New Cork City Dance Artist in Residence announced
Luke Murphy takes on the role of Cork City Dance Artist in Residence
Dance Cork Firkin Crane and Cork City Council Arts Office are delighted to announce choreographer and performer Luke Murphy as Cork City Dance Artist in Residence 2024-2026. Luke was chosen from a competitive national call earlier this year, following a unanimous decision from the selection panel.
Originally from Cork City and now back living in the area, Luke’s practice covers dance, theatre, film, and installation, which he presents under the aegis of his production company, Attic Projects. Most recently, Luke performed in a sold-out run of his award-winning performance Volcano in September this year, presented by Dance Cork Firkin Crane as part of Sounds from a Safe Harbour Festival at The Granary Theatre.
In this residency the artist aims to not only embed his current practice in Dance Cork Firkin Crane and Cork City, but to bring a greater visibility to dance in Cork and promote greater sustainability for dance artists in the area. Among the activities planned are; large scale public performances with collaborators across the city, training and performance opportunities for professional dance artists, and projects that grow and strengthen links with the local community.
Speaking about the residency, Luke states: ‘It’s both a pleasure and a privilege to be working with Dance Cork Firkin Crane and Cork City Council Arts Office as Dance Artist in Residence for Cork from 2024-2026. As a Cork native and Cork based artist, I’m delighted to be able to more firmly base my practice in Cork City and work with both organisations to help bring greater visibility to contemporary dance in Cork. I took my first dance classes at the Firkin Crane at the age of seven and grew up about a ten-minute walk away so the building, the area and north Cork are hugely important to me. I’m very grateful for the support over a three-year programme and for the stability that can offer in terms of developing projects and practice for the coming seasons and I hope I can work with the local dance community to make the role and position a resource with further reaching benefits for the development of dance across Cork City.’
Executive Artistic Director of Dance Cork Firkin Crane Laurie Uprichard adds: ‘All of us at Dance Cork Firkin Crane look forward to welcoming Luke into our organisational milieu over the next three years, knowing that we can be a key support to his creative growth and that he will be a strategic partner and artistic liaison between us and the city.’
Arts Officer at Cork City Council Michelle Carew also welcomes the appointment: ‘We are very pleased to support this sustained investment in Luke Murphy’s dance practice and to support his engagement with the wider dance sector in the city via his residency at Dance Cork Firkin Crane. It is the city’s strategic ambition to support the culture and conditions that make Cork a city where artists can live and build sustainable careers, and this residency is an important contributor to that goal.’
About Luke Murphy
Luke Murphy founded Attic Projects in 2014 as an umbrella for his various independent projects in dance, film and theatre. His work has been supported by various commissions, awards and residencies internationally including Arts Council of Ireland, CultureIreland, DanceIreland, Tanz Tendendz Munich, b12 Berlin, DanceBase Edinburgh, Tribeca Performing Arts Centre, NY and others. He is currently Artist in Residence at Dublin Dance Festival 2023-2025 and funded annually by The Arts Council of Ireland Arts Grant since 2018.
Most recently his 2021 work Volcano was the winner of Best Production, Best Movement, Best Lighting and Best Set at the Irish Times Theatre Awards (Ireland’s national theatre awards.
Luke danced with Ultima Vez from 2014-2018, Punchdrunk 2009-2023 and for projects with Ben Duke, Alexandra Waierstall, Liz Roche, Luca Silvestrini, Jonah Bokaer, Pavel Zustiak and Bill T Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company.
Luke has been the producer and programming director of The Catch8 Workshop Series since 2017 and dance curator at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre since 2020.
Residency supported by Cork City Council and Dance Cork Firkin Crane.
Dance Cork Firkin Crane is supported by the Arts Council.
