Governance

About Us

Black Church Print Studio is located at number 4 Temple Bar, in the heart of Dublin’s City Centre. As part of the redevelopment of Temple Bar in 1994, the Studio’s 4-storey building was custom built as a printmaking workshop. Black Church Print Studio has a Cultural Use Agreement with Dublin City Council for the use of this building. At ground level, there is a double height gallery space, where Black Church Print Studios’ programmes exhibitions for two months per year. Above the gallery space, on the first floor is a lithographic, relief print and digital print workshop area. The second floor is the etching (Intaglio) workshop area. The top floor provides a workshop for screen print, an analogue photography and photo-etching darkroom. All workshop floors are shared spaces which is conducive to the sharing of ideas, skill-sets and establishing a strong community atmosphere.

The Studio provides Membership and other services for approximately 250 artist annually. It currently has 95 Studio artists members, who are all key-holders, and who have 24-hour access to the Studio. Black Church Print Studio supports its member artists in their careers, which includes, making affordable studio space available with access to specialised printmaking equipment. It also includes opportunities for peer learning, career development, exhibiting, and strengthening exchange through building networks. Black Church Print Studio is one of the founder members of Print Network Ireland. Black Church Print Studio is a resource to external artists by providing non-member access programmes, national and international residencies, learning opportunities, and fine art printing services. In addition, it provides public and community engagement opportunities through exhibitions, workshops and open-days. It is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors, which includes artist members and independent external experts. Paid staff are responsible for the day-to-day operational and programme management of the Studio.

Black Church Print Studio is a not-for-profit organisation and has charitable status. It is funded by the Arts Council, Dublin City Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in Ireland.

In addition to its core work, the studio runs six critically acclaimed programmes:

1. International Artist in Residence Award

2. Black Church Process Residency Award

3. Student & Graduate Award

4. Emerging Curator Award

5. Exhibition Programme

6. Collector’s Annual Print Draw

Our Pillars

Make. Learn. Exhibit. Perserve. Collect.

Our Vision

Black Church Print Studio aims to promote fine art printmaking as an artform and underpin our artists in their (traditional and experimental) print practice.

Our Mission

Black Church Print Studio’s mission is to enable and elevate contemporary printmaking practices. We do so by providing affordable studio access, specialised equipment, professional support and development opportunities to a community of printmaking artists in a custom-built print workshop in the heart of Dublin’s City Centre with a local, national and international remit.

Principal objectives

Provide a well-managed, fully equipped, professional facility with technical, administrative and digital support for full-time members, dedicated printmakers and the wider public.
Maintain a programme of activities that supports professional development and our Public Engagement Plan.
Promote our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy by providing access to the public through our artistic, education and community programmes.
Ensure equitable payments as per Black Church Print Studio’s Paying the Artist Policy.
Develop relationships with educational institutions and schools by facilitating tours, demonstrations, workshops, internships, work placements in line with our Child Protection Policy.
Develop national and international exchanges and residencies.
Partner and collaborate with other print studios across Ireland.
Maintain and develop networks with other arts organisations through collaborations and partnerships.
Provide graduate and undergraduate award schemes to Third Level Fine Art students.
Build and maintain our Print Archive Collection (1982 – present).

Governance

Black Church Print Studio is committed to comply with the Charities Regulator’s Charities Governance Code and with the principles of good fundraising. It also complies with financial reporting standards and generally accepted accounting practice and its audited accounts are prepared in line with the Charity SORP.

Board of Directors

Consists of nine directors, five of which (including the Chairperson) are artist members of the Studio while four are external directors. Studio artist Board members are appointed by the Studio membership and the Board appoints the external directors. The external directors provide expertise in other areas such as law, finance and communications while also having a strong interest in the visual arts. The directorship is for a period of three years with the option to continue for a further two years.

Alan Crowley, Chair

(03/2022 – 03/2027, Appointed Chair 02/2025)

Alan Crowley trained in Limerick School of Art & Design as a traditional printmaker, he completed an undergraduate course of study in 2009 and an MA by Research in 2012. Since 2014 he has been employed as an assistant lecturer in TUSS Limerick School of Art & Design. Here he delivers instruction to undergraduate Animation & Motion Design learners. His area of specialization is drawing and stop motion. In his own art practice, he incorporate printmaking, sculpture and filmmaking. These projects are informed by drawing, traditional photography, creative writing, and contextual research. Working with both traditional and digital means, he enjoys combining classical approaches to art making with contemporary media and processes.

