Creative and ambitious gardeners from Galway are being encouraged to apply to design and deliver one of the magnificent show gardens at the heart of Bord Bia Bloom 2024.
Ireland’s leading horticulture and food festival returns to the Phoenix Park, Dublin from May 30 to June 3 2024.
For 2024, organisers are also keen to attract applications from talented and experienced professionals who may have not yet considered taking part in the spectacular industry showcase.
In outlining the opportunity Bord Bia Bloom presents, seasoned show garden designer Alan Rudden, who has won eight gold medals for his garden designs at the festival said that it is an unbelievable platform that most other industries do not have.
“If you have any idea percolating in your head, it gives you the ability to express yourself on a big blank canvas which is not in the real world and so it has no restraints,” he said.
“The whole process is amazing. To be given free rein to be able to express yourself and deliver a design you want to do. Where would you get that exposure or that stage in any other industry? That for me is the big draw.”
The showcase also provides show garden designers with an opportunity to further develop new skills or approaches to landscape and garden design.
Nicola Haines, three-time gold medal-winning show garden designer, said that Bord Bia Bloom has allowed her to test new materials or explore new design areas which she might not be able to incorporate into her client work.
“It also allows you to focus on a theme or concept and justify the time researching it, which can only benefit future garden projects. Bloom is also a wonderful opportunity to meet with the public to see what they are interested in,” she said.
Cultivating Talent
Following its successful rollout in 2023, Bord Bia Bloom is also seeking applications for the ‘Cultivating Talent’ initiative which will offer financial support and 1:1 mentoring to help kick-start the career of one motivated show garden designer.
The initiative has been designed to promote emerging garden and landscape designers and to encourage a pipeline of new talent into the industry.
In addition to allowing show garden designers to express creativity and craftsmanship, Bord Bia Bloom offers social and business advantages for the show garden designers taking part.
The closing date for applications for show garden designers and for the Cultivating Talent initiative is Monday, 20 November 2023. For more information visit www.bordbiabloom/participate.
