On Saturday 15th June, Kids’ Own hosted vibrant and imaginative workshops as part of the Cruinniú na nÓg celebrations, under the Shared Island Initiative. These workshops took place simultaneously at Mayo library in Ballina and the F.E McWilliam Gallery in Banbridge, County Down, bringing together children from different communities to celebrate creativity and cultural exchange.

The theme for this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg was “Dare to Create,” and the children did just that! Led by our talented associate artist Alice Dixon and writer Mary Branley, the workshops encouraged young participants to unleash their creativity through fun and engaging activities.

We gathered at the TADA! mini exhibition at the Jackie Clarke Collection where the participants were able to see the artworks on display made by children for children and they were able to respond to these artworks on big sheets of paper, we then made our way to Mayo Library to begin the workshop.

The workshop began with an exciting task: children were invited to cut out cardboard faces and draw their favourite things on them. This activity allowed them to express their personalities and interests through art. Next, they used a variety of fabrics to embellish their cardboard faces, adding texture and colour to their creations. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and joy as the children branched off to create their own unique pieces of art, experimenting with different materials and techniques.

The creativity didn’t stop there! The children also made outfits, built houses, and worked together to create wonderful artworks. In a special highlight of the day, we connected with the F.E McWilliam Gallery via Zoom. This virtual meet-up allowed the children from both locations to chat about their projects, share their creative processes, and celebrate their artistic achievements together.

These workshops were a testament to Kids’ Own’s commitment to fostering creativity and cultural understanding among children. By collaborating across communities and borders, we are helping to build a shared future that values and celebrates diversity.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Alice Dixon and Mary Branley for leading these wonderful workshops, and to all the children who participated with such enthusiasm and creativity. We look forward to many more events that inspire and empower our young artists.

Stay tuned for more exciting events and initiatives from Kids’ Own! Read more about TADA! here: https://kidsown.ie/kids-own-tada-exhibition-moves-to-jackie-clarke-museum-mayo/

With thanks to Mayo County Council and Cruinniú na nÓg Shared Island initiative for funding this project.