Andrea Marrinan, Secretary

(01/2024 – 01/2027, Appointed Secretary 02/2025)

Andrea Marrinan has led some of the most high-profile and long-standing sponsorships in the arts in Ireland. Constantly striving to identify new opportunities and create unique experiences Andrea is driven by the ability arts fundraising has in connecting new audiences to the arts and cultural sector. With national and international experience in both the arts and charity sectors Andrea’s expertise expands across all areas of development from corporate and indivual giving to foundations and major gifts. Andrea received her BA from Trinity College Dublin in Art History & Sociology, before going on to receive an MA in Cites: Art, Architechture & Aspiration from University College Dublin. Andrea is currently the Development Manager at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

Eamonn Griffin, Treasurer

(01/2022 – 01/2027, Appointed Treasurer 1/2022)

Eamonn Griffin is a Chartered Accountant by profession. Up to his retirement at the end of 2014 he was a Senior Partner in RSM Farrell Grant Sparks. Since then he has undertaken consultancy assignments in his specialist fields of taxation, business strategy and succession. Over the years he has held board positions in both the private and the not for profit sectors with a particular focus on accounting services, property, film and animation, human rights and creative writing education.

Cathleen Noctor

(09/2022 – 09/2025)

Cathleen Noctor is a senior counsel practising law for the main part in Dublin. She has a varied legal practice and a special interest in visual arts and music.

Aisling Conroy

(06/2025 – 06/2028)

Aisling Conroy is a multidisciplinary artist using painting, print, sound and experimental film. She graduated from the National College of Art and Design with a BA Hons degree in Fine Art Print, 2009; and a Master of Fine Art postgraduate degree, 2011. She has worked in the National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL) at NCAD, on numerous archival, digitisation, research and educational projects (2012-2017), as well as working in the audio-visual sector on various animated TV and film productions since 2017. Aisling is the Writer and Director of the award winning animated short film BARDO (2021) produced by the animation studio and maps and plans. Conroy has been the recipient of Arts Council Funding, Laois Arts Funding, a Creative Ireland Film Bursary and the Centre Culturel Irlandais Bursary to name a few. Aisling’s practice intertwines several aspects of metaphysics and the healing arts by incorporating meditative and sound healing modalities to deepen the conceptual and sensory dimensions of her work, while also engaging with the experiential intersections of art and healing. These practices extend beyond the studio into workshops and events, creating participatory spaces that explore transpersonal work; introspection, health and wellness, embodiment, and expanded states of consciousness. Aislings work is represented in notable collections such as the The Press Up Group, Dublin; The Office of Public Works, State Collection; Laois County Council; Axa Insurance; Irish Independent; International Centre for Contemporary Printmaking, US; The National Council of Bioethics; and private collections around Ireland, Spain, UK, the U.S and India.

Professional member of the Black Church Print Studio, the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, and Visual Artists Ireland.

Sinéad Kathy Rice

(01/2023 – 01/2026)

Sinéad Kathy Rice is Head of Education at the National Gallery of Ireland where she is responsible for the strategic development of the Education Department, leading the Education Team, and delivering a year-round, diverse, equitable, accessible and inclusive programme onsite, offsite and online. She has particular interest in connecting contemporary practice with historical collections, inclusive learning methodologies, and socially engaged museum practices. Sinéad has worked with civic spaces, charities, cultural organisations and academic institutions in Ireland and abroad since 2007. Originally from Wexford, she studied design at Dublin Institute of Technology before moving to Cork to pursue a BA in Fine Art at Crawford College of Art & Design, majoring in Analogue Photography and Printmaking. Sequentially she received her H.Dip in Visual Arts Education (CCAD), and MA in Modern & Contemporary Art History, Theory and Criticism (University College Cork).

Maureen Burke

(11/2023 – 11/2026)

Maureen Burke is originally from Leicester UK, now living in Dublin. She was involved in art education in the Further Education sector for many years. Maureen graduated with a BA in
Visual Arts Practice (IADT) an MA in Public Culture Theory (IADT) and a PhD in Art Education (NCAD). Professional member of Black Church Print Studio, and her practice moves between
printmaking, painting and drawing.

Catriona Leahy

(11/2023 – 11/2026)

Catriona Leahy is an artist and educator based in Dublin. Leahy received her BA Fine Art from Crawford College of Art & Design and MA Print from The Royal College of Art in London. Before taking up position as Assistant Lecturer in Print at NCAD in January 2018 she held the position of Senior Lecturer in Printmaking at the University of Northampton (2013 – 2017), during which time she secured the Satander Staff Research Award to enable a research residency for herself and 4 MA students to the world-renowned Frans Masereel Centrum in Belgium. The residency resulted in the publication of a collaborative artists’ book, the original of which is housed in the TATE Britain Special Collections Library. She was Associate Lecturer at Winchester School of Art (2016 – 2017) and has acted as Visiting Lecturer to Camberwell College of Art, Manchester School of Art, Loughborough University and University of Central Lancaster. She is currenty the Head of Print Department (Temp) at the National College of Art & Design. Leahy is a professional member of Black Church Print Studio. She works across print, sculpture and moving image.

Siobhan Cox

(06/2025 – 06/2028)

Siobhán Cox is an Irish visual artist working in printmaking, drawing, and painting. She holds a BFA in Printmaking from the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Dublin. Her practice centres on traditional intaglio techniques, particularly etching and aquatint, to produce small-scale, tonal prints. Siobhán teaches etching at Black Church Print Studio in Dublin, where she also serves on the board and education panel. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and is part of the OPW collection.