FieldWorks Gap Year
About
Register now for one of our informational Zoom sessions!
FieldWorks is a 12 week long gap year art program for students ages 18 to 21. This enriching program gives students with a passion for visual art an opportunity to make new artwork in a remarkable location while being challenged to approach their creative practice from new perspectives. Our carefully considered curriculum informs the experience of living on the O’Gorman family farm, where our ancestors have worked the land for almost 300 years. While gaining independence in various aspects of life, our students learn how creating art will help them reflect on their place in the world, guiding their curiosities, whatever their chosen career path.
Program Highlights
Receive guidance from accomplished professional artists who will help you create personally meaningful artwork.
Live on the O'Gorman family farm, where Rosie's ancestors have worked the land for almost 300 years.
Eat lovingly prepared and delicious home-cooked food made with ingredients from locally sourced producers.
Realise independence in various aspects of life, from creating meaningful art to nurturing yourself and others with compassion, care, and curiosity.
Create art in a dedicated studio with an extensive variety of materials and equipment.
Travel weekly throughout Ireland, exploring Dublin, Galway, Cork, and other charming, less-visited locations.
Explore numerous pathways within the arts and find ways to keep art in your life, regardless of your chosen career.
Learn how to make art independently; discover how it can help you think about your place in the world and guide your curiosities.
Develop positive habits and routines by spending time outdoors, getting good rest, concentrating your attention, and minimizing reliance on excessive technology and distractions.
Participate in a rigorous and rewarding curriculum that fosters independent thinkers in their unique pursuits.
Gallery
Below is the photo documentation from a selection of sessions we’ve hosted at Cow House Studios. If you would like to see more please see the galleries in our journal.
Program Overview
During this 12-week multidisciplinary course, there will be a particular focus on each participant’s individual creative process. This program is student-led, where one-on-one tutorials form a foundation upon which instructors can provide guidance for further research. Additionally, each week will present new learning opportunities through technical demonstrations and novel approaches to the creative process.
Scheduled activities are designed to supplement ample studio time, making each participant’s efforts more productive and relevant to their surroundings. Our studios are designed for a multitude of approaches. With facilities designed for painting, photography, digital media, and sculpture, participants will surely have the means to create the work they aspire to.
In addition to time spent at Cow House Studios, there will be weekly organized trips to Dublin, the West, and other points of interest in the Southeast region. There will be a particular focus on artist-led initiatives and studio visits with accomplished Irish artists, designers, and curators. These trips are intended not only to provide excellent opportunities to experience Ireland’s many spectacular cultural and natural sites but to witness the incredible creativity and resourcefulness of the artistic community. Professional development and fostering one’s ambitions for a career in the arts form a significant component of the program. These visits will expose participants to a connected network of nationally and internationally creative practitioners, opening possibilities for future collaborations or other opportunities.
A Typical Day during FieldWorks
Students help themselves to a nutritious breakfast of perhaps homemade granola and yoghurt, or fresh bread and scrambled eggs before heading to the studio for 10 am. Before breakfast they may even have a dip in the pond or participated in one of our regular workout sessions. We begin each morning with a daily journal entry after which everyone participates in a group activity or workshop in drawing. Our second half of the morning is spent working with a variety of materials including painting, darkroom and video; our projects always balance the honing of skills with exploring subjects that our students are curious about.
Our tasty lunches are self-service and available from 1 pm to 2 pm. After lunch, we return to the studio, which, like the morning, might be spent participating in workshops that introduce new skills or processes, or working independently on projects with close guidance from our teachers.
Between 4 pm and 6 pm allows opportunities to explore the farm, read a book, or catch up with friends and family back home. Dinner, a delicious home-cooked meal, is served at 6 pm.
After dinner, students may use the studio to continue developing their projects, take in a presentation by one of our instructors, watch a movie, or play a game of pool. Occasionally, students may partake in an organized evening activity, such as a trip to the local pub to enjoy live music.
Student Artworks
Below is the photo documentation from a selection of sessions we’ve hosted at Cow House Studios. If you would like to see more please see the galleries in our journal.
