About Us

History

What is now Pallas Projects/Studios was set up in 1996 by artists Mark Cullen and Brian Duggan (latterly joined by Gavin Murphy in 2006), and began as an impulse to create a space for both working together, and in parallel – or in a community – with other artists. The name Pallas was taken from the previous occupier of the organisation's first building, a former knitwear factory. Over the course of 30 years, Pallas has occupied as many as 16 premises and many other off-site exhibition locations.

Founded as Pallas Studios, the original location was a converted industrial space on Foley Street in the former ‘Monto’ area of Dublin. Since its beginnings in 1996 Pallas has sought to collaborate with artists, curators, collectives and other art practitioners to engage and develop contemporary art in Ireland, through what would become numerous solo projects by Irish and international artists, group exhibitions, exchanges, off-site projects, talks, resource programmes, research and publications, and initiated exchanges with artists’ groups around Ireland and abroad.

Over a 29-year period PP/S has presented projects by Irish artists at early or key stages of their careers, such as Chronic Collective, Venus Patel, Bog Cottage, Salvatore of Lucan, Lyónn Wolf (formerly Emma Wolf-Haugh), Jesse Jones, and Garrett Phelan, and international artists such as Hito Steyerl, John Smith, and Mark Titchner, and have presented projects at Limerick City Gallery of Art; NCAD Gallery; The Hugh Lane; Irish Museum of Modern Art; Irish Architecture Foundation; The Model, Sligo; Lismore Castle Arts; HDLU, Zagreb; Catalyst Arts, Belfast; Auto Italia, London.

Against a lack of long-term studio and cultural provision as part of the regeneration of city-centre areas throughout the boom years, PP/S has been searching, inhabiting and fighting to maintain as many as 16 semi-permanent spaces across Dublin since 1996. These have included a four-year exhibition programme in a semi-derelict block of council flats, a white cube space in a former milking parlour, two rooms in a Georgian Townhouse, and now a former convent school. A stubborn willingness to adapt and transform has enabled Pallas to both maintain and change, providing continual studios and exhibition spaces within extremely difficult circumstances.

PP/S has established a national and international reputation through ambitious programming, studio provision, education, advocacy, research, and partnerships. In 2016 Pallas published Artist-Run Europe: Practice/Projects/Spaces. The result of 4-years of first-hand research, it has become a key text on the subject, a practical tool for those running or wishing to set up artist-run spaces, and a source of research for artists, academics and students, seminars, symposia and publications. A second expanded edition was published in 2023 by Set Margins (Eindhoven).

Today, despite having yet to secure a permanent home, Pallas Projects/Studios operates over 3 sites in Dublin 8: an artist-run gallery & studios in The Coombe, a studio building in The Digital Hub, and a new community & workshop space in Newmarket Yards.

Timeline of key spaces:

1996–2008:
Pallas Studios, Foley Street, Dublin 1

2002–2007:
Pallas Heights, Sean Tracey House, Buckingham Street, Dublin 1

2007–2011:
Pallas Contemporary Projects, Grangegorman Rd. Upper, Dublin 7

2011–2012:
Pallas Projects, Lower Dominick Street, Dublin 1

2012–present:
Pallas Projects/Studios, The Coombe, Dublin 8

Team

Pallas Projects/Studios operates with joint-artistic directors, who oversee artistic and strategic direction and operations, alongside a curator/programme producer. In keeping with our mission and articles of association, all key operational personnel should be practising visual artists.

The organisation is hugely aided through the input of our Team who stem from the visual arts and adjacent creative fields, and bring vital skills, knowledge and insights. In addition all team members are assisted to develop within the organisation, and are encouraged and supported to develop their personal creative practices.



Joint-artistic director—Mark Cullen

Mark Cullen works with various media as an artist, curator, researcher, he was the co-founder of Pallas Studios, Dublin in 1996 and has served as a co-director since. In 2016 he was the co-editor of Artist-Run Europe: Practices/Projects/Spaces a European-wide survey and critical inquiry into artist-run practices, and he has presented research in numerous conferences across Europe, including a keynote presentation at Spaces for Artists, The Living Art Museum, NYLO, Reykjavik. He was co-curator of Pallas Heights, a gallery project in a Dublin City Council apartment block from 2003–2006, and co-edited the resulting ICAD award-winning publication. From 2005–2007 he was the International Representative of Visual Artists Ireland (VAI), representing Ireland at the 16th General Assembly of the International Association of Art held at Beijing Biennial, China, 2005, and The World Summit on Arts and Culture held in Gateshead, Newcastle, UK 2006. Cullen curated the visual art section of Darklight Festival from 1999–2004. He was artist in residence in the School of Physics, University College Dublin in 2013–2014. He was co-curator of 'Dubliners', Biennial of Painting, Zagreb, Croatia (2022). He holds an M.A. Visual Arts Practice, Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dun Laoghaire (2005).

