CV - Jean Conroy Castletobin, Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland 087 9690859 jean_conroy@hotmail.com www.jeanconroy.

com

My passion is igniting a community or organisation through the artistic creative process and the hands-on experience of making. Using of art as a tool for social change in the community and enhance personal development for participants.

Summary: A visual artist with a 2:1 Degree in Fine Art (Sculpture) and over 10 years of experience in art facilitation. A focus on community development through art and education. Eight years of teaching and assessment experience in FETAC Visual Art modules. A broad and in-depth range of skills and experience working with all ages and abilities. Proficient in event organisation.

Key Skills Facilitator Land Art Willow Sculpture Fire Drawing Bronze Casting Parade Design spectacle design. Childrens art facilitation Group Work, Team & Community Building Workshop preparation PR Media Communication Community Liaison Working with a variety of participants of all ages and abilities. Selected Experience

2000 present

KCAT Art & Study Centre, Mill Lane, Callan, Co Kilkenny

Studio Facilitator. Course Tutor, Outreach Officer and project co-ordinator. KCAT is an open access Arts and Life Long Learning initiative delivering visual art and theatre courses, and home to the KCAT Studio and the Equinox Theatre Company. The KCAT Studio and Equinox Theatre Company combine artists with learning disabilities and other disadvantages with professional arts practitioners. Tutor in Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Combined Materials & FETAC Assessment Delivery

2009-2011

Belvue School, Middlesex, UK

Facilitator of Land Art Projects as part of KCATs Annual Outreach Program with Belvue - a secondary school for boys and girls with moderate or severe learning difficulties. 2009 K-ten, Abbey Meadow, Callan, Kilkenny

Event Co-ordination of night-time outdoor spectacle to celebrate KCATs 10th anniversary with an audience of 1600 people

2008

Waterford Healing Art Trust, Waterford

Joint project co-ordinator of a group exhibition by KCAT studio artists exploring the hospital context made work responses to the acute hospital context.

2006

KCAT and MACNAS Street Parade Galway, Kilkenny, Callan

KCAT Project Co-ordinator for The Big River a parade designed by KCAT Studio Artists, produced by MACNAS KCAT Project Co-ordinator of Under Down Over an artistic cultural exchange between DADAA WA (Australia) and KCAT (Ireland).

2005 Speaker at the Art and Inclusion Conference. KCAT Callan Friary Complex Callan

2000-present

Butler Gallery, Kilkenny Castle, The Parade, Kilkenny

Solas an ongoing series of artist-led, interactive workshops in the Gallery for 5 12 year olds Ian Burns Supreme Fantasy Workshops for children in the Castle Park as part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival Willow Wall National Drawing Day 2010 Collaborative land art project Things on the wall 2010 Art education for primary school Teachers developing contemporary art and response techniques for the classroom Tony OMalley - Constructions Childrens workshops

2011

Ossory Youth Services, Kilkenny

Large Scale wire mural for the OYS centre working with at risk youth and a girls group 15-20 year olds

2010-present

The DRUM, Mac Donagh Junction, Kilkenny

A youth centre for young people aged 12 - 18 years from Kilkenny. Workshop participants include young people from the travelling community and other youth groups. Design and construction of large banners and costumes for the opening event. Stage building and design in Youth Caf. Costume design for Skull Duggery (Derek Landy) as part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival 2010

2008 - present 2011

DADAA, Western Australia

Little Voices, Big Sculptures A three-week sculpture and land art project with a

group of women with mental health problems, creating large scale sculptures of animals native to W.A. using natural Materials. Including a field trip to Denmark W.A. making large scale beach sculptures and work in a forested area.

2008 Land Art Project creating a human size nest built from driftwood during Marshability, an arts event on the dried out mudflats around Derby. Tutoring and one-on-one mentoring with DADAA Studio Artists

1995-present (Free Lance Projects) Brilliant

Crafts Council of Ireland, Kilkenny

Combined Material Workshops in Merrion Square for the St. Patricks Day Festival 2011

Crafted

Regional craft and visual art development programme for primary schools 2011

Illuminations Response

Workshop and installation as part of Culture Night 2010 National Craft Gallery workshops in response to exhibits during Kilkenny Arts Festival 2009

2002-2008

Ailing Teenage Addiction Centre, Ballyraggett, Kilkenny

Designing and collaboratively building a large-scale willow maze representing step 1 and a large stone and bronze piece, representing step 8 of the12 Steps serenity garden symbolising the 12 step programme that addicts follow to recovery/sobriety. Each step is realised in a physical form for clients to interact with either by reflection, action or mediation

2009-2010

St. Bernard Group Homes. Fethard, Co. Tipperary

Art classes with resident children and the creating of a mosaic for their new house.

