The National Sculpture Factory provides practical and critical supports to artists, though its workshop facility and critical programme of events.
Specifically, we offer large-scale, flexible, workshop spaces for artists, with an emphasis on metal, wood, ceramic and stone-work. Located in Cork City, the National Sculpture Factory was set up in 1989 as a response to a need from artists and has expanded its remit to become a major cultural resource for the arts community.
Artists working in the
National Sculpture Factory retain control over their work, but have access to
the skills of a technician should they need help with technical processes and
fabrication. The National Sculpture Factory also provides a range of equipment
not normally available in the average studio
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Factory floor
In addition to providing
supports for artists making work, the National Sculpture Factory provides
professional and technical skills through a comprehensive training programme.
Critical skills and support are provided through a diverse lecture, symposia and
discursive programme, which is complemented by an Irish and international
commissioning and residencies programme -
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programmes
The National Sculpture
Factory also works with public and other bodies to advance both sculpture and
sculptural issues, as well as the creative use of the Percent for Art Schemes -
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services
History of the workshop building
The Old Power House, Albert Road
The National Sculpture Factory workshops, today occupy, what were formerly the headquarters of the E.S.B. and before that, the Albert Road Power House.
The Old Power House was a large complex, which maintained, repaired and housed trams at night. In about 1925, the name of the company was changed to The Cork Electric Supply Co. Ltd. The closure of the tramways in 1931 and the coming of the E.S.B. had a huge impact on the Albert Road depot. Many of the ex-tram staff was taken over by the Irish Omnibus Company and others went to work in the E.S.B.
Cork Corporation (now Cork City Council) took ownership of the building in the mid 1980’s, when the ESB relocated. In 1989, four local artists, Vivienne Roche, Maud Cotter, Danny McCarthy and Éilis O’Connell, founded the National Sculpture Factory as a response to a need from artists for a large-scale, well equipped studio space where they could work. Today, the National Sculpture Factory leases its premises from Cork City Council, whose Joinery and Traffic Departments are located in an identical building directly adjacent to the NSF at Albert Road/ Street.
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