Wexford County Council Launch Creative Residency at Hatch Lab with Filmmaker Terence White

Wexford County Council, through the Creative Ireland programme, has launched a pilot Creative Residency programme in the Hatch Lab in Gorey. Filmmaker Terence White has been selected as artist in residence for the next 12 months, and will work with businesses in the Hatch Lab, as well as young innovators from the North Wexford area, while developing his own professional arts practice.

The Hatch Lab in Gorey is an Incubator space supporting business concepts, business start-ups and co-working staff. According to John O’Connor, CEO of the Hatch Lab, “We are very grateful to Wexford County Council and the Creative Ireland programme for supporting this residency at the Hatch Lab. It brings creativity into our enterprise environment, offering fresh perspectives for our resident businesses while also creating new opportunities for young innovators in North Wexford.”

Creative Ireland is an all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme, with the ambition to inspire and transform people, places and communities through creativity. It is committed to the vision that every person in Ireland should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr Joe Sullivan says, “Wexford County Council through the Creative Ireland programme is happy to support this new residency. It provides us with a novel way to foster creative thinking both in business and in the wider community.”

The programme has commenced its research phase and is using a novel and creative approach to surveying the resident businesses. A classic Post and Telegraphs-style phone booth, made by Gorey-based artist Ali Kemal Ali, has been installed in the Hatch Lab, for participants to record their suggestions for the creative residency.

A special programme aimed at young innovators is also being developed, to help them realise their projects. A series of free creative workshops and events will take place in the Hatch Lab for young people aged 18 to 30 years living in the North Wexford area and aims to contribute to The Hatch Lab’s position of attracting the next wave of young entrepreneurs. Anyone interested in taking part can email hatchlabcreative@gmail.com or ring 053 9480689 to register their interest.

In addition to working with The Hatch Lab businesses, young innovators, and on his own creative filmmaking projects, Terence will also be programming Culture Night and Cruinniú na nÓg events in the Hatch Lab during his residency to engage with the wider community.

County Arts Officer Liz Burns commented, “This residency is a pilot for Wexford County Council where creativity and arts meet business. It’s a great opportunity for a filmmaker like Terence to access the unique supports offered by the Hatch Lab. At the same time, the Hatch lab businesses and local community will have access to an artist in residence which we hope will spark more creativity in the workplace as well as new ways of thinking.”