RAFT is a collective of five artists Eleanor Phillips, Emma Finucane, Rachel Fallon, Laura Kelly and Ann Marie Webb with diverse practices which encompass socially engaged practice, collaborative and gallery works in a range of methodologies. Founded in 2012 RAFT has created two public works (24 hour WWAR and Culture Night 2013) and was recently awarded an Artists Support Bursary from Wicklow County Council.
As artists we live within a community where we are often isolated and where community interaction with what we do and what we create is often hidden from view or limited to galleries/culture nights. As individual practicing artists, frequently we are obliged to go where work is available thus we find ourselves working far from home, unable to interact with our own locale.
RAFT provides an opportunity and context for us to bring our experience and practice to our own neighbourhood and explore the possibilities in collective action, cultural production and income generation. In short we seek to become a viable community.
This collaborative framework offers us the opportunity for collective research, peer learning and knowledge production. While these opportunities are typically available in large cities, they are harder to resource at a local level.
As artists we live within a community where we are often isolated and where community interaction with what we do and what we create is often hidden from view or limited to galleries/culture nights. As individual practicing artists, frequently we are obliged to go where work is available thus we find ourselves working far from home, unable to interact with our own locale.
RAFT provides an opportunity and context for us to bring our experience and practice to our own neighbourhood and explore the possibilities in collective action, cultural production and income generation. In short we seek to become a viable community.
This collaborative framework offers us the opportunity for collective research, peer learning and knowledge production. While these opportunities are typically available in large cities, they are harder to resource at a local level.