Louth County Council is calling on artists to create and deliver nine public art projects across the County as part of the Louth Public Art Programme. This programme will commission six sculptural works and three community-based artist residencies across the county which will be delivered over the next two years.
The sculptural commissions will feature in new council social housing developments at Bakery View, Boice Court, and Greenhills Grange in Drogheda; An Mullach in Louth Village; Fullacht Fia in Dundalk; and Ravel Drive in Dunleer.
In addition, three Community Engagement Artist Residencies will be appointed, one for each municipal district. These residencies will focus on collaboration and creativity, inviting artists to work closely with local communities to develop new work in any recognised art form. Artists are encouraged to apply now, whether as individuals or teams, with proposals that demonstrate innovation, engagement, and artistic excellence.
Commenting on the programme, Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said:
“Public art has the power to transform spaces and connect people. These projects will create landmarks that inspire pride, spark conversation, and bring people together. Through this programme, we are making creativity visible and accessible to everyone in Louth.”
The launch of the Public Art Programme coincides with the publication of Louth County Council’s Public Art Policy, which sets out a framework for delivering public art initiatives in the years ahead. The policy includes the creation of a dedicated working group within the council and an advisory committee of stakeholders and elected representatives.
Speaking on the policy, Ger Murphy, Director of Services for Housing and Cultural Services, said:
“This policy represents a major step forward for public art in Louth and reflects our commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive communities. By integrating art into our public spaces and housing developments, we are not only enriching the cultural life of communities and the county but also supporting our vision of Louth as a great place to live, work, and play.”
The programme is coordinated by the Council’s Arts Office. Moya Hodgers, Arts Officer with Louth County Council said:
“This is such an exciting time for arts in Louth. Thanks to the national Percent for Art scheme and the scale of housing developments underway in Louth, we have a unique opportunity to invest in public art. I have been working closely with our Public Art Facilitator on the commissioning process, and we look forward to seeing the creative ideas that artists bring forward.”
Funding for these commissions is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Local Heritage under the government’s Per Cent for Art initiative which allocates 1% of the cost of any publicly funded capital project for commissioning public art.
Closing dates for Stage 1 submissions to the Louth Public Art Programme is 12 noon on Thursday, 5th February 2026 for the sculpture projects and 12 noon on Thursday, 5th March 2026 for the Artist in Residence projects. Full details and application guidelines are available at www.createlouth.ie.
