Richard Malone curates Cuimhne agus Séadchomhartha for Ireland's EU presidency

Irish fashion designer and Central Saint Martins graduate Richard Malone has been selected to lead Cultúr 2026, Ireland's cultural programme for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. Their exhibition, Cuimhne agus Séadchomhartha (Memory and Monument), will be held at the Justus Lipsius Atrium in Brussels until 12 December 2026, showcasing Irish artists and traditional crafts. The show highlights gendered skills like macramé and quilting, often erased from history, and features collaborations with We Make Good, a Dublin social enterprise employing migrants and former offenders. Malone's curation emphasizes working-class and queer voices, with artists including Venus Patel, Alice Rekab, Aleana Egan, and Sara Flynn. The exhibition aims to reimagine Ireland's creative roots beyond commercial ideals, addressing colonial narratives and the undervaluation of craft labour. Malone notes that communal quilting circles contributed to political changes like the abortion and gay marriage referendums in Ireland.