Curriculum
The FieldWorks curriculum emphasizes three essential areas that support the development of young adults' creative skills for work and life.
Dedicated studio time: Cultivate your artistic practice, follow your interests, and investigate your curiosities with the support and guidance of professional artists.
Learn new skills: Hands-on workshops and demonstrations will showcase new materials, processes, and techniques, and encourage critical thinking.
Cultural immersion: Experience the rich culture, history, and landscape of Ireland, focusing on artist-led initiatives. Discover how a diverse mix of creative practitioners have built a life in the arts.
At Cow House Studios, above all else, we value process, the belief that a rigorous dedication to time spent in the studio yields exciting possibilities for new ideas and artworks. The core of FieldWorks curriculum is meaningful, uninterrupted time in the studio and its beautiful surroundings drawing, painting, making photographs or videos, collecting, writing, and reading. Days are punctuated by immediate feedback from instructors and peers, accelerating the creative process, whereby single days can yield an exceptional amount of productivity. This adherence to process rather than the finished result can be liberating and is essential to making connections that one might never dream up otherwise.
While open-ended studio time is essential, we also value practiced craft. In addition to independent studio practice, a series of workshops presenting new material possibilities take place daily. This offers new options for our students and acknowledges that many artists think through ideas by grappling with new materials. New processes can often ignite a dormant avenue of thought, and our studio demonstrations are intended to provoke these new possibilities. In conjunction with our fantastic facility, inspiring landscape, and family heritage, this approach comes together to provide a truly unique experience.
The third crucial component of one of our Gap Year Art Programs is travel. Ireland has a vibrant and diverse creative community. As a member of this community, we are keen to share it with our students. The network of practitioners that make and support challenging and creative work has much to offer. Among the most resourceful professionals, artists are keenly aware of the possibilities within their surroundings and in each other. This resourcefulness is at the core of Cow House Studios’ own crafting, and we believe it is essential to any creative practice. Learning how others have solved problems, built something from nothing, or brought together a group to form a collective or group exhibition can teach valuable lessons. These experiences are vital when confronting one’s own professional development.
To understand the diversity of programming at our studios, please check out our summer art program and artist residencies.
drawing & painting
digital & darkroom photography
video & sound
sculpture & installation
Blackbird Cultur Lab, Wexford
Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford
Workhouse Union, Callan
Fennelly's, Callan
Red Barn Residency, Cork
Greywood Arts, Cork
Kunstverein Aughrim, Wicklow
Carlow Visual, Carlow
Butler Gallery, Kilkenny
Cushendale Mills, Kilkenny
daily individual tutorials & weekly group critiques
discussions of weekly readings relating to contemporary arts practice
studio visits with Irish artists & curators
darkroom photography techniques
the history & processes of photography
oil painting techniques
life drawing sessions
shooting video, recording audio & editing
Dates & Fees
September 2nd – November 24th, 2027
Our 2027 application form will be available by Oct. 31st 2026
Tuition is €17,200. Once a student is accepted, a deposit of €3400 is due to secure the place. The balance of the fee is due Friday, June 30th, 2027. For registrations made after June 30th, 2027, tuition is due in full at the time of registration.
What’s Included
The fee includes registration and tuition fees, accommodation, three nutritious meals per day, all art supplies, use of studio equipment, field trip transportation, room and entrance fees, transportation to and from Dublin airport, use of laundry facility, and bed linens.
Availability
Each autumn we host between 10 and 12 students for FieldWorks. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis. Once a full application is received, the application process takes approximately 3 weeks. When the program is fully registered, successful applicants may be placed on the waiting list with a fully refundable €150 deposit.
Scholarships
We award one full scholarship to a student to attend FieldWorks. Additionally, we offer two 25% scholarships and one 50% scholarship. Our Access Awards honour Barry O’Rourke, a much-loved member of our family, and acknowledge how Barry lived his life, full of curiosity, compassion, and kindness.
Please note that we have a limited amount of funding available annually for scholarships and as a result our acceptance policy is not need-blind. This is to ensure sufficient funding goes to those students who demonstrate the highest need. Applicants seeking scholarship funding should complete our scholarship application.
