International Forum on Artistic Research
17th Conference of the Society for Artistic Research (SAR)
Submission Number: 312
Submission ID: 377
Submission UUID: 13c614f7-db21-4163-b7ae-ca1b9a2882a3

Created: Sun, 1 Mar 2026 - 11:27
Completed: Sun, 1 Mar 2026 - 13:03
Changed: Wed, 13 May 2026 - 08:26

Remote IP address: 37.228.243.96
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Current page: webform_confirmation

Flagged: Yes
Given name Mel
Surname Galley
Email melfrangalley@gmail.com
I understand that by submitting this form, I consent to the use of my data for the purposes of the 2026 Forum on Artistic Research'. Yes
I agree to the terms of service. Yes
Title Holdings
Format Performance
Main language English
Abstract Holdings is a remote artwork on housing and changing places that unfolds in audience’s homes, delivered through a website, phone call and mysterious package. Bringing the deeply personal discussions about homes directly to the audience, the show is an original and accessible artwork rooted in care and possibility. Holdings was developed from Mel’s artist residency with Data Stories, a Maynooth University based research project led by Professor Rob Kitchin, which maps the Irish housing and planning system through its data ecosystem.

The project uses collaborative, artistic research methods in its iterative processes of development, adapting in response to the knowledge, memories and opinions shared by each audience member. It considers how digital methods of dispersion, such as phone calls and websites, can renegotiate where artistic work is met and audiences to reflect on (and shape) what data is collected, cooked and shared on housing and development.

Adapting this format for the SAR conference setting, Mel and Clara will give an introduction to the research, development and methodology of the piece, leading into a performance of Holdings, followed by our reflections on the process of creating and sharing this work and where we will take it next. One member of the conference will be welcomed as our caller for the performance, which will be through the phone with two actors based remotely, while the rest of the audience will be invited to consider and record their own answers to the survey through a handout.

The project is led by Clara McSweeney and Mel Galley, whose collaborative practice spans two previous public presentations: Fringe Was Here (Dublin Fringe Festival 2024) and The City at Ten Kilometres an Hour (Ireland India Conference and Conference of Climate and Society, DCU, 2025).
Image holdings-image-mcsweeney-galley.jpg
Short biographies of the presenter(s)
  • Weaving together narrative and modelmaking to create speculative worlds, Mel Galley’s practice builds from research on planning, housing, data and space, asking how we listen to landscapes and piece together public place. Her work has shown across the UK and Ireland, including the LAB Gallery and Dublin Fringe Festival. Mel holds an MA in Art and Research Collaboration from IADT.
    Clara McSweeney is a curator and artist, who’s research is focuses on the housing crisis, vacant properties, climate change, and injustices faced by women. Her current research looks at the peculiarities of certain vacant spaces in Dublin City, potential dystopian futures stemming from the housing and climate crisis and the anthropomorphism of inanimate objects.
Previous presentations or iterations of the research - Holdings debuted as a show at the 2025 Dublin Fringe Festival with a sold-out run of 88 performances, winning the Judges Choice Award for 'Beyond the Stage', and nominations for Best Design and the Fitzmaurice award. The performances featured two actors, who delivered a survey and monologue to each individual audience member through a phone call.
- The first iteration of Holdings, which featured the monologue in an etched artist book, was exhibited at Liquid Urbanisms, the LAB Gallery, 2025.
Additional information - The total time required for the performance, including the introduction and reflections, is 30 minutes.
- Whilst an audience member is invited to volunteer to be the caller for the performance, we will arrange to have a guaranteed caller to step in if there's no volunteers from the audience.
- A link to the website section of the performance can be found at: https://holdings.myportfolio.com/
Spatial and technical requirements - We will need a room with good phone signal in order to have a strong and clear connection with the actors performing remotely.
- If possible, the technical set up to link the phone to a speaker (so that the audio is clear for the audience) would be beneficial, however we can also bring our own speaker if this is not possible!
- We will have imagery to share on slides as we are introducing the performance (and for the website) so a space with a projector would suit.
Potential risks or ethical concerns - We will discuss how the responses to the survey will be used in the development of the work, which ensures anonymity and confidentiality for all responses we get.
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