Atelier Samuel Beckett was established in 2023 to offer artists of all disciplines an invitation to consider the artistic legacy of Samuel Beckett as they focus on their own practice.

Artists can apply through rolling Open Calls to spend three weeks sharing a newly renovated house with stunning views of the Seine and the surrounding forest. They can also apply for a paying residency.

‘The Beckett library is comprehensive and a constant source of inspiration. The distractions of the area are gentle and undemanding, with great walks and views over the upper reaches of the Seine as the boats go by. I feel the Atelier has everything required for a dedicated period of work, and the nearby presence of the ever-obliging Judy and Conor of the Gare St Lazare company gives the sense of a place where the creative work is serious and devoted and always ongoing’. 
Kevin Barry (Writer).

‘Thank you for the chance to sit in this study — with the books you’ve assembled and those that others have brought and left. Thanks for your invitation to Martha and me to be here, to live down the hill from you, to join the family business for a while — and to contemplate this body of work Mr Beckett has left behind him.

It’s only fed my preoccupation — (which I can never really explain, much as people ask us to). I think I’m always half hoping I’ll cool off on this work — but no, it hasn’t happened. The time here has re-set my desire to work with Mr Beckett’s language — to look at it anew as actor and story teller — and to continue to try to see what it is to me, and what I am to it.’

Bill Irwin (Beckett performer, actor, writer)

Library

Atelier Samuel Beckett houses a library of books donated by Edward Beckett, John Calder and Sheila Colvin Calder, Bill Shipsey, Conor Lovett & Judy Hegarty Lovett and each visitor is invited to gift a book to the library.

Beckett mentoring and conversation is also available from Gare St Lazare’s artistic directors, Judy Hegarty Lovett and Conor Lovett who founded the residency.

Atelier Visitors

To date several artists have visited including Edward Beckett, Ciarán Hinds (actor) and Helene Patarot (actress), Bill Irwin (actor) and Martha Roth (dancer), Kevin Barry (writer) and Oivia Smyth (editor/publisher), Benedict Schelpper-Connolly (composer), Michelle O’Rourke (singer), James McGovern (singer) and Issy Williams (designer), Ally Ni Chiarain (actress), Maura O’Keeffe (producer), David Stalling (composer) and Anthony Kelly (sound artist), Jane Coyle (playwright), Elizabeth Corbett (singer), Sean MacErlaine (musician), Faline England (actress), Joe Spano (actor), Sorcha Fox (actress), Bill Shipsey (activist) and Sylvie Brigot (activist), Patricia Hegarty and Patrick Mellett (architects) and Giaime Meloni (photographer), John Dunlea (writer), Der Lovett (poet) and Kate Brandy (writer/painter).

Patrons
Atelier Samuel Beckett was made possible by the kind generosity of Gare St Lazare Ireland patrons Paul Ralston and Deb Gwinn.

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