Dara McGrath is a photographer. Born in Limerick in 1970, he currently divides his time between Cork and Dublin. McGrath studied at Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design and recently completed the MA in Visual Arts Practice there. He was the recipient of the prestigious AIB Art Prize in 2003. McGrath has exhibited at the Triskel Arts Centre, Temple Bar Gallery, Draoicht Arts Centre and the Model and Niland Gallery. According to architect Sean O’Laoire; “McGrath’s camera brings us beyond narrative, the picturesque and cosy myth…It cuts to the chase without being didactic, judgemental or begrudging.” McGrath has previously collaborated with Sligo County Council, O’Donnell and Tuomey Architects, Westmeath County Council and the Lewis Glucksman Gallery.

Robinson McIlwaine is an award winning design highly motivated architectural practice established in Belfast in 1963 who have recently relocated premises into the edge of Belfast's new Cathedral Quarter area. For many years Robinson McIlwaine have been involved in arts projects and actively promote the inclusion of art in their buildings. Excellent examples of integrated artworks in practice buildings include the Waterfront Hall, featuring work by Rita Duffy, Catherine Harper and Eamon O’Kane, the Bar Library featuring work by Felim Egan, Carolyn Mulholland and John Kindness, Muckamore Abbey Hospital, among others. The Switch Room Galleries (a 7,000 sq ft space) were established by the practice in September 2005, with considerable practice investment. To date this impressive art space has featured a number of high profile exhibitions including ’John Kindness: A Retrospective 1986-2006,’ ‘Group 91: Fifteen Years On,’ ‘Reflections: Joint North/South Government Exhibition,’ ‘I Confess I was There: Interface, University of Ulster,’ and the RIAI Awards exhibition.

Working together on the Maze Prison Cultural Centre and the Titanic Quarter, Belfast.

Born in Armagh in 1975, Louise Rice is a Glassmaker currently based in Manorhamilton Leitrim. At the Leitrim Sculpture Centre she has established and coordinates the only hot glass facility in the country. Rice completed her foundation year at NCAD and received her BA in Design and Applied Arts from Edinburgh College of Art. She also did a Postgraduate Diploma in Glass there. Rice uses familiar domestic objects and environments in unexpected ways. Her work is experimental and often exhibited as installation. She acknowledges Louise Bourgeois as and influence and clearly Merrit Oppenheim and Dorothy Cross have also had an impact on her practice. She has exhibited in Ireland in the National Museum, and Leitrim Design House. She has also shown in Germany, Holland, Scotland, and England.

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Working together on Childcare Blg, Ardara and Lough Eske Castle.

Essex based artist Tony Stallard is a new media practitioner, specialising in digital media, light and sound sculpture. Born in 1958, Stallard studied art in Chelsea School of Art and Camberwell School of Art in London. He has an MA in Site-Specific Sculpture from Wimbledon School of Art and an MFA in Public Art. He has previously created public sculpture for Belfast Hospital. He views his art as “site-specific conceptual light sculptures. These sometimes involve live events, new technologies and design systems responding to the ‘alchemical’ properties that are inherent within the project.” Stallard has exhibited widely in Canada, Holland, Czech Republic, Japan, Finland and throughout the UK. His work was commissioned for Paddington Arts Centre, Blackpool Promenade and Inverness Museum & Art Gallery among many others.

"Although I have had architectural collaborations in the past the project has been a very inspiring process in terms of evolving ideas from very early concepts into possible realisations. The experience has been many things but one element I am very aware of is that it has become a growing relationship of an interaction of ideas and development with ongoing projects and I hope will continue to do so. Because of this, the two minds project has established a very real way forward for creative potential in the architectural world and further, establish my own personal work in a challenging way." - Tony Stallard

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Working together on the Civic Centre in Gorey and Christian Fellowship, Strandtown.

Born in 1983, Tara Kennedy graduated from NCAD in 2005 with a First Class Honours Degree in Sculpture. She has adopted a consistently experimental approach to her conceptual practice and creates work with considerable public participation. One of her most memorable recent projects was ‘Transplant’ from January 2006, where she collaboratively installed 627 Christmas Trees on Sandymount Strand, Dublin. Other temporary interventions in Dublin City by the artist include; ‘Hope Inherent’ and ‘Highlighters.’ She has exhibited in Italy, New Zealand and Ireland. She has created work for Kilkenny Arts Festival. To date Kennedy has collaborated with other individual artists in her practice but has not worked directly with architects.

Studio Rogers is a design focused, collaborative Architectural practice, founded in 1995 originally as Michael Rogers Architects Ltd and renamed in 2005. Under the leadership of Michael Rogers and Damien McLaughlin, Studio Rogers has become a leading design practice in the north west of Ireland, taking inspiration from the rich diversity of cultural heritage and landscape, famous in this region. Our current team includes the disciplines of Architecture, Planning, Architectural Technology and Interior Design.

