The Creative Places Baltinglass Artist in Residence Programme was a dynamic, youth-led initiative that engaged Transition Year (TY) students from Scoil Chonglais in hands-on creative exploration. Running from January to May 2025, the residency invited students to creatively map and reimagine their town, deepening their sense of place while contributing to the development of new community-rooted artworks.
Led by dance artist and creative director Karen Aguiar, alongside a team of collaborators, the programme introduced students to a wide range of art forms including dance, visual art, music, crochet, and clay. Through soundscaping, movement, and visual storytelling, students were encouraged to experiment, collaborate, and see creativity as both a tool for self-expression and a way of connecting with the world around them.
Grounded in the goals of Creative Places Baltinglass, the residency aimed to inspire the next generation of artists, nurture creative confidence, and position Baltinglass as a vibrant hub of social creativity. By fostering empowerment and artistic autonomy, the programme helped students shape their own creative journeys while strengthening community pride and building sustainable local arts practices for the future.
Watch a video of the residency below
List of artists involved:
Creative Director
Karen Aguiar
Guest Artists:
Déborah Adachi
Karen Bowett
Lisa Sweeney
Luisa Curty
Nick Stanley
Ryan McCann
Vithoria Escobar
Want to find out more and get involved in Creative Places Baltinglass? Fill in the form below and a member of the team will be in touch.
