Our Story

An Chéad Tine Art Organisation, established in July 2022, is a not-for-profit group supporting local artists in Kilkenny. Recognising the need for dedicated workspaces, we provide a supportive environment for visual artists at all stages of their careers, with a strong focus on emerging talent. The organisation is run voluntarily by a Board of Directors and artists.

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We first opened a city-centre studio in August 2022 on Ormonde Road, later moving to a larger premises at No. 10 De La Salle House, The Parade, where we now have six studio spaces.

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In the summer of 2023, we expanded by opening a Contemporary art gallery in Kilkenny, located on the first floor of Dunnes Stores, Kieran Street. This new exhibition space was launched by TD John McGuinness on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Kilkenny Arts Festival with "Making Ground", a group show curated by Shannon Carroll. Over the first year, we hosted six group exhibitions, three solo shows, and various workshops, poetry readings, and art classes.

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Led by Artistic Director and in-house Curator, Mary Doyle Burke, with great support from Dunnes Stores Kilkenny manager Katie Quinn, the gallery provides a platform for local and Irish artists, making art more accessible to the public.

Our management team, including Mary Doyle Burke, Liam O’Neill, and Marco Di Sante, alongside dedicated volunteers, ensures the space thrives as a hub for contemporary art in Kilkenny.