Governance
Interface is a not for profit organisation, run by the founder and director Alannah Robins and reporting to a board.
Emma O Flaherty is Interface's producer and is responsible for programme management.
ALANNAH ROBINS
Artistic director of Interface Alannah Robins is a graduate of the NCAD and has an interdisciplinary artistic practice. She has won several commissions and awards for her artwork, including a public commission for the Waterford Institute of Technology, Tyresö Kulturstipendium and Helge Axe:son stipend. Recent exhibitions include Comfort Ye My People, Artlink Donegal & Galleri Duerr, Stockholm 2023; Behold, Altan Klamovka, Prague 2022; Spirit, Oblastni Galleri Liberec 2021; Carrying the Songs, Detroit Stockholm; The Half Light, Pasaj, Istanbul 2016 and Bach in the Water, with Cecilia Josefson, Galleri CC, Malmö (all 2016), also Púca in the Machine, Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray 2022; the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, London’s Dialogue Cultural Space and in Sweden, in Tegen2, Detroit Stockholm and Kiruna Stadshus. Her work is found in collections including the Museum of European Art, Oblastni Galleri Liberec, Czech Republic. She is the founder and director of Interface residency and studio. www.alannahrobins.com
EMMA O FLAHERTY
Originally from Dublin, textile and visual artist Emma O Flaherty has called Connemara her home since 2015. She graduated from the NCAD in 2005 with a B Des in Woven Textile Design, and from the CMI institute with a Diploma in Business Management and Psychology in 2011. Joining Interface in September 2023 as Programme Manager, she has previously worked with Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture as Programme and Production Assistant. Through this role she gained valuable experience in project management, production, artist liaison, community engagement and volunteer co-ordination. During her time with Galway 2020 she worked on large scale productions such as the programme launch in Eyre square, the Opening Ceremony Fire Tour that took place across 6 towns in Galway and also Savage Beauty by Kari Kola in Lough na Fuaiche. Emma volunteers with the Clifden Arts Festival as part of the visual arts volunteer team, and has also worked with Druid as FOH and with Vantastival Music Festival as artist liaison.
JOHN DURNING
John Durning is head of public engagement at Interface. With an MA from University of Galway, John has experience in programme management, creative production, programme development, research and policy development in the arts sector. He worked for over 25 years with Clifden Arts Festival, as visual arts coordinator, with responsibility for community and business liaison in procuring the use of buildings and spaces to convert into galleries; catalogue design and development, curatorial work, liaising with artists, performers and collections bodies both public and private. He was co-founder Clifden Arts Trail and significantly involved in the re-establishment of Clifden Community Council. John also has previous experience with Galway Arts Festival, Galway Arts Centre, Macnas, Druid Theatre and in a private capacity as a musician, and in music and theatre promotion.
ROB JOHNSON
Rob Johnson is responsible for our forest restoration programme.
THE BOARD
John Sweeney is a Clifden based business man with extensive and diverse business interests throughout Ireland.
Emer Joyce is a partner in James B Joyce with extensive experience as a solicitor and notary public.
The Director General of Irish Venture Capital Association, Sarah Jane Larkin is an experienced Executive and Board Member with ten years International experience in Healthcare. Track record in Business Unit Management, Marketing, Business Development, Strategy Formation and Execution. Executive MBA.
Stephen O Callaghan has over twenty years’ experience of product and software
development, knowledge and change management and financial system development.
Marysia Więckiewicz-Carroll is a curator, art writer, and cultural producer working across artforms. She has organised numerous exhibitions and projects in Ireland and abroad, independently and in partnership with various institutions and local authorities, and thrived in curatorial roles at Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). She was one of the co-editors of Paper Visual Art Journal (PVA), which has been publishing journals, books, and online texts that focus on visual art, contemporary culture, and literature. Marysia was the founding director and curator of Berlin Opticians Gallery – a contemporary art gallery that showcased artistic practices both online and in non-traditional art spaces. Together with Nathan O'Donnell and Clare Bell, she co-edits Numbered Editions - a new imprint for artists’ writing across forms. Marysia is the general manager of field:arts - a support agency to cultivate growth, sustainability and ambition across the independent contemporary arts sector in Ireland. She has received awards from the Arts Council of Ireland and Culture Ireland.
