Camille Souter Artists Residency

We are now at September 2025. Camille's cottage was purchased, signed and sealed back in the spring. We have engaged the services of an engineer to survey the cottage and estimate works required and the cost of these renovations. Once we have these figures we will be in a position to seek grant aid and commence the refurbishment work.

We still very much need your help to get this project completed so please donate and share. With many thanks. Ronan

The artist, Camille Souter, lived in Dooagh on Achill Island from 1958 into the early 1960s and then returned to live and work there in the mid 1980s until her death in March 2023. She chose to live and work in one of the oldest original cottages in the village which she had maintained in almost its original unique condition.

We propose to purchase and refurbish Camille’s cottage and studio. It is our aim to establish a funded artists residency in her memory where professional artists will be invited to live and work, with financial support, for a given period of time. The residency will be operated by the Achill Heinrich Böll Association who have 30 years experience of running a writers/artists residency at the Heinrich Böll Cottage in Dugort on Achill Island.

The proposal to provide an artist’s residency at Camille’s former cottage will serve to renew Achill’s connections with the arts, it will also afford a new generation of artists an opportunity to find inspiration there.