DUBLIN CITY
Diverse projects across city landscape will be taking flight on June 23, says Tanya Sweeney
Young people lead the creative charge with a packed events plan
The Ark is founded on the principal that all children as citizens have the same cultural entitlements as adults
IT has been said that there’s strength in numbers, and the newly established Dublin City Council Culture Company knows this all too well.
“The idea of the company is to make cultural projects, and on occasion, run cultural buildings in association with Dublin City Council,” explains its interim CEO Iseult Byrne.
The Culture Company binds together various teams, including those of Dublin’s Culture Connects, Dublin City Libraries, and Dublin City Arts Office to develop creative projects from young people across the city. The fruits of this creative labour will make up much of the eclectic programme of Dublin’s Cruinniú na nÓg.
“Dublin City Council’s Cruinniú na nÓg programme is all about creative projects led by young people themselves in their own localities,” explains Byrne. “The city’s focus for June 23 is on participation, with activities taking place in all kinds of spaces around the city from national cultural institutions to small pop-up theatres and cultural spaces; all city public libraries, and in locations from city suburbs to beaches and parklands.
“Overall, it’s about engaging Dubliners in culture, both locally in their own communities and in the city,” adds Byrne. “The idea is that we make cultural projects with Dubliners, and we make culture visible to them.
“There are activities happening across the city already, and Cruinniú is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the cultural companies, libraries, and parks that creature culture and arts events for children all the time.
“Our approach to make it local and accessible from where you live, as opposed to having to go long distances. To be creative and to get involved in culture doesn’t have to be far away from your own house.
“We want (young people) to be inspired to use their own creativity on that day, but we also want to shine a spotlight on the activites that take place year-round, throughout Dublin City, so people realise that they can do creative things, in their own place, whenever they want.”
Appropriately, the Culture Company are making full use of Dublin’s various landscapes and traditions with a diverse array of events for Cruinniú na nÓg.
On the shoreline of Clontarf, 150 scouts from the northside neighbour- hoods of Donneycarney, Coolock, Dollymount and Clontarf will join together for a performance of songs composed and written by the 66ú Naomh Eoin Scouts (Clontaft Promenade, 2pm). The project, entitled Sea
Songs At The Sea Shore, was developed by musicians Donal Gunne and Eithne Ni Chathain (also known as singer-songwriter Inni K). Together, they and the scouts have penned songs about their coastal home. In addition to sharpening their songwriting skills, the workshop provided an opportunity for the youngsters to meditate on the effects of plastic and pollutants on the coastal environment. Among some of the songs they created are ‘Lost At Sea (Plastic’s Lament)’ and ‘Pollution Solution’.
“We collected rubbish and plastic materials on Dollymount Strand that we turned into instruments with artist Helen Barry, so the performance will be of sea songs they’ve written themselves, on instruments they’ve made themselves,” explains musician Donal Gunne.
“We collected numerous bags of rubbish, much of it man-made, things like tin cans, plastic bags, pipes, bottles, straws and so on,” recalls Kelli Byrne (11) of 66ú Naoh Eoin Scouts. “The artist told us we can be most creative when we are moving around and listening to the sounds that surround us.”
Mia Dervan (11), of 66ú Naomh Eoin Scouts adds: “With the sea as the chosen topic, Donal and Eithne were two musicians with a blank canvas giving us an opportunity to perform, so we took on the challenge!”
Across in Ballyfermot, teens from two local music youth groups have also been making sweet music together, this time under the tutelage of a number of professional musicians. The end result, a project entitled Unsung Youth, will make its public debut at Cruinniú after months of rehearsals.
The Familibase songwriting and recording project have joined forces with Kylemore College Youth Choir, as well as various songwriters led by Dave McGloughlin of Dublin electro outfit Le Galaxie.
“Seeing if we can make up any songs — we are joining with a string ensemble even — we have never done that before”, reveals Dubliner David Ogbonna (16).
Aoife O’Connor (14) is in agreement: “It is just amazing, the classical and the pop group, working together, teaching one another and learning as they are playing along with each other.”
Across in Whitefriar Street, Dublin
2, youngsters have been developing ideas on how to celebrate life in their very specific part of the city. The 3rd,
4 th and 5 th class students of St Enda’s Prinary School have teamed up with local artist Ola Kaminska on their Taking Flight project.
Through workshops, the children realised that one of the more enduring traditions in their immediate area was the keeping of pigeons in sheds, and that historically, the area was once known for its bird market. With that, they have set about creating a beautiful mosaic mural in their school’s playground, which will be unveiled on June 23.
To ensure a personal touch, a heart made by each student, dedicated to a loved one, is embedded in the mosaic.
Dublin City’s many popular cultural institutions will also be getting in on the Cruinniú action. The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre is already well loved by young Dubliners, and its director Aideen Howard is particularly excited about their programme of free events for the day.
“The Ark is founded on the principle that all children as citizens have the same cultural entitlements as adults,” she explains. “We believe in a child’s right to discover and love art by making and creating in the company of Ireland’s best artists. For us, Cruinniú na nÓg is an opportunity to share that belief with parents and children. By making all of our events free it’s also a chance to extend that privilege to children who might not otherwise
have the chance to participate.”
The 21 Dublin City Public Libraries are also central to this year’s Cruinniú programme. Professionals from the worlds of fashion, music, opera, circus, film and literature will impart their creative expertise to budding enthusaists.
Among them is photographer/artist Brian Cregan, whose Glass Garden workshop, held in Raheny Public Library, will see participants make their own photogram artworks using everyday objects. The objective is to inspire youngsters to tap into their own artistic impulses while enjoying nature.
“Children will bring along small objects and photographic negatives that can be combined with gathered plants and flowers, to create their own unique photogram,” explains Cregan.
“This photographic technique is a fun, educational tool that enables engagement with the local environment and a child’s own identity without the need for a darkroom or chemicals.
“Being outside exploring nature has many benefits in terms of well-being,” he adds.
“Working together in groups fosters communication skills and builds confidence among the youngsters.
The final artworks can be quite beautiful, but it’s this process that’s really the important bit.”