THE CREW
Cork Community Art Link is a community arts organisation and registered charity in Cork City. Operating for 30 years, the organisation is overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors, maintained by an Art Director, Assistant Art Director and the General Manager who support technical staff, facilitators, arts workers and volunteers. The group develops collaborative projects and participatory programmes between artists and the community, promoting and developing cultural democracy and community arts practice.
William Frode de la ForetArt Director
William Frode de la Foret is an undisciplined artist born in France, making art with people in various contexts since 1995. He has developed, directed and facilitated a number of arts programmes with Cork Community Art Link since 1993 including a 10-year programme in Our Lady’s psychiatric hospital Cork, and "What if" (whatif.ie) a programme exploring participatory public art practice. He has over 30 years experience in community street performance, including parades and street theatre shows and most recently The Dragon of Shandon Samhain Parade. His practice is shaped by his belief that the arts represent an infinite field of possibilities for people and cannot be reduced to academic, institutional and market driven conceptions and that everybody has the right to create art, to engage with the making of culture and its representation on one’s own terms.
Email: william@corkcommunityartlink.com |
Beibhinn O'Callaghan
Assistant Art Director
With a background in fine art and drawing, Beibhinn started on a Community Employment Scheme in 2017 and found it was an amazing atmosphere to work in from the beginning. Over the years, she has been a crucial part of CCAL artistic programmes as her many talents shine through consistently. She is now Assistant Artistic Director, and we are lucky to have such creative, talented hands as part of our core team. Beibhinn enjoys working with people in various community settings and witnessing the thrill and magic of parades. For her, Cork Community Art Link is a place for everyone to get involved - you don’t have to have a background in art or know what you want to do, it's all about the sharing of skills.
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Aisling McCallionGeneral Manager
Aisling McCallion is a textile artist and writer, with various experience in sectors that cross the textile, art, design and social enterprise industries. Born in Donegal, Aisling has previously worked as a technical knitwear designer for Inis Meáin Knitting Co. and Blarney Woollen Mills. A past member and co-director of spacecraft Artist Studios, Aisling has an infinity for artist-run spaces, the commons, and the transformative power of making art. She enjoys exploring the many ways storytelling interacts with each artistic discipline. Growing up on the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Aisling has experienced the impact of community arts in contributing to a true cultural democracy. Aisling was drawn to CCAL through shared values and ethos, she is an advocate for fair and inclusive access to the arts for all.
Email: manager@corkcommunityartlink.com |
Sam HamiltonLead Technician & Drama Facilitator
With a background in metal work as well as theatre performance and production, multitalented Sam has been involved with Cork Community Art Link since 2006. Over the years of creating giant floats, metal frame structures as well as devising and leading drama workshops, Sam has proven himself to be an essential part of our team here at CCAL, he is now the Lead Technician for CCAL parades and also runs numerous workshops with various community groups throughout the year.
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Raffaele Muraca
Artist & Facilitator
Visual artist and facilitator, Raffaele has built his experience in prop and float-making over his many years of involvement at CCAL. He studied Fine Art at Brera Art Academy in Milano and then graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pedagogy. He worked for several years in Italy as an educator/facilitator with teenage refugees, organising cultural events and social activities bridging cultures and establishing social integration using various forms of art as a medium. Raffa believes in the power of the arts as an empowering way for creating culture and developing people’s growth.
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Podge DalyComic Book Illustrator & Facilitator
Podge graduated from Cluin Mhuire school of art and design in Galway with a Degree in fine art and from the Huston Film College in N.U.I. Galway with a masters in production and direction. He spent 15 years producing group and solo exhibitions, plays and short films and 10 years in N.U.I. Galway as the head tutor of the arts society running life drawing, still life, sculpture classes and more. Podge is a contracted artist and facilitator at CCAL, and we love to have him, as he is as witty as talented, and that’s saying a lot. Podge is co-creator and facilitator of the comic book making classes at CCAL, a course which has proven to be very popular of the past couple of years.
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Colin O'MahoneyWriter & Comic Book Facilitator
Colin O’ Mahoney (he/him) is a writer and freelance editor who facilitates creative writing and comic-making workshops for all ages. He is passionate about the benefits of creativity and self-expression for young people, and in Cork Community Art Link has found a home for these beliefs - an organisation that is dedicated to bringing art to everyone in the community, and allowing them to experience the positivity, collaboration, and sense of place that comes from sharing art with others.
