If you have passed by or through the centre of Kilkenny of late you will have no doubt noticed standing proudly at the corner of the Parade, the Corten #KAF50 Prism.

The Corten steel installation, commissioned by the Festival in celebration of its 50th anniversary, was designed and brought to life by CDS Architectural Metalwork. Paying homage to the Festival’s rich legacy and artistic evolution, this Corten steel installation draws its design inspiration from Íde Deloughrey’s striking ‘Eye’ artwork, which prominently features in this year’s festival. The prism also subtly nods to Damien Harrington’s original 1974 Festival design, intertwining past and present in a seamless celebration of artistry.

This special commission, a testament to Kilkenny Arts Festival’s half-century of fostering creativity, would not have been possible without the generous support of Kilkenny County Council.

Coen Steel were proud to get involved with CDS in supplying 3000 x 1500 x 4mm Corten sheets for this project. Corten Steel is now becoming the trend setting material in all aspects of architecture and engineering. Its distinctive appearance and naturally oxidizing finish make it highly appealing for numerous architectural applications. With its anti-corrosive properties, COR-TEN® minimizes the need for maintenance and corrosion-prevention treatment, contributing significantly to low maintenance costs throughout the product lifecycle. In addition to low maintenance costs, the reduced need for corrosion prevention means less use of paint and solvents, making COR-TEN® an environmentally friendly choice of steel.

As festival-goers, artists, arts workers and our cherished local community congregate in the Marble City for the final weekend of this year’s Festival, the #KAF50 Prism stands as a symbol of both artistic innovation and cherished tradition.

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