FieldWorks: Enrichment Arts Gap Year Program in Ireland

The time I spent on the farm during Cowhouse’s gap year program was an invaluable experience for me as an artist. Not only was the area absolutely gorgeous but I also met such wildly talented and lovely people that I can call friends for life. Frank and Rosie are extremely supportive and knowledgeable and the facilities are amazing; their advice helped advance my practice massively. They made sure there was always an abundance of activities to partake in. I also can’t forget to mention Caitriona’s amazing cooking! A highlight for me was helping her make a sticky toffee pudding one evening. I cannot express how much I loved my time on the farm and two years on I still think about it most days!

The Gap Year program gave me so much valuable time & experience finding my voice in the art world. It was also valuable being able to build a community of artists from around the world, while also connecting with local Irish artists. The staff were helpful & compassionate & encouraged us every step of the way. We went on weekly adventures to different towns & learned so much about Irish culture. Everything I learned in Ireland has already propelled my art practice. I am a BFA senior & hope to go back one day for a residency!

My 3 months in the Fielddworks program at Cow House were some of the best months of my life. It hosted an atmosphere of creativity that turned into friendship, I met some of my best friends there. The instructors cared so much about us and would always go out of their way to make sure we were getting the attention we needed to grow the most as artists and people. Frank ran workouts every morning and Rosie and I would cold plunge and then meet a half hour later to sip tea and do art. Oh my gosh, and the food... it was phenomenal, there's nothing else I can say. I think my favorite day and the one that meant the most to me was Thanksgiving, fact that Frank and Rosie went out of their way to host us and cook a traditional dinner... It was hard not being with family but by the end of the program, I felt like Cow House was my second family. I think back on those days and I can do nothing but smile. If you get the chance to go, do it, and enjoy every moment, journal, and take videos and pictures because you will look back on it forever.

Spending 12 weeks of my life fully dedicating myself to making art was such a beautiful self-discovery process. At Cow House I had my own studio and there were many different art supplies to use and try out. Rosie and Frank were the best program directors I could've asked for—I actually felt like they were part of my family!

The best part of Cow House was spending time in the studio, lighting up the fire, going on weekly trips, having dinner at Frank and Rosie's house, and (of course) eating Caitriona's food (it reads Catrina btw… Irish names can be a bit confusing).

Cow House changed my life and made me realize that visual art is part of my essence and that I should always make time to make art.

Go Raibh Maith Agat to Cow House Studios, Rosie, Frank, Folly, Caitriona, Laurette, Rosie's parents, the boys, and to the whole cohort <3

Frank and Rosie were the nicest people to spend three months with. The space they created on the farm made everyone feel at home and allowed so much creativity in the group. The studio had every art supply you could need, and I spent my time in the darkroom where Frank helped me so much. Critiques allowed the students to get direct feedback from both Rosie, Frank and the other students, which I found to be very helpful. Caitriona makes lunch and dinner for us, and the food could not have been better, I enjoyed every single meal at Cow House! Rosie and Frank made a great group to spend time with. I ended up learning so much from the people around me and making life long friends. I would reccomend this program to anyone who loves art or is searching for something to be passionate about.

Our 18 year old daughter spent 3 months in Wexford at Cow House Studios
as part of her gap year before Cambridge. She´s always been a good
student and an eager learner. Her Cow House experience was the most
valuable preparation for her future that I can imagine. Frank and Rosie
are astute, intelligent and supportive critics. They are kind and
generous with their time and the seemingly limitless resources of the
studio. In a beautiful corner of southern Ireland, in handsomely
restored buildings, they work, they hang out, they eat (very well), they
travel, and they meet an impressive array of local artists who share
their passions and perspectives. Cata left Cow House with a very close
group of friends, pride in their progress and the work that they had all
done, and a deep affection for the people of Cow House and Ireland. I
only wish her elder siblings had known of it.

Cowhouse Studios was pivotal in the trajectory of my life as an artist, and as a human. The instructors, Frank and Rosie, work hard to create an equally encouraging and challenging community. Through gallery visits, Irish culture, meeting artists, conversations, gorgeous Irish scenery, and so much in between, I had the space and inspiration to create more than I ever had before. My passion for art grew more than I thought possible with the influence of this program, and the mentoring I received. I gained such a variety of knowledge, in studio arts, but also vision, food, culture, travel, friendship, from artists and students alike. The incredible environment helped me to realize my strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Even after I left I know I have a home with the people that surround this program. Not to mention I made some best friends here! I am a more passionate, inspired, and thankful person because of my time at Cowhouse Studios and I could not be more grateful for my experience. I recommend this place to anyone and everyone.

Going to Cow House studios was such an amazing experience. You are able to live in an environment where you can truly grow both as a person and as an artist.

The studio offers you all of the time and resources you could ever need to make art. From the amazing dark room and all of the camera equipment, to the countless tubes of paint and rolls of loose canvas, you can really execute any creative project. Rosie and Frank, the couple who run the program, are also incredibly supportive and really try to push you creatively. They are both incredibly experienced artists who can offer invaluable technical advice, all the while encouraging you to question and further develop your creative process.

I also got to meet some of the most amazing people there. It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with people my age who are just as passionate about art. I was able to discuss my work with all of my peers and receive feed back on it that helped me develop my ideas so much further. Through these conversations we were all able to connect and from truly meaningful relationships. I will always be grateful for the people that cow house brought into my life.

The food, excursions and staff were also a major highlight. Caitriona, the chef, and Tony, a member of the staff, were both so kind to me during my time there. They are both truly wonderful people. All of the food Caitriona and Frank would make was so amazing. they would put so much thought into each meal, and I would be genuinely exited whenever it was time to eat. Because of Covid we didn't get to go all around Ireland, like some of the previous gappers, but the places we did get to see were so beautiful. We were able to go on some truly amazing hikes, and we got to visit some of the wonderful town in and around Wexford county.
I can wholeheartedly recommend Cow House for anyone looking to do a gap year, I cannot say enough good things about it.