Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland elected 10 new members at its General Assembly in Royal Hospital Kilmainham today.
The Arts Council established Aosdána in 1981 to honour those artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland and to encourage and assist members in devoting their energies fully to their art. Membership of the organisation, which is by peer nomination and election, is limited to 250 living artists, who have produced a distinguished body of work.
Members of the organisation must have been born in Ireland or have been resident here for five years. Aosdána members who reside in Ireland are eligible to receive a 'cnuas' from the Arts Council - an annuity for a term of five years - to assist them in concentrating their time and energies in the full-time pursuit of their art. The newly elected nominees will bring the current Aosdána membership to 235.
Election of Saoi
At today's General Assembly it was also announced that painter Camille Souter had been elected as Saoi. The honour of Saoi is for singular and sustained distinction in the arts: not more than seven artists may hold this honour at any one time. The five other Saoithe are: Louis le Brocquy, Seamus Heaney, Anthony Cronin, Brian Friel and Patrick Scott.
Aosdána new members
- Paddy Bushe - Literature
- Siobhán Cleary - Music
- Peter Cunningham - Literature
- Philip Davison - Literature
- Catherine Delaney - Visual arts
- James Hanley - Visual arts
- Claire Keegan - Literature
- Aodhán Madden - Literature
- Willie McKeown - Visual arts
- Peter Sirr - Literature
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