The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
GLÓR’S director Orla Flanagan will be stepping down from her role in the new year the venue’s chair and board have announced.
After six years at the helm of the Ennis cultural venue, Ms Flanagan is set pursue her own artistic interests and to embark on new creative projects.
She has been appointed as senior producer for Once Off Productions and said she intends to remain living in Clare.
“I am very proud of what we have achieved in glór over the past six years,” Ms Flanagan commented.
“I will really miss the great staff, supportive board and our fantastic partners and artists as well as the buzz of the events and the vibrancy of the building.
“I am especially proud of our collaborations with a range of artists and projects as well as the many exceptional artists celebrated and featured as part of the MÓRglór Award.”
She said she is looking forward to working with a wide range of independent artists across Ireland in the making of new theatre, dance and music projects to present nationally and internationally.
Commenting on Ms Flanagan’s departure, chair of the glór board, Bob Brannock commented,“I want to thank Orla for her incredible contribution to glór over the last six years. She has built a fantastic team here and delivered a series of innovative and imaginative programmes that have positioned glór as a beacon of light for local and national artistic development and performance.
“She challenged our thinking and encouraged diverse forms of artistic expression. Her visionary leadership championed established and emerging artists and the celebration of the traditional arts.
“On behalf of the board, the staff, and Clare’s creative and artistic communities, I wish Orla well for the future, where we can be sure that she will continue to bring art to life.”
Ms Flanagan has led the glór team for more than six years and her creative leadership has transformed glór’s offering across a wide range of artforms. She successfully delivered a dynamic and vibrant programme and spearheaded a variety of innovative artist initiatives and supports.
She also commissioned, produced, and toured an engaging array of music, theatre and dance, all generated in Clare.
She led glór through the challenging period of the pandemic, and the arts centre is now in full delivery mode once more, and welcoming audiences back into its flagship venue this month to celebrate its 21 years in existence.
Particular highlights of her time at glór include Cleft by Fergal McElherron with Rough Magic, Beat Your Drum with Brian Fleming, Shorelines by Nuala Kennedy, Wild Atlantic Tales by Niall de Búrca, Dial a Seanchaí curated by John Lillis and CAOIN by Ceara Conway.
“It has been a real privilege to play a role in anchoring the talent of such a diverse range of Clare artists at glór through our Supper Club series, Creative Circles, Artist-to-Artist Mentoring, our Associate Artists, and our Young Curators’ programme” MS Flanagan said.
“Despite the setback we experienced during the pandemic, I am very positive about what has been achieved as glór turns 21; it is an exciting opportunity for a new Director to lead the organisation into the next 21 years.”
Recruitment to fill the position of director at glór will commence shortly.
