Cathy Coughlan is a multidisciplinary artist based in Dublin. Supported by The Arts Council Cathy trained as a professional dancer in the UK (1994-97) and continued her arts training with The National College of Art and Design, gaining a B.A. in fine art (2005), where her practice, deeply rooted in dance, primarily developed through video installation and performance. In September 2018 Cathy will commence a residency at Rua Red , funded by The Arts Council with support from South Dublin County Council. It is her second residency at Rua Red and her third Arts Council supported residency.

In 2016 Cathy was awarded Create’s – Artist in the Community - Bursary Award. Cathy’s research in association with Create focused on new modes of collaborative practice through screen based technology. This work culminated in the co-founding of HAVOC Dance Company - a remote company centred around the expanding definitions of dance and performance. Oil & Water was presented in 2016 in Rua Red Gallery 1 & 2, as a series of ‘digital duets’ with Magda Hylak, Jessie Keenan, Ailish Claffey and Matt Szczerek. In 2017 Cathy presented Remotely Human, an installation featuring dance artists Laura Murphy and Ailish Claffey, at Ireland’s leading Digital Art Festival - Glitch 2017. In September 2018 she will present dance-theater production "Fable" as part of Dublin Fringe Festival, at The Project Arts Centre, produced in collaboration with Dance Ireland.

Cathy’s work has been presented at LightMoves Festival of Screen Dance (Out Side In 2016), InContext 4 Festival (Trans-Border 2016), Rewind Film Festival (Shift 2016), Bealtainne Festival (Multiple) and Dublin Fringe Festival (Source 2014 - received two award nominations). Her work is supported by Dublin City Council (Bursary/Project Award), Laois County Council/Laois Partnership (Residency support funding), The Dunamaise Arts Centre (2010-2012 DAR Residency-Youth Ensemble Scheme Award), Dance Ireland (2013/2014 Residency) and Shawbrook Dance Centre (2015 Residency).

As an artist working in a collaboration with communities she has delivered projects and performances in association with RADE, Common Ground, Create, Focus Ireland, the Fatima Regeneration Project, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Dublin City Council and Dance Ireland. Between 2008-2015 Cathy has worked closely with Philippa Donnellan (CoisCeim Broadreach) in association with Bealtainne Festival and Dublin City Council – presenting work at IMMA, Hugh Lane Gallery, Aviva stadium, Axis Theatre and The IFI.