Payment Methods
All payments must be made in euros. Payment can be made by wire transfer, Visa, or MasterCard. Once we have received the acceptance letter from the successful applicant, the person responsible for payment will receive an email with detailed instructions.
Refund Policy
A full refund will be given if a request is received in writing at Cow House Studios by June 1st, 2027. Requests received by June 30th, 2027, will be given a refund minus an administrative fee of €3400. No refunds are given for cancellations received after June 30th, 2027.
Once the program has started, no refunds are granted for early voluntary withdrawal, absences, or behavioural dismissals (decisions that are at the sole discretion of Cow House Studios). In the event that a class is canceled by Cow House Studios for whatever reason, all fees will be refunded.
Medical Insurance
Medical insurance is not included in the program fee. All participants must have medical insurance prior to their arrival in Ireland. Participants should check with their insurance provider to confirm that they will be covered during international travel.
Travel to and from Ireland
Airfare is not included in the fee. Participants must arrive at Dublin airport between 8am and 1pm on the first morning of the program, where they will be met and escorted by a Cow House Studios representative. Departing flights should be scheduled between 10am and 2pm on the last day of the program. Participants must be in possession of a valid passport and return ticket. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from your arrival date in Ireland.
Activities & Trips
The Farm
Most of our time is spent on the O’Gorman family farm and its surrounding area. Rigorous and rewarding studio time is complemented by trips to Dublin, the West of Ireland, and our own Southeast region.
Dublin
During our trips to Ireland’s capital, we will focus on contemporary art and Ireland’s rich culture, giving shape and context to current art practices. We will visit traditional art museums as well as art galleries. There will be a particular focus on projects established by creative practitioners. These exciting endeavors harness the strengths and knowledge of their creators, providing crucial platforms for artists to show their work. We will also visit institutions that house significant historical artifacts giving context to Ireland’s current cultural landscape
Places we may visit in Dublin:
The Library Project
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Hugh Lane Art Gallery
Temple Bar Gallery & Studios
The Douglas Hyde Gallery
The Chester Beatty Library
Other things to do in Dublin:
Vintage shopping in Temple Bar
Sample a pint of Guiness in one of our favourite pubs
See 5000 year old gold jewellery at the National Museum
Eat delicious food from all over the globe
The West
During our extended trips to the West of Ireland, we will focus on the landscape. In particular, how it has shaped and been shaped by the Irish people over thousands of years. We will visit ancient Celtic monuments built over 3000 years ago, early Christian sites and soak up the natural beauty from the bogs to beaches and soaring cliffs.
A sample of places we visit in the West:
The Burren: unique natural limestone landscape dotted with many ancient Celtic structures
Aran Islands: ride bikes across Inis Mór (the big island ) to Dún Aonghasa; an ancient stone ring fort on the top of a cliff
Cape Clear Island: an island with a population of 100 people, where we kayak and hike to see stunning views.
Local Day Trips
We will visit art spaces in neighbouring regions during our local day trips, showing diverse and resourceful responses to the challenges of establishing and maintaining an art space. There's also time for some shopping and exploring our local towns independently.
Eligibility Criteria & Student Policies
Public Inclusion & Diversity Policy
Cow House Studios welcomes diversity which includes, but is not limited to gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, and socio-economic background.
Student Essential Eligibility Criteria
Participants must have turned 18 years old before the first day of the program.
Participants must be willing to abide by our mobile phone policy. During weekdays phones will be collected at 1 pm and given back at 8 pm. Mobile phones are not allowed at meals.
Participants should be open-minded, self-aware, and curious.
Participants must demonstrate the ability to create art independently.
Participants must have the ability to communicate their ideas both within a group and on an individual basis.
Participants should have enough command of the English language to understand and communicate effectively.
Participants must be able to self-medicate without the aid of assistance.
Participants must be willing to follow the stipulated rules and guidelines.
Participants should be able to travel and navigate independently.
Participants must be prepared to engage with their environment, which includes hiking and biking in various weather conditions.
Student Policies
Participants must be fully transparent and truthful on all FieldWorks registration forms.
