Open Day: Project Arts Centre
2 Nov 2024 (Past)
Project Arts Centre, 39 Essex Street East, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Project Arts Centre Annual Open Day is back!
Project Arts Centre are thrilled to launch their third annual Open Day, which will take over the big blue building on Saturday November 2 from 11am to 6pm! As always, we will bring all the performances, workshops, DJ’s, talks and delicious bites to the space, with each event being free to attend, with no booking required. The day will begin with a ‘quiet opening’ from 11am to 1pm which will hold space for artists, audiences and communities who would benefit from a sensory-adapted environment.
Project are delighted to work with Visual Artist and Designer Thomas Kettle who created the 2024 Open Day visual identity, bringing his iconic characters to life through the Project Arts Centre lens. And we’ve got a special Open Day treat for you this year too…
For their third annual Open Day, we’ve teamed up with vintage clothing lover’s favourite spot to shop – Tola Vintage – to launch our newest limited-edition merchandise collaboration titled ‘Take Care of Each Other’. 100% of profits from this limited-edition merch collection will go towards a Black and Irish Artists’ initiative in Project Arts Centre.
Events include;
Louise Bruton DJ Set
11am to 2pm Project Lower Foyer
Lou Bru is a renowned pop DJ and music journalist. Like much of Ireland’s talent pool she was born and raised in Kildare, and she quickly established herself as one of the most sought-after DJs in Dublin, playing club nights and festivals across the map. No stranger to playing the hits, she specialises in niche and deeply camp pop. With her infectious energy and passion for music, Lou Bru makes even the most stubborn nonbeliever realise that pop is indeed magic.
Bobbi Byrne & Soso Ní Cheallaigh Dance Performance
11.15 to 11.45 The Cube
In this new work in progress showing, dancers Bobbi Byrne and Soso Ní Cheallaigh explore the effects of imbalance and asymmetry across basic actions of standing, turning, walking & sprinting and falling, and weave these mechanical investigations into Bobbi’s recent life experiences, linking the physical and emotional through the theme of instability.
Deaf Artist Lianne Quigley Performance Lecture
11.45 to 12.15 The Cube
Join us for a performance lecture by Lianne Quigley, exploring the experiences of Deaf women living in Ireland. The work is balanced between the political movements within Deaf culture, autobiographical narratives and the stories of the women who have shaped her life.
Multi-Disciplinary Artist Emilie Conway Music Performance
1pm to 1.15pm Project Lower Foyer
Emilie Conway and bassist Derek Whyte will perform site specific work including spoken word, movement and improvised music in the foyer spaces, kicking off a research process and engagement programme exploring the sensory environment of the building. This research is supported by the Arts Council.
Disrupt Disability Arts Festival Workshop Panel Discussion
12.15 to 1pm The Cube
Join us for a relaxed interactive workshop and discussion, focussed on hidden disabilities and neurodiversity. The workshop will be led by Moss Russell in collaboration with Disrupt Disability Arts Festival, and explores ‘Stimming’ as creative expression. Open to all ages and abilities.
Fortune Igiebor Live Performance
2pm to 2.30pm Project Lower Foyer
Join us for an explosive performance by Dublin based Rapper & Producer Fortune Igiebor. Fresh off the launch of his EP LOVE, RAGE + THE VIGILANTE MAESTRO. Not to be missed!
NeuBrí Live Performance
2pm to 3pm Project Lower Foyer
Join us for a performance from a band that brings a ‘Neu Energy’ wherever they go….consisting of Bass, Drums & Keys, NeuBrí specialise in two things: 1. Bringing a ‘Neu Expression’ to both Irish & International music artists’ live performances and 2. Taking centre stage and curating musical moments that you’ll never forget.
Tola Vintage Pop-Up Store + Photo Studio
2pm to 4pm The Cube
Join us to shop our newest limited edition merch collaboration with Tola Vintage, titled ‘Take Care of Each Other’. Designed by Irish Visual Artist and Designer Thomas Kettle exclusively for this collection, ultra cotton long sleeve tops, t-shirts and tote bags will be available for shoppers to purchase at Tola’s pop up shop at Project.
Haus of Schiaparelli Voguing Workshop
2pm to 3pm The Space Upstairs
The Haus of Schiaparelli will be providing a taster vogue class for people wanting to get into Ballroom, a dance subculture which originated in NYC among disenfranchised Black and Brown communities. Any ability is welcome! The Haus of Schiaparelli was the first Black and Brown led and centered House to throw a Ball on the island of Ireland and continues to centre Black and Brown communities in its mission to spread Ballroom across Ireland in a way that is true to our Black Irish communities. We welcome allies who want to help in this mission! Follow us @hausofschiaparelli for the latest.
Quilombo Terra | Francisco Feitosa, Jackeline Alves, Karen Aguiar, Lino Bento, Renan de Cassia, Talita Talismã and Yves Lorrhan.
Brazilian Dance & Music Performance and Workshop
3pm to 4pm The Space Upstairs
Quilombo Terra is an Afro-Brazilian artist initiative based in Ireland, founded by the dance artist Alessandra Azeviche.
Matt Szczerek Krump Cypher + Workshop
4 to 5pm The Cube
This open level workshop will focus on exploring tools for creating dance theatre performance, as well as insights into Matt’s process of creation with companies like Kundle Cru and Human Collective. Matt’s work combines different movement techniques such as Krump, Hip Hop and Contact. Bring your energy for this one!!
Visual Arts Gallery Tour
Stubborn Shadows / Scáthanna Seasta by Mariechen Danz
Audio Described Tours 11am and 12.15pm
The Gallery
Information Table & Conversation: Palestinian Artist Manal Mahamid
1pm Upper Foyer
Information Table and Conversation: Palestinian artist Manal Mahamid considers the olive tree as a powerful symbol of collective practice, rootedness in the land, and resistance – sharing visual materials, texts and recipes related to landscape, the environment, displacement and food production in Palestine.
For more information, visit projectartscentre.ie
Upcoming Events

18 Jan - 15 Mar 2025
Visual Art: Heart Tracing by Paul Roy at the Esker Arts Centre

20 Feb - 22 May 2025
Visual Art: Accessible Tours at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Spring 2025