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Anna Marie WhelanAdministrator
Anna Marie has been involved with CCAL for the past twenty years. She is dedicated as well as hardworking and Cork Community Art Link benefits greatly from having her around for all this time. Having served as a Board Member for many years, she has decided to join our core team at the Lido as an arts administrator since 2022 which we are very happy about. Anna Marie fundamentally believes in free access to arts for all and understands the value of community work.
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Elizabeth Galvin Crimin
Administrator
Liz joined the team at CCAL in September 2022 as an administrator. She is involved in many projects, and you will probably find her volunteering in a few places you might know around town :) Liz wanted to work at CCAL as she was drawn to our work with the arts and local community, she enjoys being a part of every aspect of what we do as a community arts charity.
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Aaron O'ConnorArt Worker
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James CumminsArt Worker
James started working at CCAL in 2022, and we are very happy to have him as part of the team. With his experience in lighting design, stage technician as well as general assistant in Cork Arts Theatre over several years, his enthusiasm and expertise surely comes in handy throughout our various projects. James is interested in arts, design, performance as well as working in community settings.
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Agata Kozłowska
Care Taker
Agata started in CCAL in 2021. At first, she was wondering if she would be able to follow as she had not previously worked in art settings but soon learned that everyone, if given the chance, can develop skills they didn’t necessarily know they had! Over the past year, Agata has opened herself to creativity and has made some beautiful pieces as well as participated in many community workshops. Her favourite moments however were most certainly performing in our various parades as Agata also found a dormant amazing performer within herself ready to pounce now at every occasion ;)
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The Board of Directors
Guillaume CoussonChairperson
Guillaume is a performer who is characterized by the diversity of his bodily expression - a fusion of circus, dance and magic arts that he combines to create performances. In 2011 he set up the company RIUCHI that has been touring successfully since then across Europe headlining various types of festivals. Later in the process he created ROGU with world renown fire performer Ronan McLoughlin which established itself as the foremost fire company in Ireland. Guillaume has won many accolades such as Next Generation Artist Arts Council 2016, and he’s a member of the prestigious French Magic team representing France at international competitions. In addition to performing and touring, Guillaume Cousson has also been the managing director of Cork Circus Factory from 2013 to 2016 and was a board director of ISACS in 2016. He also works as a consultant with established and emerging companies creating, mentoring and devising financial and marketing strategies.
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Rose Anne KidneySecretary
Rose-Anne Kidney has run her own event management/production company ‘Goldiefish Events’ since 2006, where she has worked as a freelance project manager and producer in the Cultural Sector. Rose-Anne has an interest in working on site specific events and festivals and has worked with many festivals in varying roles in the cultural sector; Cork Jazz Festival, Cork Folk Festival, A Taste of West Cork, Ocean to City Race, Cork Community Art Link’s Dragon of Shandon, Shandon Street Festival, Mad Pride, Feast, Culture and Chips Festival, Limerick, Midleton Food and Drink Festival, Cork St. Patrick’s Festival, World Book Festival to name a few.
She has Project Managed many events for local authorities including Cork City and County Council and Limerick City and County Council and has worked as a freelance production manager with the CIT, Arts Office. She is currently working as a producer with The Cork Midsummer Festival, as well as continuing her own freelance work. |
Jude ChalmersDirector
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Eamonn O’Sullivan
Transport and Logistics
Transport and Logistics
Eamonn has been involved with CCAL for many years now. He is a great asset to our team as he is a man of many talents. During our projects throughout the year Eamonn is in charge of transportation and logistics which is of course an essential part of the work we do at CCAL considering we need to move giant floats safely. His expertise does not end there however as he also knows his way around mechanics and has been able to provide significant assistance to CCAL on this front over the years.
Cork Community Art Link wishes to inform the public that we have started working to reach compliance with the Governance Code. This is a code of practice for good governance of community, voluntary and charitable organisations in Ireland which has been developed by the sector for the sector (see: www.governancecode.ie).
| ccal_financial_statements_31.12.2019.pdf |
| ccal_abridged_financial_statements_31.12.2015.pdf |
