The recipients of the 2025 Artists in Residence Scheme at Roscommon Arts Centre are Bianca Fachel, Diarmuid Woods and Polina Shapkina.
Bianca Fachel is a Brazilian artist based in Ireland and owner of Birdland Music Studio, who is a versatile force in music, film, and entrepreneurship. Pioneering the fusion of music with the regenerative economy, she focuses on original compositions, collaborations, and educational programs, solidifying her impact in the creative sphere.
Pursuing her passion for music, Bianca studied Sound Engineering and Music Festival Management at Sound Training College in Dublin and attended a songwriting course at Berklee College of Music. Her musical compositions blend influences from Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB, Brazilian Soul Music, Tropicália, Folk, Jazz, African rhythms, and Irish Traditional Music, creating a distinctive and rich style.
As a passionate educator and tutor, Bianca shares her expertise in songwriting and music production through workshops. Her workshops and mentoring aim to empower participants by helping them unlock their creative potential, explore sustainability in the arts, and develop skills in songwriting, music arrangement, production and recording techniques.
Diarmuid Woods is a Director, Actor, and Drama Facilitator with a deep passion for dynamic physical and absurd theatre. With training in Theatre Design and Directing from IT Sligo, and further development through international programs such as Nadica Krajina Harmonie in Slovakia and the YTI Artstrain course, Diarmuid has honed their skills both locally and abroad. Their experience includes roles as Assistant Set Designer and Assistant Stage Manager at the National Theatre of Ireland.
Diarmuid was appointed as the General Manager of Dublin Theatre Ireland in May 2025 and was also Artistic Director of Sligo Youth Theatre. Influenced by recent training with Arthaus Berlin and the methodologies of Jacques Lecoq, Diarmuid’s work focuses on the ensemble’s power, scenography, and exploring societal themes to uncover profound theatrical truths and exploring liminal spaces. He believes in the power of play and collective exploration to unlock new perspectives and connect participants with their own creativity and with each other.
Polina Shapkina is a Russian born, Dublin reared aerialist, fire performer and contemporary circus artist, full-time emerging circus artist/performer and director. Polina’s mission is connecting to audiences by blending aerial & fire performance with experimental & live music.
A thread in Polina’s work is an exploration of cultural identity, archetypes, mythology & existentialism. Polina has co-created 4 shows to date with the company Erebidae Circus as well as a multitude of cross disciplinary solo works presented across Ireland, India and Thailand and has worked with with Fidget Feet Aerial Dance& Broken Theatre.