We believe in personally engaging with our clients to deliver high quality design incorporating innovation whilst reflecting and complimenting our local heritage. We view our relationships with clients to be just as important as our product. As an employer we are committed to a healthy life / work balance, integrity and honesty in our profession and personal values.

Working together on Apartments in Coleraine.

Born in Ballymoney in1961, Antrim based sculptor Brian Connolly has established a significant reputation as a sculptor nationally and internationally. He has completed a diverse range of public art commissions. He gained his BA Hons and MA Hons in Fine Art from the University of Ulster, Belfast. Connolly also works as a performance and installation artist and has made work in this regard in Ireland, Germany, Romania, France, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary and Canada. Connolly is representative for Northern Ireland for Visual Artists Ireland and has served on the Editorial Panel of Circa. He has completed residencies at the Banff Centre, Canada, Firestation Artist Studios, Dublin and the McClelland Galleries, Glasgow. He has extensive national and international lecturing experience.

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Working together on the Regeneration Scheme.

Bangor based printmaker Lucy Turner is a longstanding member of Seacourt Print Workshop. Turner studied at Manchester Polytechnic and Leeds Polytechnic. She completed her MFA at University of Ulster in 2002. Turner has completed a number of permanent commissions for the Mater Hospital, Lakewood School, Bangor, Sustrans, Omagh Council and Nicolson and Bass. “I work primarily with photographs; objects drawn through layers of colour and texture. I print and transfer these images onto reclaimed metal panels and found objects. With ‘Urban Myths’ I am responding to our lack of understanding of contemporary environmental and social issues.” She is recipient of numerous awards and is included in the collections of AIB, DOE, OPW, Microsoft, Guinness and the Arts Council of N. Ireland.

Michael Hegarty established Hegarty Architects ten years ago. One of his earliest projects was the Women's Centre in Derry 1998 where he worked with six artists who created integrated artworks and who were involved throughout the construction stage. He also encouraged Derry Credit Union to commission integrated artworks, which were installed in 2000 with support from Arts and Business (ABSA). The Collon Bar building was exhibited at the Irish Architecture Awards 2005 and contains a number of privately commissioned pieces. Hegarty was architect for the VOID gallery in Derry featured in the Circa book 'Architecture for Art'. He has been a director of the Context Gallery and is currently the Ulster representative on council of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. Michael Hegarty was awarded the Royal Society for the Arts - Art & Architecture Award 2001 to work collaboratively with the artist Locky Morris on the refit of the Gasyard Centre, in the Bogside area of Derry. This was published in Two Minds by Jes Fernie.

Working together on Leitrim School.

Born in 1951, Co. Down based Gerard Murphy has a BA Hons Degree in 3D Furniture from University of Ulster Belfast. He currently practices in the area of new media; photography and installation. He has had a number of solo exhibitions at Clotworthy Arts Centre, Market Place Arts Centre and Harmony Hill Arts Centre. His installations have been shown in Wyoming, USA, Mojacur, Spain and the Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham. He exhibits regularly in the Royal Ulster Academy. Murphy has been recipient of a number of Arts Council of Northern Ireland Awards and also the Bass Ireland Photographic Award in 1997. He participated in the 2003 Arts and Business New Partners Programme. For Murphy; “As a photographic artist working in lens-based and digital media, I combine travel and photography to source material and absorb impressions of culture.”

Keys & Monaghan Architects place great emphasis on design, quality and creative thinking to generate unique solutions to Client's needs. Some 50% of Keys and Monaghan's work is residential. Other projects include schools, urban retail and commercial development work, but all of the architectural team have substantial experience in the sector. Alastair Keys has particular experience with timber framed housing developments, and ecological building techniques. Eamonn Monaghan has skilfully guided a number of large-scale housing projects on sensitive sites to completion. His skill and foresight has often enabled development at significantly higher densities than originally anticipated by the developer on suburban sites. John Burke has experience of very large-scale brown field development for residential apartments across the UK from his time with Urban Splash, as well as winning awards for his ideas proposals for suburban development at Letchworth Garden City.

Keys and Monaghan have won numerous awards including the RIAI Regional Award, the RIBA Design Award, Civic Trust Award and the RSUA Award.

Working together on a Primary School in Cavan and a Nursery School in Monaghan.

Born in Somerset in 1955, North Wiltshire based New Media artist has extensive experience of working with architects on innovative projects in the public domain. She trained extensively at Falmouth School of Art, Portsmouth Polytechnic, St Martins School of Art and the Slade School of Art. Quinn works largely with time-based media and has an established track record in temporary and permanent public art works. She worked in the Housewatch Group and for a decade created ‘cinematic architecture for the pedestrian.’ She has completed commissions in interactive sound and light for Milton Keynes College, Storey Cultural Centre, Contact Theatre, Manchester and ‘Rise and Fall’ for Gateshead Riverside Sculpture Park. Quinn has exhibited in the Tate Gallery, St Ives, Site Gallery, Sheffield, Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire, Quay Arts Centre, Isle of Wight and Photo Arts 98.

