testing ground projects are Dance Artists in Residence for Galway City 2026/2027🌱
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What does this mean ?? Lots of ways for everyone to get involved
🪷monthly open training starting in August
🌼open studio time during our 6 weeks in residence
🌹FRESH DARLINGS evening of works-in-progress in November
🌻continuing our collaboration with our friends & union members at @catugalway
💐a new dance festival in Galway, March 2027
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DAR is funded by @artscouncilireland our application was supported by @artsofficegalwaycity@galwaydance@themicklallytheatre@thtgalway
Resilient Charm
Ceramic Workshop
Thursday 7th May
⏰6:30 - 8pm
📍 Conference Room, Teach Solais LGBT+ Resource Centre
Sign-up sheet in bio
To keep strength and hope in a world like today, sometime we need a reminder of what resilience through play can look like.
This is a workshop facilitated by Artist, Educator and Activist Aoife Natsumi Frehan in collaboration with testing ground projects. You will be making your very own ceramic talisman!
A talisman is a keepsake that is imbued with different intentions, protection, love, support, hope to achieve a goal... anything you want.
In this workshop, you will be making a small talisman of your own with Stoneware clay. You will be using your fingers to shape the clay, then, if you wish, you can use some stamps to create imprints on your talismans.
Size
- We recommend a size that you can comfortably fit in your hand.
- So we can accommodate the different participants, the max size will be around 5x5cm.
Making the imprints
- Aoife will have some stamps and you welcome to bring a stamp of your own to the workshop. Leaves and flowers can make really nice shapes on the clay body.
After you finalize your shape, if there is some more time left, you can make up to 3 small talismans.
Sign up sheet https://forms.gle/dZLUkeSdjoTBAmDa8
- this is so we know how to arrange collection of your talisman after it's fired in the kiln
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Aoife through the CATU group chat or email :)
Looking back at the zine making workshop in October 🍂 hosted by brilliant @straycatspress & @robe.ceg . Thank you to all who attended !
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We focused on imagining the newspapers/ magazines of the future and what they will be announcing/ talking about when liberation from oppression- exploitation has been reached.
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mark 11th December ❄ - for another offering to widen imagination & open questions
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Poster desgin by @bymotcollins
LAST contemporary dance training this year with SIMONE O'TOOLE 🌙
Join us on this SUNDAY 30th November at 11am- 1pm. Booking link in bio.
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Simone O’Toole is a dynamic Irish choreographer and performer whose classes are a full-body experience rooted in connection, creativity, and joy. Drawing from her international experience and collaborations across Europe, Simone blends contemporary dance with strength training, dynamic phrase work, and playful improvisation to create a space that’s open and welcoming to all.
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Workshop description-
This workshop invites movers of every level and background to explore their physical potential at their own pace. With a focus on body awareness, musicality, and shared energy, each session offers space to challenge yourself, tune into your individuality, and find inspiration in dancing alongside others.
Simone’s teaching encourages curiosity over perfection, celebrating the power of movement and community. Whether you’re looking to sweat, discover, or simply reconnect with your body, this class meets you where you are and supports you as you grow.
Step into the studio ready to move, explore, and be part of something collective. Leave feeling energized, grounded, and connected.
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📸 @joshua.mulholland
💥Join us as we continue to get creative with housing action in collaboration with our union CATU & friends 🧨
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3rd November
630pm - 830pm
Documentation Workshop w/ member @polbas
📍teach solas
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8th & 9th November
11am - 3pm
Installation build w/ member Donal, learn new skills & create together
📍Warehouse on Headford road (lifts and car pools will be organised any questions DM us)
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This work is supported by the @createcollaborativearts artist in the community scheme, funded by @artscouncilireland .
🍂CONTEMPORARY DANCE TRAINING 🍂
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In partnership with Galway Dance artist in residence, Magdalena Hylak- we are delighted to bring back a series of 3 training sessions this NOVEMBER!
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Join us in exploring movement ideas with local and national dance artists. Open level, all are welcome !
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🌱 November 9th, 16th & 30th
⏰ 11am - 1pm
📍 Genevieve Ryan Dance Academy, Headford Road
* €10 (+booking fee) per session.
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Link in bio for tickets!
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Thank you to Genevieve Ryan Dance Academy for the space !
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The workshop on the 16th November is supported by Galway City Council Creative Practitioner Bursary.
NEWS OF THE FUTURE: a zine workshop hosted by @testingground.projects and Stray Cats Press.
during this workshop, we’ll be using the format of a zine to ask ourselves, -
what will the future of news look like?
taking the scenario that we achieved liberation- the social, economic, environmental justices that we’ve been moving towards.
what will we be celebrating, announcing and criticising then?
the workshop will start with an introduction of what is a zine, where it comes from and what it means today.
we’ll have the rest of the time to use the materials provided to create a zine containing the future news -
working together, by yourself, in pairs- whichever suits people - chatting, crafting and imagining beyond the possibilities we’ve been given.
it is a 3 hour event and you are welcome to pop in and out as you need.
we recommend you to be there for the intro talk to get the history bits, if you can.
