Cathy Coughlan is a multidisciplinary artist based in Dublin. Supported by The Arts Council Cathy trained as a professional dancer in the UK (1994-97) and continued her arts training with The National College of Art and Design (Fine Art 2005), where her practice, deeply rooted in dance, primarily developed through film, installation and performance.
From 2015 – 2019 Cathy completed 3 year long residencies atRua Red Arts Centre, funded by The Arts Council’s DAR Award and South Dublin County Council, with Initial support through a Create Bursary Award. During this time she collaboratively created and produced many original works such as Non Verbal (2015) OutSide In (2015) Shift (2015) Oil&Water (2016) Trans Border (2016) Remotely Human (2017), Raw Portraits (2018) and Killing Time (2019).
As well as creating her own work for theatre, film and gallery spaces nationwide, Cathy has produced number of performances and dance events. Most recently she curated|produced LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE – a Symposium concerned with Men, Movement and Mental Health, for First Fortnight Festival (Europe) 2019, which featured both National and International artists making work for, with or about communities of men. Featured Artists included Cai Tomos, Philippa Donnellan, Matt Szczerek, Tobi Omoseto, Ailish Claffey, Prof. Des O’Neil, Jennie Moran, Catherine Young, Vukasin Nedeljkovic, John Scott, Clare Reynolds and Tony Fagan.Read More
Cathy is producer forDance2Connect, Ireland’s only street dance Festival. The festival aims to grow in a similar direction to Breaking Convention (UK). With an emphasis on creating a platform for emerging choreographers, intergenerational exchange, inclusion and diversity, the festival establishes a new ‘way in’ to creativity and artistic processes for a generation of young people in South Dublin and beyond, particularly for those who do not access traditional dance/theatre programmes. d2c lab takes place at dance ireand in the days running up to the festival. d2C is funded by the arts council’s – festival investment scheme, Civic theatre and tallaght community arts.
In 2015 Cathy was awarded Create’s – Artist in the Community – Bursary Award. Cathy’s research in association with Create focussed on new modes of collaborative practice through screen based technology. This work culminated in the co-founding of HAVOC Dance Company – a remote company centred around the expanding definitions of dance and performancewww.havocdance.com.
As an artist working in a collaboration with communities she has delivered projects and performances in association with Visual Carlow, Tipperary Dance Platform, Tallaght Community Arts, RADE, Common Ground, Create, Focus Ireland, the Fatima Regeneration Project, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Dublin City Council, Dance Ireland and Coisceim Dance Theatre – Broadreach.
Cathy’s work is supported by Arts Council Ireland, Dublin City Council, South Dublin Co.Co. Arts Office, Rua Red Arts Centre, Laois County Council, Laois Sports Partnership, Kildare Co.Co., The Dunamaise Arts Centre, Dance Ireland and Shawbrook Dance Centre.
AWARDS | GRANTS | RESIDENCIES | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2020– Arts Council Award | Festivals Investment Scheme | D2C Producer
2020– Arts Council Award | professional development award
2020– Arts Council Award | Dance Bursary Award
2019 – Arts Council Panelist | Create Bursary Award
2019– Arts Council Award | Festivals Investment Scheme | D2C Producer
2018 – Arts Council Award | Dance Artist in Residence Award | Rua Red Arts Centre
2018– Arts Council Award | Festivals Investment Scheme | D2C Producer
2018 – Nominated for 2 Tiger Dublin Fringe Awards | Best Ensemble
2017 – Arts Council Panelist | Dance Project selection
2016 – Dublin City Council Arts Grant | Bursary Award
2016 – Arts Council Panelist | Dance Bursary selection
2015 – Arts Council Award | Dance Artist in Residence | Rua Red Arts Centre
2015 – Dublin City Council Arts Grant | Project Award
2015 – Shawbrook Dance Centre | Residency
2015 – Rua Red Arts Centre | Residency Jan 2015 – Sep 2016
2014 – Arts Council Award | Artist in the community scheme Bursary Award
2014 – Nominated for 2 Tiger Dublin Fringe Awards | Best Ensemble | First fortnight award
2014 – Dance Ireland Residency June/July
2013 – Arts Council Panelist | Dance Bursary selection
2013 – Dance Ireland Residency Oct/Dec
2011– Cassie Meador Master Classes Facilitated by Dance Exchange | Washington DC
2011– Arts Council Award | Dance Artist in Residence Award
2010– Arts Council Award YES Scheme | In association with The Dunamaise AC
1995 – Arts Council Award | Bursary For full time training
1994 – Arts Council Award | Bursary For full time training
Cathy Coughlan 