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First Thought

First Thought

By: Galway International Arts Festival
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First Thought invites you to discover new perspectives, people, and more. Tune into conversations on creativity and the issues of the day. Based on Galway International Arts Festival's popular First Thought Talks series.Copyright 2020 All rights reserved. Art Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Audio Guide: David Mach Burning Down the House
    Jul 14 2025

    Welcome to the official Audio Guide to Burning Down the House By David Mach as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025.

    David Mach is one of the UK’s most successful, prolific and respected artists, best known for his dynamic and large-scale collage, and his imposing and provocative public art, sculpture and installations constructed from mass-produced materials including coat hangers, car tyres, newspapers and magazines.

    Mach’s previous sensational GIAF exhibitions – 2012’s Precious Light which featured the enormous crucifixion sculpture Golgotha, made from steel and wire coat hangers, and 2018’s Rock ’n’ Roll which saw Mach place a yacht, car and a caravan with multiple other objects and debris within a monumental quantity of painstakingly positioned newspapers; and 2023’s The Oligarch’s Nightmare which featured an exploding Range Rover – enjoyed record-breaking audiences.

    He returns to the Festival with this new site-specific installation Burning Down the House at the Festival Gallery, William Street.

    For more information about other shows in the festival visit www.giaf.ie.

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    11 mins
  • Audio Guide:Jane Cassidy and Arts Alive Tactile Tunes
    Jul 14 2025

    Welcome to the official Audio Guide to Tactile Tunes by Jane Cassidy and Arts Alive at the Aula Maxima, University of Galway as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025.

    Tactile Tunes is led by Jane Cassidy, a multimedia artist and educator from Galway. Arts Alive Galway is a community-based arts programme for adults with intellectual disabilities under The Brothers of Charity Services Galway.

    Arts Alive Galway aims to make the joy of music accessible to everyone, transforming how we engage with sound through inclusive creativity.

    Tactile Tunes is an interactive musical installation designed to encourage music-making among people of all abilities.

    Using sensory-friendly materials and surfaces, it blends sound, touch, visuals, and movement to create an immersive environment. The project celebrates the belief that everyone has the right — and the ability — to make music in their own way.

    Developed with the support of Galway Culture Company and Galway International Arts Festival’s ELEVATE Bursary, and the Create Artist in the Community Scheme.

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    7 mins
  • Audio Guide: Patricia Piccinini's We Travel Together
    Jul 15 2024

    Welcome to the official Audio Guide to We Travel Together By Patricia Piccinini as part of Galway International Arts Festival.

    Patricia Piccinini is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists who has received worldwide attention for her startling sculptures, installations and digital environments. Born in Sierra Leone, Patricia uses her craft to create striking images of hyperrealistic hybrid animals, humans and creatures to question the way that contemporary technology and culture changes our understanding of evolution and what it means to be human.

    When leaving this exhibition the artist hopes the audience are inspired to ask questions about the changing relationship between us and the world around us and that hopefully, we can begin to imagine a new way forward, together with other creatures rather at their expense.

    The Festival Gallery is presented in association with The Dean Galway who also provided support for this audio guide. For more information about other shows in the festival visit www.giaf.ie.

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    11 mins
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