Bloomers, Cork-based feminist and artist-led publishing collective is directed by Sample-Studios member Kim Crowley and her co-founder Enid Conway.
On Monday July 13th Bloomers launched an exhibition at EU Headquarters in Brussels, celebrating Ireland-based independent and artist-led publishing and Bloomers’ work over the last 8 years. The exhibition showcased Bloomers publications alongside a collection of independently published books, zines and publications from their personal collections.
They were invited by Michael McNamara MEP and Renew Europe as part of the cultural programme for the Irish Presidency in the EU this year. Bloomers’ co-directors Kim Crowley and Enid Conway, spoke about the potentials of publishing to widen access to art and ideas. As a country, Ireland has a long history of storytelling as well as censorship and oppression, both of which have been generative in our artistic and literary identity. The exhibition celebrated this while highlighting the importance of artist-led publishing as a tool for connection and cultural exchange.
Photo by Laurie Dieffembacq