OnSight Live! 2026 – 2027: Artist Commission
Mayo County Council Art Service in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park and Mayo Artsquad are pleased to announce the launch of an exciting Artist Commission for OnSight Live! 2026 – 2027.
OnSight is a long-established partnership project between the National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park, Mayo County Council Arts Service and Mayo Artsquad. The project commissions artists to develop new work in response to the Irish Folklife Collection.
Over time, OnSight has evolved across disciplines and outcomes including visual art, installation, performance and poetry. In 2026–2027, OnSight will focus on music.
OnSight Live! invites a professional music-based artist or composer to create original work in response to the Irish Folklife Collection and to engage in creative collaboration with a group of young musicians in the development of new compositions.
Artists are invited to develop original musical work in response to artefacts, narratives and themes within the Irish Folklife Collection.
The Collection reflects everyday life in Ireland across domestic, agricultural, social and ritual contexts. A central element of the commission is creative collaboration with a group of young musicians – teenagers (aged 13 – 18 years) with an existing background in music.
Application Process
The application process is a single stage open call. The deadline for applications is Friday, 29th of May 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Music-based artists or composers from outside County Mayo are welcome to apply.
Applications should be submitted through Consult Portal.
Detailed guidelines for applicants and Application Forms are available on: Application Forms | Mayo County Council
For further information on how to register on the Consult Portal, please contact Mayo Arts Service on (094) – 9064387 or email: mayoarts@mayococo.ie
A site visit for artists will be arranged at the National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo on Monday, 27th April 2026. The visit will offer an opportunity to explore the galleries, view the collection stores and meet with the project partners. Attendance is advised but not essential. To book a place on the site visit, please email: tgaffney@museum.ie
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information about the commission, please contact:
Tiernan Gaffney, Curator, National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park
E- mail: tgaffney@museum.ie
Deadline for applications: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29th 2026