Joint-artistic director—Gavin Murphy

Gavin Murphy is a Dublin-based artist and curator. He has devised and realised numerous artist-led projects and programmes and writes, advocates and conducts research on artist-run practice. He was co-curator of House Projects, a series of 6 exhibitions in Ireland, London & New York in 2006, and was editor of the accompanying publication, was co-editor of Artist-Run Europe: Practice/Projects/Spaces (2016) and produced the expanded 2nd edition, published by Set Margins, 2023. He has been a nominator for the Apexart Fellowship award, New York, and as an Associate Lecturer on IADT's BA Art programme, he has co-delivered the 'In the making' series of professional practice student exhibitions since 2015. His solo exhibitions include Composite Moving Image, Melbourne, 2024; Irish Architectural Archive, 2023; Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, 2017; Hugh Lane Gallery, 2014; Royal Hibernian Academy, 2012. Group exhibitions include Tulca, Galway, 2018; Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork, 2015; BOZAR, Brussels, 2013; EVA International, Limerick, 2012. He holds an M.A. Visual Arts Practice, Institute of Art Design & Technology, Dun Laoghaire (2006).

Curator/Programme Producer—Eve Woods

Eve Woods has worked in various roles with Pallas since 2016. She has led on the Artist-Initiated Projects since 2019 and special projects including: Artists for Artists Residency Network (2024), Chronic Collective (2022), 'Dubliners Reel', 6th Biennial of Painting, Zagreb (2021); Ark Life workshop programme & exhibition Commission with artist Celina Muldoon (2021); Nasty Women Dublin (2017). She has also worked as Visiting Lecturer IADT Dun Laoghaire 2021–25; Producer at Science Gallery Dublin (SGD) where she represented SGD at EXPERIMENTA, la Biennale Arts Sciences 2020 as part of the European Artificial Intelligence Lab; and Green on Red Gallery Dublin where she assisted at international art fairs including VOLTA NY, 2017. Education includes Situations: Art in the Contemporary World, Creative Futures Academy, 2022; Expanding Exhibitions: Innovative Approaches to Curating, Node Center 2021. She holds an MA Visual Arts Practices, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology, 2014 and BA. (Hons) Fine Art (Painting) ATU Galway City, 2012.


Studio Coordinator—Gillian Lawler
Assistant Curator—Lana May Fleming
Sustainability and Production Assistant—Cristina Nicotra
Digital Media & Videography—Serhii Shapoval
Gallery & Outreach Assistant—Diarmaid Flynn
Communications & Gallery Assistant—Sean Kelly
Gallery Technician—Mark Harkin

General inquires email

Governance & Policy

Legal
Pallas Projects/Studios is a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity, constituted as Pallas Projects CLG, a company limited by guarantee not having a share capital and registered under the laws of Ireland. The company complies with all regulatory requirements and operates in accordance with its constitution and a range of policies, plans and procedures which are available to download below.

Pallas Projects CLG is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, including artist representatives, and members from fields such as finance, law, public communications, business, strategy, innovation and contemporary art curation.

Registered number 503645 with its registered office at 115-117 The Coombe, Dublin 8. Registered Charity Number (RCN) is 20206495.

Finance & compliance
Pallas Projects CLG keeps detailed financial records, maintains strict financial controls and is transparent in its audited financial statements. The most recent statement of audited accounts is available to download below. Pallas Projects CLG is compliant with the Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations

Board of Trustees

Chairperson—Dónall Curtin
Date of appointment: 06/03/2024 (appointed chair 08/08/2024)

An experienced board director and business leader who is highly skilled with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. These include Green Effects Investments plc, Office of Government Procurement, Health Insurance Authority, Chambers Ireland, Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation, European Movement Ireland, as well as serving on many board sub committees (Audit, Risk, Finance, Remuneration and Development). A strong advocate of ensuring that best practice and good corporate governance exist within the boardroom and ensuring relevant structures within businesses to facilitate adoption of organisational values throughout, Dónall served as President of Chambers Ireland, the country’s largest business organisation, with member chambers representing over 12,000 businesses throughout the island of Ireland.

