The South Tipperary Art Group, STAG, started its life in Sept 1968 with a small number of enthusiastic amateur artists and three of the art teachers from the local Central Technical Institute in Clonmel, who came together to start an art group for the artists and craftspeople of Clonmel and the South Tipperary region. Going from strength to strength and now have members from Waterford as well.
There are approx. 38 adult members at any one time in Adult STAG. They meet twice weekly, on Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings. New members are always welcome once they have some knowledge of art as we don’t use a Tutor.
For the past 52 years they have run the Junior Art Group. Junior STAG comprises 55 members divided into 2 groups – the Primary Group, comprising children ages 9 to 12 years and the Seniors, comprising second level students, where they are taught by qualified Art Teachers in all elements of Art/Craft & Design. With the kind support of Tipperary Co. Council Arts Office, Junior STAG has been successful in obtaining grants towards specialised Art/Craft courses.
They are a very diverse and hardworking group; our activities range from running art courses, organising art trips at home and abroad and, with a core group called the Workgroup, painting murals, sets for shows, face painting, curating exhibitions – a variety of work, once it’s within our artistic and creative capabilities!
There is also a small core group of Plein Air painters in STAG who can be seen on the highways and byways of Co. Tipperary, painting and sketching, oblivious to the weather!
STAG is proud to be connected with Tipperary Co. Council, supplying them with Artworks for visiting dignitaries and official presentations. Our work can be seen on local roundabouts and around the town in the form of decorative seasonal artworks and especially at Festival time!.
They are closely involved with the community in south Tipperary. For many years STAG has been the go to point for organisers of the annual Festival Cluain Meala in their efforts to create medieval crests, banners, flags, bunting around the local area.
We have close ties too with the Clonmel Arts Centre with 3 of our members volunteering to take over the running of the Centre for a period to conserve finances. Thanks to their dedication and perseverance and with the support of STAG artists, the Arts Centre is now a vibrant functioning Arts centre with its own permanent Artistic Director/Manager.
STAG works regularly with the County Museum where it’s Curator, Marie McMahon, a former Junior STAG Artist, has made the state of the art ‘Museum of Hidden History’ a great place to visit for Tipperary locals and visitors alike!
They have strong connections to Clonmel Library and they have hosted our annual art exhibitions for many years.
This is the first time that the South Tipperary Art Group, STAG, will be exhibiting in the north of the county and we are delighted to be invited to do so. We will be hanging STAG Artwork from Wednesday 1st June in Nenagh Library.
This STAG Exhibition will continue for June and July. Artwork will consist of, oil, watercolour, acrylic, pastel, pour paint and spray street art as well as felting/embroidery/ceramics and photography. The exhibition will be open to the public during library hours and all artwork on display will be for sale at reasonable prices. We hope to see you there.
For Info contact Maureen Purcell, Organiser STAG, Clonmel 0868096823
