Board & Governance

John Caulfield has been a member of the Galway Arts Centre Board since 2020. He has a keen interest in culture, language and the arts, and in particular in encouraging access, participation and collaboration in the arts across Galway. Originally from Co. Wexford, John moved to Galway in 2012 to take up the role of Internal Communications Officer at the University of Galway. In 2020, he was appointed the University’s Director of Strategy Implementation. He has worked for TG4 and the BBC in the past, and he holds a PhD in Sociolinguistics from Cardiff University. John lives in An Spidéal and is passionate about the Irish language. He co-directed the Aistriú literary project as part of the Galway 2020 artistic programme, and he is a member of the Boards of the Galway Music Residency and the Galway Music Centre. John has supported and coordinated many cultural events on the University of Galway campus over the years and he sings with a number of choirs in the city.

Mike O’Halloran is a lecturer of Theatre Technology and Stagecraft at the University of Galway. He also works as the Technical Manager at the O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance and as Safety Officer for the Student Societies Office. Prior to working in the University of Galway Mike worked for various theatre and event production companies and as a freelance Production Manager and Lighting Designer for over 15 years. A long-time member and supporter of the Association of Irish Stage Technicians Mike is the current Treasurer of the association. He has recently returned to education in University College, Dublin and is pursuing a Masters in Occupational Safety and Health.

Alannah Robins is a visual artist with an interdisciplinary practice based between Ireland and Sweden where she regularly participates in and curates both solo and collaborative projects. A graduate of the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Robins has won several commissions and awards for her artwork, including Tyresö Kulturstipendium, Helge Axe:son stipend, bursaries from the Arts Council of Ireland, Galway County Council and the inaugural Platform 31 award. She has exhibited, among other places, in the RHA, Dublin; London’s Dialogue Cultural Space; Pasaj Independent Arts Space, Istanbul; Galleria Lapinlahti, Helsinki; Oblastní Galeri, Liberec, and in Sweden’s Tegen2, Detroit Stockholm, Galleri CC and Kiruna Stadshus. Her collaborations with both classical and experimental musicians include HOT, A Swedish Circus on Merciful Inferno by Opera factory Sessions in Stockholm’s Supermarket Art Fair and New York Electroacoustic Music Festival and En Timme Natt, with Göran Fröst and Jacob Kellermann. She is the founder and director of Interface, a studio and residency programme in Connemara.

Mark joined the Board of the Galway Arts Centre in 2022. Previously he both volunteered and worked for the Arts Centre as an Artist Ambassador, Festival Driver, and Operations Manager for Cuirt International Festival of Literature. Mark has a deep love of the cultural sector.

He was the Head of International Cooperation for 6 years at Jz Music. Jz Music is a privately owned and operated Chinese company based in Shanghai. In that role he drafted and negotiated contractual terms for performances, hotel sponsorships, food and drink sponsorships, and airline sponsorships. He brought in American Airlines as sponsors, he initiated the contact, designed the events and negotiated the terms, he was responsible for relationships with all artists, agencies, promoters, arts councils, governments and sponsors internationally, and he grew the flagship event “Jz Festival” from 1 stage to 9 stages, 2000pax to 50000pax in six years.

He is a qualified solicitor in Ireland, working in general practice in Galway.

Sarah Lynch is the HR & Talent Lead for Rent the Runways E.U technology Hub based in Galway and brings international People & Talent experience in Publishing, Creative and Technology sectors combined with 10 years Festival and Events management to her role on the GAC board.

Sarah Searson is a curator and creative director. She has worked extensively in the arts in Ireland. Sarah’s background is in arts, cultural development and education. She is a graduate of Cultural Policy and Arts Management (UCD), Public Culture Studies (IADT) and Fine Art (TUD). She has lectured at TUD, UCD and IADT. Sarah has served on the boards of Rua Red, Pallas Projects and  Chaired the Association of Local Authority Arts Officers. She was the inaugural Head of Centre for Creative Arts and Media at ATU Galway. She recently joined the board of Galway Arts Centre and served on the Board of IT Sligo as it transitioned to ATU. She is a member of The Governing Authority of Maynooth University.

Eithne Verling is the Director of Galway City Museum.

Gavin Murphy is a lecturer at Atlantic Technological University, Galway.