Participants must strive to be respectful of each other’s differences and be conscious of and patient with the needs of their peers.
Participants will not engage in conduct which is deemed detrimental to the best interests of themselves, other students or Cow House Studios itself.
Participants will attend and fully participate in scheduled learning activities to develop intellectually, creatively and personally.
Participants must actively participate in their own learning by setting and pursuing individual goals along with the assistance of Cow House faculty.
Participants will ask for support and guidance when needed.
Participants will tell a Cow House Studios staff or faculty member when a serious problem is encountered.
Participants must not engage in excessive drinking of alcohol on Cow House Studios grounds or excursions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the typical questions relating to the Gap Year program. If you have a questions please do reach out by email to info@cowhousestudios.ie.
The Program
FieldWorks is for students who value creativity and have some prior experience in making art. Our program is perfect for those considering a career in the arts or individuals pursuing another career path but recognize that creative thinking will play an important role in their lives. Participants must have turned 18 years old before the first day of the program.
Yes, when preparing your portfolio, please include between 10 and 20 images of your artwork compiled into one PDF file. Feel free to include artwork created at home or from classes you've taken over the past few years. The work you submit can vary significantly and should demonstrate a sustained interest in making art, as the goal is to show your capacity to create with focused attention.
Your works may span various mediums, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, video, embroidery, or more. If you wish, you can also include sketchbook images. Please add captions that indicate when the work was made, the medium, and the dimensions. You can also include short descriptions for each piece that addresses your ideas for the artwork. Whether you submit a selection of works in one medium or a diverse array of materials, choose works you are proud of and reflect your interests.
We accept 12 students for FieldWorks.
September 3rd – November 25th, 2026. We do not host a gap year session in the spring.
This program focuses on developing your visual art practice while realising independence in various aspects of life, from creating meaningful art to nurturing yourself and others with compassion, care, and curiosity. Our students learn how to create art independently and discover how it can help them reflect on their place in the world, guiding their curiosities, whatever their chosen career path. There is also a focus on professional development for careers in the arts, and on contemporary visual art practices in Ireland. We have facilities to teach drawing, painting, darkroom and digital photography, video, animation, and temporary installation and sculpture. Read more about our curriculum here.
Please submit your application using our online form. You will be contacted by a Cow House Studios representative to confirm receipt of your application and to schedule an interview within five working days.
We accept applications on a rolling basis until the program is full. Once a full application has been received it takes approximately 3 weeks for a decision.
An application will include:
Your completed application form.
A portfolio (only one pdf file). You may submit between 10 and 20 images of your artwork. Works can be in any medium, for example, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, installation, etc. Sketchbooks images can be included. The images should include captions or short descriptions, including when the work was made, the medium, and a sentence or two about your concepts for the artwork.
Recommendation from a current or former teacher or professor. Please notify your referee that they will receive an email from Cow House Studios seeking a reference.
Once a full application has been received it takes approximately 3 weeks for a decision. As part of the application process you will need to complete an interview, and we will need to have received your recommendation; so the exact time frame is dependent upon these.
Students help themselves to a nutritious breakfast of perhaps homemade granola and yoghurt, or fresh bread and scrambled eggs before heading to the studio for 10 am. Before breakfast they may even have a dip in the pond or participated in one of our regular workout sessions. We begin each morning with a daily journal entry after which everyone participates in a group activity or workshop in drawing. Our second half of the morning is spent working with a variety of materials including painting, darkroom and video; our projects always balance the honing of skills with exploring subjects that our students are curious about.
Our tasty lunches are self-service and available from 1 pm to 2 pm. After lunch, we return to the studio, which, like the morning, might be spent participating in workshops that introduce new skills or processes, or working independently on projects with close guidance from our teachers.
Between 4 pm and 6 pm allows opportunities to explore the farm, read a book, or catch up with friends and family back home. Dinner, a delicious home-cooked meal, is served at 6 pm.
After dinner, students may use the studio to continue developing their projects, take in a presentation by one of our instructors, watch a movie, or play a game of pool. Occasionally, students may partake in an organized evening activity, such as a trip to the local pub to enjoy live music.