Sunday October 19th, 6-9PM. Tickets via eventbrite.
⚘🌻🌸FRESH DARLINGS memories. 23rdMAY.
Thank you to all that performed and to those who came out in that rainy weather to see, question, move & support these developing dance works.
Performances by;
⚘ Rachel Sheil,
🌻 Roberta Čeginskaitė with Fionnuala Doyle Wade & Aindriú de Buitléir,
🌸 Aoibhinn O'Dea.
With chats after and Dabke with Omar عمر 🌼
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💐 to 126 Gallery @126gallery.studios for being wonderful hosts & venue support- big love to @ciara__ch for light set up!
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🌹 Thank you 126 Gallery team for photos 2, 3, 4
& Ciarán MacChoncarraige @ciaranshoots for photos 1, 5- 12.
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This event was self-funded by testing ground projects.
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126 Gallery and Studios are supported by @artscouncilireland .
TITLE continues, the next 3 sessions will be led by artists 🪡 Becky Ní Eaillaithe, Roberta & Fionnuala (TGP), & Peadar-Tom Mercier. Register at the link in our bio & SEE YOU AT SILVER STRAND🪸
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16/07 ➡️ BECKY is a sean-nós dancer, concertina player, and singer from Indreabhán, in Connemara, Co. Galway. Her creative work blends traditional and contemporary music, dance, song and language, focusing on cross-disciplinary collaborations. Becky grew up immersed in a strong tradition of music and dance, learning from local dancers, musicians and artists. She now performs regularly while in Ireland and further afield. Becky regularly teaches sean-nós dance and music as Gaeilge. She enjoys working on community projects that bring people together through art, language, environment and activism.
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30/07 ➡️ ROBERTA & FIONNUALA, we will move & play.
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13/08 ➡️ PEADAR-TOM is a traditional musician, tutor and event producer from An Cheathrú Rua, Galway. He teaches traditional music through Irish in schools around the Gaeltacht, organizes arts events with the group Gliogar and is the bandleader/composer for the group Trá Pháidín. He is focussed on a long-term development of the cultural landscape through the Irish language, be it through sharing the traditional arts with younger generations or nurturing a community of artists and patrons as stepping stones for the wider ecosystem.
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20/08 ALL OF US
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TITLE is funded by a @galwayintarts & @galwaycultureco Elevate bursary
🌊TITLE 1 w/ Dr.Kevin Lynch, we built cities & learned about nature based solutions to preserve our sand dunes & protect our coasts 💨
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Join us for workshop 2 w/ Dr. Sadhbh Baxter💥
☀️2nd July
🫧6pm - 8pm
📍Silver Strand Beach
➡️Register for free at the link in bio
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TITLE is funded by a @galwayintarts & @galwaycultureco elevate bursary
🏠 JOIN US 🏠
testing ground projects is collaborating with CATU Galway to facilitate the local branch members in creating an OUTDOOR HOUSING SPECTACLE !!
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All are welcome to join, contribute & create 🏠🌱
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First Brainstorming & Banner making session->
- Monday June 23rd
- 6pm- 8pm
📍Macnas, Fisheries Field - University of Galway
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testing ground projects have been succcessful recipients of Create's AIC Scheme - Research and Development Award with Mentoring Support( Round One) 2025 (!!)
Rita Mercalo ( Instant Dissidence ) will be our mentor🌟
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This work is supported by the Arts Council's Artist in the Community Scheme managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts.
🌊🌊🌊TITLE 🌊🌊🌊
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TITLE begins 18th JUNE !! First two sessions with two wonderful scientists-
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18th JUNE & 2nd JULY
📍Silverstrand beach
☀️ 6pm-8pm
- Booking link in bio.
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First walk 18th JUNE led by Dr Kevin Lynch.
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Dr Kevin Lynch (Geography Department, University of Galway), with a wealth of experience in the physical processes of beaches and dunes. He uses his knowledge to feed into climate adaptation action along our coasts. He blogs on these topics at /ilikedunes. This event will be a hands-on look at how beaches and dunes can help us in our fight against climate change, and is perfectly suited to all ages.
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Second walk 2nd JULY led by Dr Sadhbh Baxter.
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Dr Sadhbh Baxter is a geologist in the School of Natural Sciences in the University of Galway, and has a particular interest in making geology accessible to all - apart from her undergraduate teaching responsibilities she runs the Diploma in Earth & Ocean Sciences in the University of Galway, and teaches at a summer school in Co Donegal 'Ár nOidhreacht i gCloch/Our Heritage in Rock'.
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The last two dates of TITLE are in August!
13/08 & 20/08
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TITLE is funded by @galwayintarts@galwaycultureco Elevate Bursary
