Louth artists spotlighted in SURVEYOR exhibition

Solstice Arts Centre has announced SURVEYOR 2025, the fourteenth edition of its acclaimed annual open exhibition, now reimagined as a dynamic tri-venue initiative in partnership with Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda and An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk. This landmark collaboration under the Northeast Network marks a new era in regional arts programming, offering an expansive platform for artists living in or from Counties Meath and Louth.

Collette Farrell, Director, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, Louth, shares:

“Droichead Arts Centre is delighted to participate in this unique exhibition by the Northeast Network, bringing artists together from Louth and Meath across our three centres, further supporting artists across the region.”

Opening simultaneously across all three venues on Saturday 15 November 2025, SURVEYOR 2025 presents a compelling snapshot of contemporary visual arts practice in the northeast. The exhibition at Solstice is curated by Patrick Murphy, Director of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, while selection at Droichead Arts Centre will be led by artist and Associate Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dorothy Smith, Visual Arts Curator in Residence. At An Táin Arts Centre, the curatorial team includes celebrated artists Declan Kelly and Els Borghart, ensuring a rich and diverse curatorial vision across the network.

Paul Hayes, Director, An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, Louth explains: 

"Our Basement Gallery is a unique space, and we are particularly interested in submissions from artists working with installation, sculpture and projection that can respond to the space.”

Artists working in all disciplines were invited to submit work between 4 July and 10 October 2025, with final selections made in early November. The exhibition runs until Saturday 20 December 2025, in both Solstice Arts Centre and An Táin, and until Saturday 10 January in Droichead Arts Centre. The exhibition is free to attend with no booking required.

In celebration of Solstice’s upcoming 20th anniversary, the centre is proud to continue the prestigious Solstice Visual Arts Award (€2,000), and introduce two new awards exclusively for Meath-based artists:

• Meath County Council Arts Office Going Solo Award 2025 (€2,000)
• Newgrange Gold Award (€2,000)

Each partner venue, Droichead Arts Centre and An Táin, will also present a €2,000 award selected by their respective curators, recognising outstanding artistic achievement and supporting the development of visual arts in the region.

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Belinda Quirke, Artistic Director of Solstice Arts Centre, commented:"As the ancient Boyne Valley interweaves our two counties, SURVEYOR 2025 aims to celebrate and promote, the abundance of visual artists living and working in the northeast. 

For more information, visit solsticeartscentre.ie/event/surveyor-2025.