"The experience of working on the Two Minds project has enabled me to engage in genuine dialogue between art and architecture. Working with Mackel and Doherty Architects on the new extension for the existing Culturalnn Building on the Falls Road, has enabled me to explore the relationship of language and sound within the fabric of the building and the wider community. The project has enabled me to develop a wider spectrum of concepts involving bold use of colour and public interaction with the space. A very valuable time to play and explore ideas, real and unreal." - Lulu Quinn

Since its inception in 1994 Mackel + Doherty Architects has been involved with Arts and Cultural Projects often in an advisory or supportive capacity but also in the form of commissions for work. Subsequent to a major study on the cultural, arts and language activities in South Armagh the practice won the commission for the Ti Chulainn Cultural Activity Centre in Mullaghbawn. The practice has been involved with Cultúrlann Mac Adam O’ Fiaich since the late 1990’s and is currently at design development stage of an extension and re-modelling to this Irish Language Arts Centre, in Belfast which combines arts and business uses in a way that minister for the Gaeltacht, Arts and Heritage, Eamon O Cúiv, has suggested is a model for other language based community centres in Ireland.

Mackel + Doherty are also currently working on the conversion of an old Presbyterian Church in north Belfast for a language based cultural organisation and also on a gallery for An Droichead – another hybrid building that combines pre-school learning spaces with a community arts space managed by an Irish Language organisation in South Belfast. This project will also involve a number of visual artists that will build on the success of the artistic relationship with visual artist Fiona Joyce on the Aisling Business Park – built in 2004, in west Belfast.

The practice continues to build on the long involvement, by Ciaran Mackel, in Irish Language Projects since the 1970’s who following a period as a Folk Club Organiser is now a broadcaster on an Irish language radio station music programme and is also chair of Kabosh Theatre Company.

"Our collaboration with installation artist Lulu Quinn has lifted the artistic ambition of our project for Culturlann Mac Adam O' Fiaich. Lulu's search for an understanding of the work of our client and her enquiry into the fundamental of our project - the use of the Irish language in the day-to-day activities within our clients' building has deepened and enriched the creative expression. Lulu has been an inspiration to us and to our client. Her burst of creative ideas has energised the design development and charged us all with an enthusiasm to maintain the same creative and artistic impulses beyond the life of the 'Two Minds' project and throughout the delivery of our building commission. Others in the community seved by our client are also enthusiastic about the work to date and will assist in the funding drive to ensure as much of Lulu Quinn's and Mackel + Doherty's creative collobaoration will be realised. Go n-eiri linn." - Mackel & Doherty Architects

Working together on Culturlann in Belfast.

Kalinowski is interested in the participatory event. His work brings together a physical structure, nature, and time, reflecting his engagement with the work of Fluxus artists, Taoism, John Cage, and Buckminster Fuller. The work he has been developing at Sculpture Space is a large geometric structure floating outdoors, where it is subjected to the whims of the wind, the weather, and the many locations of its viewers to reflect on nature and space. Kalinowski has exhibited his work throughout Poland and has been awarded a Pollack-Krasner Foundation Grant and Art/Omi residency. He received an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, and MA in Fine Arts from the Polish Ministry of Culture.

Todd Architects is a multi-disciplinary practice offering services in Architecture, Urban Design, Project Management, Interior Design and Planning Supervision (Health & Safety Legislation). The Company over the years, since inception, has developed experience and ability covering a wide range of project categories and sizes, ranging from those of basic architectural requirement to complex buildings of high technological content and major developments of visual, environmental and commercial significance.

Commissions cover both public and private sector categories and include hospital and healthcare, education, public and private sector housing, hotel and leisure and retail.

We have been involved in a number of integrated arts projects such as the Royal Belfast Childrens Hospital, The Mater Hospital, Belfast and the new Art College campus for the University of Ulster. In addition The Bradbury and The Arches Community Treatment and Care centres and our work at Dundonald Hospital, new maternity unit and theatres projects are all integrated arts projects. Todd Architects also collaborated with a number of arts groups to deliver the Black Box Performance space in the Cathedral Quarter, Belfast.

Working together on University of Ulster, Jordanstown Roundabout.

Belfast based artist, Janet Preston trained in Fine Art and the University of Ulster Belfast and has a BA First Class Honours. She also completed a postraduate diploma in Applied Arts at the college. According to Preston “My work is multi-disciplinary and can be described as being on the cusp between printmaking and photography. I have established my professional career on painstaking visual investigation of what we take for granted.” She has exhibited extensively nationally and internationally and has taken part in many major print biennales and triennales. She is recipient of numerous awards from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Oppenheim Downes Memorial Trust Award, British Council Award, UTV Award and was prizewinner at Lessedra International Mini Print and Limerick Small Print Exhibition. She has completed a number of commissions.

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Working together on the Community Treatment & Care Centre and Jordanstown school.