2007

Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford

Guest Lecturer - Tutorials with the second and third year students on presentation of work as a visual and community artist.

2006

Presentation Convent, Loughboy, Kilkenny

Wire Figures Installation working with transition year students looking at the anatomy of the figure and made eleven life size figures from wire and installation of figures over the exterior and balcony of the building. Workshops in clay modelling and drawing with the first year students.

2000 2001 Art and Drama Teacher 2000

Kilkenny City Vocational School, New Street, Kilkenny

Kilkenny School of Art & Design, Ormond College, New Street, Kilkenny

Studio Technician, studio assistant and substitute teaching in sculpture and drawing,

2000

Kilmacow Afterschool Childrens Workshops. Kilmacow Co. Kilkenny

Introducing juniors 5-7 and seniors 8-12 the children to the basics in drawing, painting and 3-dimensional work.

2000 Substitute Teacher

Colaiste Eamonn Ris, C.B.S. Secondary School Callan, Co. Kilkenny

Awards and Bursaries 2009 2008 KCAT received REHAB person of the year Award (Art) Arts Council Travel Award 3,500 Land Art project in Derby Australia with the aboriginal community. 2003 2000 Kilkenny Arts Act Grant 350 Clare Morris Open 2001. First Prize 5,000

Selected Solo Exhibitions Garter lane Berkley Art Gallery Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny Fleva Restaurant Kilkenny

Selected Group Exhibitions Iontas, Sligo EVA+ Claremorris Open, Limerick Endangered Studios Kilkenny Arts Festival Beneath the Seams Kilkenny Arts Festival Fusion of Form Kilkenny Arts Festival Contours

Artistic Residencies 2001 2002 2003 2005 2008 2009 2008 2007 2001 Cill Rialaig Artists Retreat, Co. Kerry

Marsh Art Residency DADAA W.A., Derby, Australia Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Co. Monaghan Kidogo Art Centre, Fremantle, Australia

Education B.A. Fine Art: Sculpture Diploma in Fine Art FETAC Level 5 Art, Craft & Design Leaving Certificate 1998-1999 Limerick School of Art and Design 1994-1998 Waterford Institute of Technology 1993 -1994 Grennan Mill Craft School

1988 1993 Presentation Convent Secondary School, Kilkenny

Courses and Training Community Development through the Arts Community/ Public Arts Process Public Speaking and Presentations Manual Handling Bronze Casting First Aid Basic Sign Language T.E.F.L. Teach English as a Foreign Language Conor OLeary/ Kilkenny Arts Office Chrysalis Arts Ltd./ Kilkenny Arts Office Kilkenny Enterprise Board Camphill Communities (H.S.E.) Sarah O Flaherty, Cork Bronze Camphill Communities Camphill Communities TEFL Centre, Merrion Square, Dublin

Voluntary Experience Parade building and parade section leader in

MACNAS Theatre Company, Galway

2010 The Wild Hunt Street Parade Galway Arts Festival 2009 Orpheu Street Parade Galway Art Festival 2008 Fatima Mansions Halloween multi disciplinary Street Spectacle (Dublin) 2007 9th Wonder of the World. MACNAS Street Parade Galway Arts Festival

Achievements 2010-present 2007- 2008 2003 KCAT Local Committee member Board Member MACNAS Founding Member of Endangered Studios

Included in the following publications Art and Inclusion-The Story of KCAT EVA+ Catalogue IONTAS Catalogue Claremorris Open Catalogue DADAA Publications 05 Artist Directory & Various Group show catalogues

Personal Interests Yoga, Music, Horse riding, DIY, Travel, Cooking, Animals, Swimming, Walking and Nature

Referees Noortje Van Deursen Coordinator KCAT Mill Lane Callan Co Kilkenny Ireland 067 7755115 noortje@kcat.ie Jean Tormey Education Officer Butler Gallery Kilkenny Castle The Parade Kilkenny Ireland 056 7761106 David Doyle C.E.O. DADAA DADAA 21 Beach St. Fremantle W.A. Australia 0061 (0) 8 93364008

jean@butlergallery.com davey68@gmail.com

Web references www.jeanconroy.com www.kcat.ie Marsh art http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcFhar9T8Qc K-ten http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21QeiIsdZ2g Abhann R Festival http://abhainnrifestival.com/