A children’s arts organisation and publishing house.
A children’s arts organisation and publishing house.
Kids’ Own is delighted to invite applications for the role of Project Manager for the Arts in Education Portal (part-time).
Reporting to the Kids’ Own CEO, the Project Manager will work very closely with other members of the Kids’ Own team and the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee to manage the Arts In Education Portal (www.artsineducation.ie)
This is a very exciting opportunity for a dynamic community-minded individual with excellent digital skills and event management skills combined to lead the management of the Arts in Education Portal as it enters into a new phase of strategic development.
Launched in 2015, the Arts in Education Portal is the key national digital resource of arts and education practice in Ireland. The ethos for the Portal is about building a community of practice within arts and creativity in education, and providing a space—both online and offline—where artists and teachers can be supported and inspired. It provides a platform through which good collaboration practice in arts-in-education and arts education will be supported, developed and enhanced.
The specifications of the role are set out below.
Key Responsibilities
The Project Manager for the Arts in Education Portal will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Arts in Education Portal, including but not limited to:
The successful applicant will have:
Desirable:
Terms of contract:
This is a part-time post (3 days p/week). An initial contract of 9 months will be offered, subject to extension. There will be a probationary period of 6 weeks.
Annual remuneration: €33,000–35,000 DOE. (pro-rata)
Applications:
Candidates should send a detailed CV and cover letter to Kids’ Own Creative Director,
Ciara Gallagher at: [email protected] by Weds 13th July, 5pm
Creative workshopsWe were delighted to facilitate some creative workshops with young people who are active with Down Syndrome Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim this May.
Community Publishing InitiativeWe have spent a fantastic few days engaging with schools in Dublin to make books. This project with school children took part in Coolock, Cabra and Ballyfermot libraries.
Young Writers’ Podcast!We are delighted to announce that our Young Writers’ Group is currently producing a podcast!
Teacher – Artist Partnership (TAP) Special Initiative videosWe are delighted to launch a video series developed as part of a special initiative created in partnership with the Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) Programme.
Deadline Extension: Digital Marketing Officer (part-time)Kids’ Own is delighted to invite applications for the role of Digital Marketing Officer (part-time).
The Digital Marketing Officer will work closely with other team members to support the marketing activities of Kids’ Own.
The specifications of the role are set out below.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Digital Content Manager and CEO, duties will include, but not be limited to:
Essential requirements
Applicants must have:
Requisite skills
It is desired that the successful applicant would have:
Applications
To make an application, candidates should send a detailed cover letter outlining suitability and motivation for the role, along with a current CV to:
Jo Holmwood, Creative Director, Kids’ Own: [email protected]
Deadline for applications is 5pm, Wednesday 1st June 2022.
Terms
This is a part-time role (3 days p/week) with an initial contract of 9 months, with a view to extension.
Salary: €30,000 (pro-rata)
Liz Coman joins the Board of Kids’ OwnOur most recent appointment to the Kids’ Own Board is Liz Coman, who joined at the end of 2021. We are delighted to have Liz join our Board and contribute her skills and expertise to our organisation.
Liz Coman is an Assistant Arts Officer with Dublin City Council and a Visual Arts Education Curator. Liz has a Masters in History of Art and in Museum Studies, with a focus on public programming. She has led trainings in enquiry led approaches to mediating artwork for visual art facilitators in The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children, The National Gallery of Ireland, and The Turner Prize, Derry and offers ongoing mentorship for individual artists and educators. She is a certified Visual Thinking Strategies facilitator with VTS/USA and has completed training to coaching level. She is responsible for leading two Strategic Partnership Erasmus+ projects for Dublin City Council – Permission to Wonder – testing the VTS training pathway with educators in classrooms and gallery settings in six partner countries – and – Looking to Understand Inclusion – testing how image selection can support social inclusion practices in classrooms, galleries and local communities. Liz is writer of the first Arts, Education and Learning Policy for Dublin City Council and through her work at the arts office, she designs and evaluates supports for artists – including awards, bursaries and studio spaces. A key aspect of her role is to grow resources through strategic partnerships and budget management by being alert to funding opportunities based on an extensive knowledge of local, national and international funding infrastructure.
Job Opportunity: Kids’ Own seeks Project Manager (part-time)Kids’ Own has an exciting opportunity for an experienced individual to lead on the ongoing delivery of our collaborative initiatives with children and young people.
Job Opportunity: Kids’ Own seeks Operations Manager (part-time)Kids’ Own is now seeking to appoint an Operations Manager to support the smooth running of all of our operational activities.
