From Maghera to India: musician Jack Warnock performs at international Vhah festival

County Derry musician Jack Warnock performed at the Vhah festival in Ramgarh Shekhawati Rajasthan last week, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery funding and the British Council.

The Maghera man joined Co Fermanagh Visual Artist, Diane Henshaw, who has been in India throughout January/February 2026 to attend the prestigious Vedaaranya Artists’ Residency.

Local musician Jack Warnock and Diane Henshaw performed during the Vhah Festival, a cultural festival focused on heritage, togetherness and health.

Jack, a multi-instrumentalist and singer, has received numerous Arts Council of Northern Ireland awards and performed around the world.

Jack said: “It’s very exciting to be afforded the opportunity to head to India with Siobhán Molloy of ACNI to perform at the Vhah festival, and to link in with Diane Henshaw on her month-long residency there. I’ve been fortunate to travel lots of the western world with traditional music under my belt, but this is my first India trip, and I relish the opportunity to meet with and collaborate with artists from that region. There’s also something to be said for experiencing warmer climes in mid-January! It’s sure to be a very exciting trip, and I am sure it’s one that I will look back on fondly for years to come.”

Diane Henshaw will be returning home this week from her month-long residency at Ramgarh Shekhawati Rajasthan, in association with the British Council and the Shruti Foundation. The opportunity, from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, thanks to funding from the National Lottery, is providing time for Diane to develop ecological art practices using sustainable materials as well as engaging with young people from local communities.

She has been facilitating workshops, collaborating on a community mural which will leave a lasting legacy, and learning traditional skills which she’ll expand on upon her return to Northern Ireland in February. Best known for her socially engaged projects and ecological research, this is an opportunity for Diane to further develop her career after her previous international residencies and exhibits.

Ms Henshaw commented about the visit: “Being in residence at Vedaaranya Haveli in Shekawati has been an incredibly grounding and enriching experience so far. I’m developing a socially engaged public artwork with local women and children, exploring ideas of ecology, sustainability, and what it means to become citizens of a shared biological multiverse. The residency connects closely with my wider research into ecological art practices and holistic ways of living, and it’s a privilege to be working in a place so deeply rooted in cultural exchange and community.”

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Siobhán Molloy, Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, also joined Jack and Diane at the Vhah festival to learn more about the Vedaaranya Artists’ Residency and develop local partnerships. 

Siobhán commented: “I’m delighted to be able to see first-hand how our Artists are sharing their talents with people in Ramgarh Shekhawati, Rajasthan. It is a fantastic opportunity for both Diane and Jack to raise their international profiles while learning about local traditions and techniques used in India which can inspire their future work.”

The Vedaaranya Artists’ Residency is situated in the historic town of Ramgarh Shekhawati, one of the richest towns in India in the 19th Century. This international opportunity is the result of links forged with key cultural institutions in India by the Arts Council and British Council as a platform for creating, sharing and promoting the Arts. Last year Belfast-based writer Alicia McAuley attended the Vedaaranya Artists' Residency where she hosted workshops and worked on her new novel.

For more information on the residency programme visit Vedaaranya Artists’ Residency at Ramgarh Shekhawati… | Arts Council NI.