Array Collective: Turner Prize Winners on Art, Activism, and the Future
In 2021, the Turner Prize was given to the Array Collective, a group of eleven artists and activists from Belfast, making them the first Northern Irish winners of this prestigious award. Their advocacy work covers a range of topics, including LGBTQ+ rights, marriage equality, feminism, reproductive rights, and resistance to austerity. Key members of the collective include Sighle Bhreathnach-Cashell, Sinead Bhreathnach-Cashell, Jane Butler, and others. Their project, Druthaib's Ball, reimagined an Irish wake to honor the centenary of Ireland's partition and was displayed at places like the Black Box in Belfast and the Ulster Museum. They focus on community involvement and inspire new artists to build relationships and foster care.
Key facts
- Array Collective won the Turner Prize in 2021, first Northern Irish winners.
- The collective has eleven members: Sighle Bhreathnach-Cashell, Sinead Bhreathnach-Cashell, Jane Butler, Emma Campbell, Alessia Cargnelli, Mitch Conlon, Clodagh Lavelle, Grace McMurray, Stephen Millar, Laura O'Connor, Thomas Wells.
- Druthaib's Ball was created for the Turner Prize 2021, a wake ritual for the centenary of Ireland's partition.
- The installation was shown at Black Box (Belfast), Herbert, Galway Arts Centre, and Ulster Museum.
- Array Collective supports gay rights, marriage equality, feminism, reproductive rights, and anti-austerity activism.
- Inspirations include surrealists, Bauhaus, Irish folklore, queer and feminist culture.
- They emphasize community collaboration and building 'pocket utopias'.
- The collective operates with a focus on care and relationships over art.
Entities
Artists
- Sighle Bhreathnach-Cashell
- Sinead Bhreathnach-Cashell
- Jane Butler
- Emma Campbell
- Alessia Cargnelli
- Mitch Conlon
- Clodagh Lavelle
- Grace McMurray
- Stephen Millar
- Laura O'Connor
- Thomas Wells
- Hammad Nasar
Institutions
- Array Collective
- Turner Prize
- Black Box
- Herbert
- Galway Arts Centre
- Ulster Museum
- Jerwood Collaborate!
Locations
- Belfast
- Northern Ireland
- Ireland