OPENING FRIDAY MARCH 6TH @ 5PM

International Open Call - Carrying The Songs

Embassy of Ireland, The Netherlands | Hamilton Gallery, Sligo | Pulchri Studios, The Hague

are pleased to announce an exciting

Open Call Submission

for an exhibition of new artworks themed on

CARRYING THE SONGS

the poem by Moya Cannon.

Open Call to professional artists resident on the island of Ireland. or in The Netherlands

About the open call

The Embassy of Ireland, The Netherlands, in partnership with Hamilton Gallery Sligo and Pulchri Studio, The Hague, invite submissions for an exhibition of new paintings by artists who are resident either on the island of Ireland or in The Netherlands.

The exhibition is themed on Carrying the Songs a poem by Irish poet Moya Cannon. The poem is a prescient meditation on how music and song can be one of very few things people bring with them when forced from their homes, or to abandon their native country.

Artists are asked to create and submit up to 2 original small artworks themed on this poem. Artworks must be unframed and conform to the size restrictions 30cm X 30cm X 2cm (depth).

Carrying the Songs Open Call submission is free to enter

Submissions are invited through the Artcall link below.

Closing Date for submissions: May 1st 2026

Carrying the Songs will open at Pulchri Studio, The Hague, Netherlands and run from July 4th - July 26th 2026.

Hamilton Gallery has curated several exhibitions in association with Irish Embassies abroad in recent years, involving hundreds of artists. Previous exhibitions, themed on the lives and work of writers Leland Bardwell, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin and Eva Gore-Booth have been shown in London, Beijing, Dublin, Berlin and New York. Hamilton Gallery curated the exhibition Europe in the Heart of Ireland, featuring work by 100 Irish artists, which launched the Europa Gallery at the new EU Commission Building in Dublin in November 2024. Bloodroot, a Lá Fhéile Bríde exhibition in February 2025, curated by Hamilton Gallery in partnership with The Embassy of Ireland, The Netherlands, featured new paintings by 125 Irish women artists was shown at Pulchri Studios in February 2025.

Art Call - Submit here

RECENT EXHIBITIONS

Bloodroot
110 women artists

Inspired by the poetry of Annemarie Ní Churreáin. In partnership with Embassy of Ireland the Netherlands

Hamilton Gallery Sligo Following Lá Fhéile Bríde Celebrations | Pulchri Studios | The Hague | The Netherlands

View Bloodroot

Bloodroot

Lá Fhéile Bríde Reception | Pulchri Studio The Hague The Netherlands | January 31st 2025

A Lá Fhéile Bríde reception for 110 women artists and poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin took place at Pulchri Studios, The Hague, The Netherlands on February 31st 2025.
A huge crowd, with over 120 guests travelling from Ireland alone, was welcomed by Irelands Ambassador to The Netherlands, Dr Ann Derwin, by the Chairman of Pulchri Studio Ed van der Kooy and by Martina Hamilton from Hamilton Gallery.
Poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin also addressed the audience and read from her collection of poems Bloodroot, which is thematic inspiration for the exhibition.
Bloodroot is organised and produced by Hamilton Gallery in partnership with Embassy of Ireland, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Opening | Hamilton Gallery Sligo | March 8th 2025 | International Women’s Day

Photos @studiodijkgraf