Westmeath woman celebrates national award for bringing Irish art into workplaces

A Mullingar woman has celebrated a major national award for an initiative which is bringing contemporary Irish art into workplaces and community hubs across the country.

Joan Mulvihill described herself as being moved to tears after the Contemporary Irish Art Society, in partnership with the Western Development Commission and Connected Hubs, won the Art in the Workplace Award at the Business to Arts Awards 2026.

The project, which Joan described as a “passion project” over the past three years, aims to support contemporary artists working in Ireland by purchasing their work and displaying it in Connected Hubs throughout the country.

Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Joan said: “I cried! This means so much to me!!”

She said the initiative had been driven by a desire to make contemporary art accessible to a much wider audience while providing direct support for Irish artists.

“Art is for everyone regardless of the size of their organisation or offices,” she said. The project involves placing original contemporary Irish artworks in co-working and community hubs, creating environments where art can become part of everyday working life rather than being confined to traditional galleries.

Joan highlighted the wider role played by Connected Hubs, describing them as important spaces within communities that provide much more than somewhere to work.

“Co-working hubs provide a unique space and service in communities not just as work spaces but as space for collaboration, creativity, innovation, and wellness,” she said.

The project has been developed in partnership with Connected Hubs and the Western Development Commission, with support from Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies, BDO Ireland and the .IE Domain Registry.

Joan also paid tribute to Liam Horan of Connected Hubs for supporting the initiative from its inception.

The Business to Arts Awards recognise partnerships between businesses and the arts sector, celebrating projects that demonstrate the positive impact of collaboration between the two.

For Joan, the award represents recognition of three years of work aimed at supporting Irish artists while transforming ordinary workplaces into more creative and inspiring community spaces.

She said the recognition meant a great deal to everyone involved in the project.