A significant part of model :: offsite involves working with artists in new ways, outside of the gallery context. In the past 2 years we have commissioned a a number of artists to work with us in new and more developed ways. The first project announced was with Irish artist Seamus Nolan whom the Model commissioned to develop a long-term project for Sligo during 2008 and 2009. This project will come to completion at the end of this year with Trades Club Revival.

Nolan has been critically acclaimed for his collaborative projects with members of the public and community groups, and his work as an artist often involves reframing and deconstructing codes of meaning in the every-day. Some recent projects by Seamus Nolan include Nature Reserve, Agorafolly, Brussels 2007; Bin, La Centrale Electrique, Brussels 2007; Hotel Ballymun, Ballymun, Dublin 2007.

Earlier this year visual and sound artist Karl Burke was commissioned to create a new work that explores sound and space through a unique collaboration with a group or a number of individuals with learning and sensory disabilities.
The resulting project: The Karl Burke Sound Project is a partnership between artist Karl Burke and a group of individuals with learning disabilities. This dynamic group came together under the supervision of the artist Karl Burke and was facilitated by The Model and the HSE West learning disability service. The group began to experiment with the theme of creating a SoundTrack for a Day and the workshops took place in the forest at Union Woods. Read more.

The third commission, Relay, began in 2008 and has run throughout the offsite period. Commissioned by the Model Relay is an online music project devised and curated by musician John Lambert (aka Chequerboard). Lambert has invited a selection of Irish and international sound artists and musicians to contribute to Relay over the duration of the project. Starting with a sound work made from recordings of sounds taken from the Model building, Lambert then relayed this piece to the first contributor. Each work is published online as it is completed, and the Relay page will map the path of this dialogue of ideas between artists.