Tulca Festival putting artists in the spotlight

In a world where artists are too often expected to work for free in return for the ‘glory’ of having their creations exhibited in a public space, the Tulca Festival of Contemporary Art, which opens this Friday, stands apart.

Tulca, which has been running in Galway since 2012, is unusual in that all its artists are paid a fee. The fee is not related to artists’ reputation or standing – it’s based on how much work they do in creating the art for Tulca.

Those taking part in Tulca – which is based mostly in Galway City with an outreach programme in Ballinasloe Library – were selected by curator Aisling Prior and the Festival board.

Twelve of them were invited to take part, while others were selected by a submission process. Tulca received more than 550 submissions from artists and 18 people were selected to exhibit, making for a total of 30.

Half of the work will be exhibited in the Tulca Festival Gallery in the City’s Market Street (entrance by The Connacht Tribune), while the other half will be in various venues, including Gallery 126 in Flood Street, Galway Arts Centre, Dominick Street, explains Tulca chairperson Maeve Mulrennan as artists and technicians hang work all around her in the Festival Gallery.