Artlink has announced the return of Art in the Park (V), transforming two of Inishowen’s much-loved public spaces into open-air galleries this May.

Running from May 2 to May 31, this year’s exhibition, titled ‘At the Threshold,’ will feature nine artists presenting installations, photography, sculpture, sound, and site-responsive works at Swan Park in Buncrana and Barrack Hill Park in Carndonagh.

Bringing contemporary art into everyday public spaces, Art in the Park invites visitors to encounter new ideas while walking, gathering, and spending time outdoors.

This year’s exhibition explores themes including ecology and land use, migration, memory, belonging, colonial histories, walking as an artistic practice, and the creative reuse of everyday materials. These ideas come together under the shared theme of At the Threshold – a reflection on transition, borders, movement, uncertainty, and change.

placeholder image — 'Which Once Was' by Darcy Patterson.

Located at the North West edge of Ireland, the Inishowen peninsula has long been shaped by movement – of people, power, and ideas. Its coastal geography, layered histories, and continuing cross-border connections make it an ideal setting for an exhibition exploring what it means to stand between places, identities, and futures.

Nine Artists, Nine Unique Perspectives

This year’s participating artists each respond to the theme in distinctive ways:

Annie Hogg – LOST: delineations – A sculptural and sound-based reflection on changing farmland, environmental loss, and the emotional impact of transformed landscapes.

Jessica Auer – When I Walk – A choreographed route through Swan Park using photographic panels and text, inviting visitors to experience walking as an artistic act.

Santiago Vélez – Doors to the Sea – Symbolic doors placed in oceans around the world explore migration, borders, and the search for safety and dignity.

Gail Ritchie – Home for Ghosts & Letting Go – Two deeply personal works exploring home, fear, memory, grief, and emotional transition.

Rosalind Lowry – Private Land – Porcelain interventions examining land ownership, enclosure, and the growing commodification of landscape.

Darcy Patterson – Which Once Was – Sculptural works made from discarded doors that speak to transformation, balance, and interdependence.

Sue Morris – Commons – Flags and plaques reflecting shared land, multicultural identity, and inclusive ideas of belonging.

Roberto Uribe-Castro – Abyss – A striking water mirror installation in O’Doherty’s Keep reflecting architecture, perception, and the unknown.

Locky Morris – Floaters – Found footballs gathered from beaches and rivers become sculptural objects exploring movement, identity, and displacement.

Together, these works invite visitors to pause, reflect, cross, return, and see familiar spaces in new ways.

Art in the Park exhibition curator Adriana Valderrama said: “What’s really exciting about this year’s exhibition is the range of voices, materials and ideas on show. We have artists working with sound, sculpture, photography, found objects, landscape, history and memory – and each brings something very different to the parks. Some works are playful, some moving, some thought-provoking, but together they create a rich conversation about place, belonging and change. We’d love people to take their time, wander through the parks, and discover the work in their own way.”

Art in the Park project co-ordinators Hannah Tucker (Swan Park) and Sinéad Smyth (Barrack Hill Park) added: “Art in the Park has become such a special part of spring in Inishowen, and we’re delighted to welcome people back again this year. It’s a chance to experience contemporary art in a really relaxed and accessible setting – whether you’re out for a walk, visiting with family, or simply curious to see something new. There’s something here for everyone, and we’d warmly encourage people to come along and enjoy it.”

Admission is free.

Additonally, there will be an Art in the Park bus tour by Tatterjack's on Saturday, May 2 from 11:30am - 5:30pm. A guided exhibition tour of Swan Park (Buncrana), with tea and refreshments at The Angling Centre and bus transfer to Barrack Hill Park (Carndonagh). A guided exhibition tour of Barrack Hill Park and return to The Drift Inn for music by Mickey Herron

To book go to https://www.ticketsource.com/artlink. €10pp return ticket

For updates and further information on Art in the Park V, visit www.artlink.ie, follow Facebook.com/Artlinkfortdunreepage, or contact the Artlink team on 00353 83 869 6513.