Kildare County Council Announces Recipient of 2026 ‘Connect & Gather Award’
26th January 2026: Kildare County Council’s Arts Service, in partnership with Creative Places Athy, is delighted to announce that multidisciplinary artist and cultural producer, Ali Clarke, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Connect & Gather Award.
Ali Clarke’s work mixes contemporary dance, circus, theatre and performance inviting audiences to engage with arts projects in immersive, interactive ways. She brings a wealth of experience to this role. Over the past two years, Ali has worked closely with communities across Dublin City through her leadership of the Creative Ireland programme for Dublin City Arts Office. Her artistic practice has been presented across Europe, Mexico and Brazil, and has earned significant national and international recognition, including the Arts Council Next Generation Award, the Chassé Theater and Podium Bloos Culture Award, and the Café Theatre Festival Jury Award.
Speaking about the award, Ali Clarke said: “I am delighted to take on this programme and to spend time working closely in Athy. I am really looking forward to embedding my practice in the town, building relationships with the community, and learning together through shared creative processes. I’m excited to continue developing the space as a place shaped by the people who use it.”
As Connect & Gather artist, Ali will be based at Art House, 42A Leinster Street, Athy. Over the coming year, she will build on the foundations established by former artist-in-residence Anthony Haughey, continuing to develop Art House as a space for new arts projects, collaboration and community engagement. Her approach will focus on sustaining and strengthening existing relationships while developing new opportunities for the community to be involved in shared creative processes.
Through the Connect & Gather Award, Ali’s work will support the continued development of Athy as a place where artistic practice, community knowledge and shared authorship are central to cultural life.
Creative Places Athy is funded and supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Kildare County Council. This initiative aims to strengthen and grow arts and cultural activity in Athy in collaboration with individuals, artists, creatives and local communities.
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