Company secretary—Paul McGowan
Date of appointment: 01/08/2019 (appointed secretary 01/07/2022)

Paul McGowanwas a financial services tax partner in KPMG (Ireland) for more than 25 years and became Global Head of Financial Services Tax for KPMG (International). He is a former Chairman of the Irish Funds Industry Association and the IFSC Funds Working Group. He currently holds a number of non-executive directorships including Chairman of AEGON Ireland Plc, BNRG Renewables and Coronation Capital Ltd and is also a Director of Epoch Investments Fund Plc and FEXCO Aviation Services. He was appointed to the EU Arbitration Panel on transfer pricing by the Irish Government. Mr McGowan is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and holds a business studies degree from Trinity College Dublin and a Diploma in Corporate Financial Management from Harvard Business School.

Trustee—Brian Duggan
Date of appointment: 15/09/2011 (co-founder)

Brian Duggan is an artist working internationally in sculpture, film, installation, printing, publishing and sound. He graduated in Crawford CCAD Cork 1995, and received his Masters from IADT in 2005. His solo exhibitions include Crawford Art Gallery 2015; Balzer Projects Basel 2015; Discovery, Art Brussels 2015; ISCP New York 2013; Visual, Carlow, 2012; and Irish Museum of Modern Art Process room, 2011. His work is included in the permanent collections of the Hugh Lane Gallery, the OPW and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. He was the co-founder, co-curator and co-director of Pallas Studios and its gallery offshoots in Dublin from 1996 to 2009.

Trustee—Caroline Cowley
Date of appointment: 21/03/2017

Caroline Cowley is a curator and Public Art Co-ordinator with Fingal County Council. She has commissioned and produced a series of high-profile projects with artists Mark Garry, Brian Duggan, Christine Mackey, Martina Coyle, Garrett Phelan and Dennis McNulty, associated publications and talks such as Commissions + International Public Art Symposium, 2012. Her remit within Fingal County Council’s Arts office also extends to public events such as graduate professional development, policy, exhibitions, talks, festival programming and the Council’s art collection. Caroline holds a BA in History of Art from Trinity College Dublin, an MA in Arts Management and Cultural Policy from University College Dublin, and a Masters in curatorial practice IADT (MAVIS).

Trustee—Della O’Donoghue
Date of appointment: 20/12/2023

Della O’Donoghue is Managing Director of M.CO with lead roles on key Irish infrastructural and innovation projects, programme and project management, change management, organisational design and operational functions. She has over 20 years’ experience of directing and managing large, complex projects across a range of sectors, and was acting commercial director and property project management for The Digital Hub. She has worked in London for museum designers Event Communications Ltd, and was involved in the design and management of award-winning UK and Irish exhibition projects, such as The Chester Beatty Library.

Trustee—Mary Conlon
Date of appointment:

Mary is Director of The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon. She was the founder and Artistic Director of Ormston House, Limerick, in that role she has oversaw exhibitions and projects with over 400 artists from 35 countries. She was Artistic Director of the Creative Europe project, Memory of Water, developing artist-led, community-centred projects in six international cities, and recently worked with four local authorities on an Invitation to Collaboration project along the River Shannon. She served three terms on the Board of Directors of EVA International, Ireland’s Biennial of Contemporary Art, and is currently an elected member of the Executive Committee of Trans Europe Halles, a network of 140 grassroots cultural centres in 40 countries.


Policy documents (PDF downloads)

Privacy Statement (Data Protection Policy)
Sustainability Policy
EDI Policy
Safeguarding Statement (Child Protection Policy)
Artist Pay Policy
PPS Strategic Plan
Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements (2022)
Memo & Arts
Trustee Resolution (Regarding the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public)
Donor Charter
Complaints Policy

Funding & Partnerships

Key funder:
The Arts Council

Grant funding:
Culture Ireland
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Collaborative & Institutional partners:
Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dun Laoghaire (IADT)
Dublin Modular
Paper Visual Art Journal (PVA)
Beta Festival
Outlandish Theatre Platform

International partners:
Set Margins (Netherlands)
HDLU (Croatia)

Local partners:
The Mercy Centre
The Digital Hub