bio

JULIE FORRESTER Multi-disciplinary Visual Arts Practitioner

Work begins with a particular creative encounter …..and then proceeds through a series of responses … an exploration, mapping the territory, documenting the unfolding experiences using a variety of media and embodied processes

BIOGRAPHY

Julie Forrester is a visual artist whose practice employs process-based approaches arising from connections with place, memory and shared experience. Recent work focuses on urban ecologies and climate awareness. Her collaborative work explores the sense of belonging which arises out of a relationship with place, subtly embracing themes of advocacy and inclusion.

With a long career as artist in education contexts, JF is a panelist with numerous arts organisations, including The Crawford Art Gallery, where she delivers programmes in response to artworks and exhibitions. As a member of the Gallery’s Learn & Explore team Forrester leads a programme Follow your Nose in partnership with Cork Migrant Centre. Follow your Nose is an online and in person art project with families in direct Provision. JF is a panelist with Cork County Council’s Arts Office, where she delivers projects with The Frameworks Programme, Cruinniu na nÓg, Lifelong learning and the Arts and Health Social Prescribing Programme. She also works with Creative Ireland’s programmes in schools. JF is a long-time associate artist with Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership, collaborating with children and teachers on residencies across Ireland, projects include Virtually There, Trading Places, and Multimedia Maps. She is a member of The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s Education panel and the Arts Council’s Artists in Prison Scheme.

Forrester’s art projects have received awards from Creative Climate Action (2023), Cork City Council (2023) The Arts Council of Ireland (YPCE Bursary Award 2021, Agility Award 2022) and Local Authority Arts Offices in Offally, Cavan, and Wexford. Numerous projects have been supported by Cork City Council’s Arts in Context awards, and her current project, Gleann na Phúca is in receipt of a Project Award. Forrester has been commissioned by the Department of Education and Science to make participatory public artworks under the Per cent for Art Scheme.

In a past life JF was Artistic Director of ArtTrail Cork, an Internationally acclaimed site-specific Festival involving 80 artists, exhibitions, live events and artworks across multiple venues in Cork City. She was co-Curator and Production Manager of Cork’s Soundworks Festival.  

She is currently curating the multidisciplinary arts participation and site-specific Art Project, Gleann a’Phúca in The Glen, Cork.