Members & Friends Exhibition 2026

Cora Collins - "A Good Day Coming"

Exhibition: Past & Present

West Cork Arts Centre was founded in 1985 by a group of artists and community members, who held an exhibition in Skibbereen for the Welcome Home Festival. This exhibition has now become the 'Members and Friends Exhibition - a staple annual showcasing works, to showcase works from local artists in West Cork in all stages of their career. The exhibition houses a diverse range of works ranging from oil paints, charcoal, photography pieces to sculptures and much more. The exhibition aims to celebrate the achievements of our local artists and the importance of the arts in our region.

The exhibition provides an open platform for local talent to express their creative process to the general public. Whether you attend to buy a painting for your wall or admire the works on display, you will always find something awe-inspiring.

This year, the Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre will celebrate it's 42nd annual exhibition with a display of over 100 works from amatuer, student & professional artists. Two awards will also be handed out to two exhibiting artists. The first being the "Cnoc Buí Exhibition Award" which offers a solo exhibition opportunity at Cnoc Buí, Union Hall in 2027. The other is a "Sample-Studios Associate Membership" for 1 year. The latter of which provides support (e.g. professional facilities, training or mentorship, exhibition and residency opportunities) and sustains creative careers and practices in Cork.

Meeting the Artists

To celebrate 42 years of the "Members & Friends" Exhibition, I interviewed a diverse range of artists to uncover the methodology behind their submitted works. These interviews will be provided in upcoming posts here on the Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre blog.

Over the next week I will gradually release these interviews, which include the following artists: Marie Bryan, Roger Horgan, Micheál O' Connell, Lynda O' Donoghue, Claire O' Mahony and Ibrahim Kimotho.

I'm Brian Walsh, an artist from Schull with a background in animation and motion graphics. I work part-time at the Uillinn as I always had an interest in visual storytelling or using art as a means of self-expression.