Mayo County Council launches new artist commission with Turlough House

Mayo County Council Arts Service has announced the launch of a new artist commission for the 2026–2027 edition of OnSight Live, delivered in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park and Mayo Artsquad.

OnSight is a long-running collaborative initiative between the three organisations, focused on commissioning artists to create new work inspired by the Irish Folklife Collection. Over time, the programme has expanded to include a range of disciplines such as visual art, installation, performance and poetry. The upcoming edition will place a particular emphasis on music.

The OnSight Live commission is open to professional music-based artists and composers, who are invited to develop original work in response to artefacts, narratives and themes within the Irish Folklife Collection. The collection documents aspects of everyday life in Ireland, including domestic, agricultural, social and ritual practices.

A key element of the commission involves collaboration with a group of young musicians aged 13 to 18 who already have experience in music. The selected artist will work with the group to create new compositions as part of the project.

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The opportunity is open to applicants from across Ireland and beyond, including those not based in County Mayo. Applications will be accepted through a single-stage open call process, with submissions required via the Consult Portal. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29.

A site visit for prospective applicants is scheduled to take place at the National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park in Castlebar on Monday, April 27. The visit will offer participants an opportunity to explore the museum’s galleries, access collection storage areas and meet project partners.

Further information, including application guidelines and forms, is available from Mayo County Council Arts Service.

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