Triskel are delighted to announce composer and vocalist Laura Hyland as the 2026 NAVIGATOR Artist in Residence in partnership with Improvised Music Company (IMC). NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.

Laura Hyland is a Wexford-based artist, composer and performer, interested in our place in the cosmos and our shared human experience. Using song, poetry, voice, improvisation, sound sculpture and composition, Hyland works over long timeframes, allowing new iterations of the same few projects to metamorphose over the years.

Ahead of her Navigator residency, Laura said:

“I’m delighted to be part of IMC’s 2026 Navigator Residency programme, and very excited to get to work in the Triskel. I’ve always enjoyed making music in Cork city and so this is such a lovely opportunity to return and have some time to explore this beautiful venue. I’m planning to work on a new piece for voices. I’d like to incorporate the architecture of the space itself into this piece, and see how I might use it to expand the music’s impact and atmosphere in the closing performance of the residency. I’m also very much looking forward to playing with local musicians Eimear Reidy and Dan Walsh – we have some dates booked in for some short improvised jams which will be open to the public. Big thanks to all at IMC & the Triskel for this wonderful opportunity!”

Tony Sheehan, Artistic Director at Triskel, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Laura Hyland to Triskel Arts Centre for our inaugural collaboration with IMC on the NAVIGATOR residency. Nurturing artists’ creative and personal growth – within our venue and across Cork’s jazz and improvised music community – is at the heart of Triskel’s vision. This residency with IMC demonstrates how a venue, a promoter, and an artist can come together to drive shared creative ambitions forward.”

On Friday 31 July and Friday 7 August, Laura will perform in Triskel Courtyard with Dan Walsh and Eimear Reidy, and on the final day of her NAVIGATOR residency, Saturday 15 August, Laura will perform a solo set for voice and guitar, as well as sharing some work in development with fellow singers, Rebecca Collins & Eithne Ni Cathain.

Read more about Laura and her residency at Triskel, starting 23 July.

IMC’s Navigator Jazz Residency programme was established in 2021. Since then, 30 musicians have undertaken bespoke residencies with venue partners including Ballina Arts Centre, The Source Arts Centre (Thurles), An Grianán Theatre (Letterkenny), Riverbank Arts Centre (Newbridge), Courthouse Arts Centre (Tinahely), Garter Lane Arts Centre (Waterford) and Crescent Arts Centre (Belfast). For the 2026 edition, NAVIGATOR expands to include Triskel Arts Centre, Co. Cork as a new residency partner.

The NAVIGATOR residency programme is part of IMC’s commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve artist touring mobility, develop audiences nationwide, and develop creative opportunities and fruitful new relationships for musicians. Further NAVIGATOR artist residencies will be announced in due course.