Our teachers are accomplished practicing artists who are passionate about working with young artists. Directors Rosie and Frank are the primary teachers, along with our associate artists. Click here for more information about our associate artists.
Students are aged 18 to 21 years old. We cannot host students who are 17 years old.
Most of our time is spent on the farm and in the surrounding area. We also take weekly trips in our southeast region, to Dublin and Cork. Additionally, we take an extended overnight trip to the west of Ireland.
What to Bring
Yes, you may bring cell phones, laptops, or tablet computers. However, cell phones are not allowed to be used during class time or at the dining table during meals.
The tuition fee includes all accommodation and meals, art supplies, field trip transportation, and entrance fees, students only need to bring some spending money for gifts.
All art materials are included in the tuition, but you are welcome to bring your own sketchbook and any other unusual materials that you might like to use.
No need! We have lots of boots at Cow House.
Students do their own laundry once a week. Washing detergent is supplied.
Each room sleeps two students. The bedrooms are cozy and each has room its own bathroom.
Travel to and from Ireland
Participants must arrive at Dublin airport between 8 am and 1 pm on the first morning of the program, where they will be met and escorted by a Cow House Studios representative. Departing flights should be scheduled between 10 am and 2 pm on the last day of the program.
EU residents and students from specific countries such as the USA and Canada do not need a visa to travel to Ireland. FieldWorks is an 84-day course. Students traveling from the US and Canada are permitted to stay in Ireland for 90 days which allows for six days of additional travel preceding or following the course. Citizens of certain countries do require a visa. Please click HERE to find out more about visa requirements. If you need a letter to assist in securing a visa, please do not hesitate to contact us.
All students must have medical insurance for the duration of their stay in Ireland. If you already have medical insurance it is best to check with your insurance provider first to see if they cover foreign travel.
Fees & Payment
Tuition is €17,200.
The fee includes registration and tuition fees, accommodation, three nutritious meals per day, all art supplies, use of studio equipment, field trip transportation, room and entrance fees, transportation to and from Dublin airport, use of laundry facility, and bed linens.
The fee does not include airfare.
All payments must be made in euros. Payment can be made by wire transfer, Visa or MasterCard. Once we have received the acceptance letter from the successful applicant the person responsible for payment will receive an email with detailed instructions.
Safety
Everyone’s safety and well-being are of the utmost importance. Both Directors Frank and Rosie are certified in Occupational First Aid, to deal with minor incidences, and in the event of a medical emergency, our doctor is a 20-minute drive from the Cow House, and Wexford General Hospital is a 35-minute drive from Cow House Studios.
The legal drinking age in Ireland is 18 years old. Students will be allowed to drink alcohol, but are expected to do so in a responsible manner. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the program.
Food
At the Cow House, we take our food seriously. We ensure that everyone eats three delicious and healthy meals a day, and we are happy to accommodate any specific dietary needs, whether it be a food allergy or vegetarian requirements. We serve a variety of cuisines from Irish to Mexican, Italian to Middle Eastern, and are proud to use ingredients that have been produced locally: fresh milk and cheese, natural Irish beef and lamb, and delicious root vegetables, not to mention our home-baked bread, fruit preserves, ferments, and delicious desserts.
We are happy to accommodate any specific dietary needs, whether it be a food allergy, vegetarian or vegan requirements.
Taking Artwork Home
Yes. All work is documented over the course of the programme and posted in our online gallery. On request, we will also email you the images for use in your portfolio and college applications.
Plan to carry as much of your work home as you can. Shipping artwork to the US is currently difficult, owing to ongoing changes in customs and tariff regulations, so anything that fits in a suitcase is best travelling that way. We will help you package your work so it travels safely, and where a piece will not fit in carry-on luggage we can cover the fee for one additional checked bag, within the allowance below. Larger pieces, and work that is still wet or unfired, will be shipped before the end of the calendar year.
Cow House Studios contributes a maximum of €200 towards getting your artwork home. That figure is a total, covering the additional checked bag and any shipping combined. Any cost above €200 is your responsibility, as is the cost of shipping personal items.
Documents
You can download the FieldWorks Program Policies PDF here.
