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Séamus Kealy On Returning to Ireland, Artist-Centered Institutions and What the RHA Could Become

With stints at the Salzburger Kunstverein and Oakville Galleries behind him, he arrives at the Royal Hibernian Academy with a decade of institutional knowledge and a single organizing principle: put the artists first.

Earlier this month, the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts announced that museum director, curator, artist and writer Séamus Kealy would serve as its new director. Kealy comes to the institution from Oakville Galleries in Ontario, where he served as executive director since 2023. Kealy’s diverse career has led to a unique perspective on many of the questions facing heads of institutions these days. We caught up with him to hear his thoughts on these and the RHA’s future.

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Congratulations on the new gig. This appointment marks a return to Ireland after more than a decade abroad, most recently leading Oakville Galleries and the Salzburger Kunstverein before that. What changes have there been in the Irish contemporary art landscape since then?

Thank you, it is a thrilling moment for me. It has been my desire to return to Ireland for some time, and yes, I have kept an eye on the Irish art scene these last years. I have also returned to Ireland regularly to visit family and friends—as well as artists and colleagues working in the arts. You are right, so much has changed. A significant challenge is the lack of artist studios in Ireland, and the housing strain as well, which we are observing ourselves as we search for a new home. I believe much more is to be done to ensure that artists living in Ireland can produce their work and simply get by. The closing of The Complex in Dublin is an unwelcome change. On the other hand, almost every week, I am asked about Ireland’s Basic Income Scheme for Artists. This is naturally very inspiring for artists around the world, and it could very well be that this progressive venture by Ireland will influence other regions to emulate its intentions and obvious positive impact, and not only for artists.

I continue to follow the careers of many Irish artists, and I have seen how their work has evolved. Some of these artists I have invited to exhibit or collaborate with since my last time in Ireland. I have observed some institutional changes in Ireland these last years, where notable shifts have happened with Annie Fletcher taking up the helm at IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art), and with the Crawford Gallery in Cork undergoing a major development presently. Smaller institutions such as EVA in Limerick, the Kunstverein Aughrim or the Douglas Hyde Gallery are punching above their weight, and I keep a close eye on their programming.

I have also heard great things about the new Visiting Curators program in Ireland, and I see the good work that Culture Ireland continues to achieve internationally. I have heard that matters of governance for arts organizations have become more prominent and I am happy to observe this. Overall, Ireland’s contemporary art landscape is rich, diverse and evolving. I see my work at the RHA as deeply involved in advocating for artists and providing a strong platform to showcase contemporary art and its discourses.

The RHA was founded in 1823. What is it like to inherit a place with two........

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