Raising the status of children's work
Our ethos is rooted in respect for children and in the belief that publishing has the potential to raise the status of children’s creative endeavours and personal self-esteem. We advocate for wider acknowledgment of the value and authenticity of children and young people’s artwork and writing.
We promote and value the interaction between artists and children. And create opportunities for children to have high quality experiences engagement with professional artists.
The outcomes of this work culminate in published books and exhibitions of work by children in galleries, schools, libraries, arts centres and education centres.
Highlight
Forthcoming Exhibition January 2009: Kids’ Own Retrospective.
Kids’ Own in Partnership with the Sligo Art Gallery will showcase the best work from our long term projects over the past 11 years. In January 2009 Sligo Art Gallery will host an exhibition which celebrates 10 years of the work The Kids Own. The show is curated by Sarah Searson, s she says, "The exhibition is a showcase of the collaborative and creative work between artists and children. What makes the exhibition unusual is that it has been made as part of a long and thoughtful process - its made with genuine excitement in collaborative exchange. The exhibition is an expression of a creative dialogue between generations. It is a celebration of how they meet through creativity. This happens with the insight of artists who support exchange and give context in which to express sensitivities and nuances that can emerge through observation and over time. It is the aim of this exhibition to highlight creative making and thinking and to show the wonderful shared ideas, stories and making that has happen over the last ten years'
The show will be opened by Martin Drury on Friday 16th January 2009.
This show will feed into and extend the current education programme at the gallery. It will also be a stimulus for professional development programme for artists working with children in Sligo and on a national level.
