Sculpture in the Parklands

Client: Lough Boora Parklands Group, Bord na Mona and Offaly County Council

Role: Artistic Director/Curator (2002 -2011)

O'Dwyer has achieved synergy in action by ensuring complete coherence and alignment of operational plans with strategic vision, aims and objectives and through the dedicated application of strategic planning in the cutaway bog in Co. Offaly. His transformational leadership style has galvanized many publics and he has created a substantial and significant project which embodies the best practice ideals of strategic management. It is aspirational, proactive, value-driven and is a unique project heavily rooted within its local geography and context. Type your paragraph here.

Kerry McCall
Kneissl Young Researchers Award at the University of Applied Sciences

Lough Boora Sculpture Park (Sculpture in the Parklands 2002-2010), represents a very powerful and developed body of twenty-five large scale sculptures and from the mapping exercise undertaken for this study, is by far the most significant and important collection of public sculpture in Ireland. However there have been no new sculptural commissions since 2010 ,,,,,,,,,

The opportunity to create work at Lough Boora Sculpture Park (Sculpture in the Parklands 2002-2010) had appeal to Irish and international artists alike. Former curator Kevin O’Dwyer had a deep understanding of monumental art in the landscape, he understood what was possible from artists and had a strong reputation as a curator and project manager. He also had an established and expansive network nationally and internationally in the genre of art in the landscape. This skill set will be required into the future to maintain and exceed the original artistic standard set.

Lough Boora Sculpture Park (Sculpture in the Parklands 2002-2010) is unique in Ireland in terms of scale of the work, number of pieces in the collection and the landscape which it is set in. There are no other sculpture parks or sculpture trails of such significance in Ireland. It is estimated that to recreate Lough Boora Park today would cost in excess of €2 Million Euros.

Arts in the Landscape Report 2020

Directed the development of Ireland's only sculpture park dedicated to the interpretation of the rich natural and industrial legacy of the boglands.

Key Role:

Curation
Development of primary and secondary education programme.
Raise Community awareness.
Corporate fund raising.
Promotion - national and international.
Liase with third level institutions, Arts Council, Offaly County Council and the Heritage Council.
Administration of the Artist-in-Residence programme.
Development of artwork, mapping and signage.

Key Achievements:

National Business to Arts Awards 2003 and 2009
Local Government Award 2007
Irish Landscape Institute Design Award 2010
Commissioned and curated 25 permanent and temporary sculptures.
Developed partnerships with Bord na Mona, Lough Boora Parklands Group, University College Dublin, The Arts Council, The Heritage Council and the Crafts Council of Ireland.
Secured European Union Arts and Culture programme funding in partnership with UCD.
Commissioned video, dance, music composition and choreography.

Business to Arts Corporate and Social Responsibility Award