freelance work can make a huge difference.

🔸𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀: Your professional eye can help graduates polish their work.

🔸𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Share what you wish you'd known when starting out.

🔸𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Connect graduates with contacts in your network.

🔸𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆: A quick coffee chat can offer valuable guidance. Informational chats on LinkedIn are also a great way for students to connect with professionals and learn about different career paths.

🔸𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Contact us to be featured in our Alumni Stories and inspire current students. (Link in the bio).

Every bit of support helps our graduates take those crucial first steps in the creative industries.

Want to get involved? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗗 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 (𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁) 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁.
𝟵𝘁𝗵 / 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱📍 Harry Clarke Lecture Theatre, NCAD.
Free but ticketed - book now!

As part of the 𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗔 / 𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗗 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹: 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 (𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁) 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁, a group of national and international contributors are invited to assemble in Dublin in July 2025 to share their work (as artists, curators, researchers) in response to the Summer School programme. Over a set of two public panel events, six invited speakers present their research and explore a set of key questions about the impacts of conflict on our relationship to and understanding of land, as it is experienced, imagined, constructed; as territory, as resource, as boundary, as home.

Organised as part of L'internationale Museum of the Commons.

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟵 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 | 𝟲 - 𝟴:𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗺
1 # Panel Discussion: What is the relationship between landscape and conflict?
Panel: Yazan Kahlili, Jill Jarvis, Odessa Warren.
Chair: David Crowley, Head of the School of Visual Culture & Head of Research, NCAD.

📅 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 | 𝟲 - 𝟴 𝗽𝗺
2 # Panel Discussion: What is the relationship between landscape and conflict?
Panel: Zdenka Badovinac, Amanda Dunsmore, Slinko.
Chair: Annie Fletcher, Director, IMMA.

🔗 Full details & booking: https://shorturl.at/BZVIN
(Link in bio)

Image 1: KEEPER Research Drawing 001, (2017), colour digital archival pigment print on photographic paper, graphite and ink, 59 x 84cm, from KEEPER - Archive & Artworks - Amanda Dunsmore (IMMA).
Image 2: Invited speakers.

There are 14,000+ Design businesses in Ireland and the sector is growing. It is a sector that can make a visible difference to society. If you want to be part of it, consider a postgraduate qualification from NCAD. Limited places are available on our Design programmes.
See - https://www.ncad.ie/postgraduate/postgraduate-masters-information/.

The stories we carry become the foundation of our creative practice, and our CEAD students are living proof that creativity flourishes at every stage of life. They've returned to formal education later in life, bringing years of lived experience into their art and design work.

Siobhán Collins' 'Worry Biddys' explores anxiety through domestic ritual and sympathetic magic, combining drawing, sculpture, and sound in a thoughtful installation that reflects the personal perspectives our mature students bring to their work.

𝗦𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗵á𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘀
CEAD Higher Diploma in Art
Project: ‘Worry Biddys’

💬¨’Worry Biddys’ combines drawing, sculpture, and sound in an installation that explores anxiety, the comfort of ritual, and sympathetic magic. Set in an illustrated kitchen, a domestic grotto is revealed, offering a place for daily solace.

The wire sculptures began as St. Brigid's crosses, but through the addition of pot scrubbers and plaster, they were transformed into Biddy Dolls. The plaster and wire naturally rust and gradually disintegrate, embodying the process of transformation. By using this method, I hoped to transfer my anxieties to the Biddys through contagious magic. As the sculptures disintegrate, so too will I be transformed- my worries turning to golden dust.

As part of my research into the customs and rituals of St. Brigid, particularly those used to protect against misfortune and illness, I filmed St. Brigid’s Well (Dabhach Bhríde) in Ballysteen, County Clare, a sacred work of art. Additional inspiration came from the works of Alice Maher, Richard Proffitt, and Mick Peters.¨

📷 1. Worry Biddys, installation view.
📷 2. Worry Biddys, taking over my kitchen.
📷 3. Worry Biddys, installation detail.
📷 4. Worry Biddys, sculpture.

📲 See more about Siobhan Collins’ work, and all our graduates this year, by visiting 2025.ncad.works.

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Last two days to visit 𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗗 𝗖𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱!

The NCAD CEAD WORKS 2025 Exhibition closes this Thursday, 26th June. We invite you to take a moment to explore the thoughtful and creative work of the 54 selected students.

This exhibition highlights not only their talent but also the importance of lifelong learning, continuing to grow, adapt, and engage with new ideas throughout life.

Exhibition Opening Times:

🔸 Wednesday, 25th June: 10 am - 4 pm.
🔸 Thursday, 26th June: 10 am - 1 pm.

📍 Design for Industry Building (1st and 2nd floor), NCAD, 100 Thomas Street.

We hope you can join us before the exhibition closes.

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Special thanks to the Art and Ecology Diploma learners 2024-25 who presented their work to the fresh intake in NCAD gallery. Also to Anne Kelly who nimbly enabled this pop up show at the end of a busy year.

Elderflower champagne made by the Diploma students as part of their Capstone module was enjoyed by the new students. And of course to honour the Solstice!

Congratulations to all the graduating students on your hard work and for the impressive final projects showcased at the graduate exhibition over the past few days. It’s been great to see your creativity on display.

If you’d like to stay connected with the NCAD community, consider joining our alumni newsletter. It’s a good way to keep up with events and news relevant to our alumni ➡️ https://staff41650.activehosted.com/f/19

📷 Photos by Marc O’Sullivan