Splash of BlueWe’d like to share this colourful resource for teachers that we created last year in partnership with Mayo Arts Service and St Angela’s National School, Castlebar.
Our new Child Safeguarding PolicyOver the last year, we have been working hard to update our Child Safeguarding Policy to ensure that it reflects our child-centred ethos.
Celebrating 25 years of Kids’ Own Publishing!Over the last quarter of a century, we have connected 1000s children with professional artists and published the work that they create.
New researchers Tamsin Cavaliero & Susan McDonnellThey will be measuring the impact of our Our Lives, Our Voices project on participants from a rights-based perspective.
Kids’ Own present at DICE ConferenceIn a session titled ‘Traveller Voices in Irish Education’, we spoke about a series of books created by Traveller children and their community.
Open call for new Board membersWe are seeking expressions of interest from potential new members who want to join our exciting team on a voluntary basis and help to make a difference in children’s lives.
Really Here: virtual artist-in-residence projectIn this collaborative arts project, Kids’ Own Associate Artists Ann Henderson, Ann Donnelly and Sharon Kelly are working creatively with schools in Northern Ireland on a weekly basis.
Climate action resource back from printersThis A2-size poster is packed with ideas for the classroom in which children can engage with their local area and themes of climate action.
Right by us: New project with young peopleThis project looks at EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child which was launched recently.
Wonderful evening with our Young WritersA big thank you to everybody who shared their work over the evening, and also to Susanna Galbraith for all her kind words and encouragement.
An Evening of Poetry & Prose with Young WritersTaking place online on Thursday 13th January 2022 at 7pm. Book your place now!
Kids’ Own seeks new CEO/Creative DirectorThe Board of Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership are seeking to appoint a CEO / Creative Director. Deadline: 5pm, 19th January 2022.
Face to Face back from the printersThis book captures Sligo children’s stories about their experience of the pandemic and public health restrictions.
Children and Climate Action Project & ReportRead our collaborative report with Sligo Environmental Network here!
Hear Our Stories: New Wexford book projectWe are very excited to start a new book project with children and young people from the Syrian community in Co. Wexford.
Our new writing mentor Mary Branley!She will be supporting our new panel of writers and artists as they work on new projects this year.
TADA! children’s exhibition opens in Linenhall Arts CentreWe are delighted to invite you to TADA! which opens 3:30pm, Friday 22 Oct 2021 in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
Welcoming Dr Bernadette Ní Áingléis as our new Education AdvisorBernadette will develop new links and partnerships with schools, universities, and a diverse range of educational stakeholders
New project with Sligo Traveller Support Group’s Homework ClubThis project raises awareness about the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Kids’ Own wins £10,000 Movement for Good award!We are one of 30 charities chosen by a panel of judges to receive £10,000 as part of the Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good awards
Artist – writer training day in The ModelAt the end of September, we met with all our new artists and writers for 2 days creative training
Kids’ Own seeks experienced Project Manager (maternity cover)We are looking for somebody to lead on the delivery of collaborative projects with children from late November 2021 to mid–June 2022.
New book project with children and young people living in careWe recently worked in partnership with Sligo/Leitrim Home Youth Liaison Service with a series of creative workshops.
TADA! exhibition as part of Baboró International Festival for ChildrenThis special exhibition runs from Monday 4 Oct to Sunday 17 Oct from 10.00 – 17.00 in the Galway Arts Centre.
Kids’ Own Seeks Researcher for New Publishing Project with Traveller and Roma Children and Young PeopleDeadline for applications: Midnight on Friday 15th October, 2021
Introducing our new artist and writer panel!These 9 creatives will be working on collaborative book projects with young people and children all across Ireland.
Updates on our 2021 Young Writers Project!Our Young Writers project is about to kick off again for autumn 2021 with more creative writing sessions, facilitated by Kids’ Own Associate Writer Mary Branley.
Join our A-Z project for young children in Sligo, Wednesday 25th AugustChildren aged 3-6 and their parent/guardian are invited to come and meet our Associate Artist Naomi Draper, to explore, play, and take part in some creative activities.
Education Advisor sought for an exciting fixed-term role with Kids’ Own Publishing PartnershipWe are recruiting an Education Advisor to develop and expand our links with teachers, schools, and academics starting in October 2021.
Introducing our Digital and Cultural Access for Children researcher: Dr Amy HannaWe are excited to have Dr Amy Hanna as our new Independent Researcher into Digital and Cultural Access for Children in the Northwest.
LGBTQIA+ Book Project with Young People in Sligo and LeitrimWe were delighted to work with the SMILY LGBTQIA+ project on a special creative project for young people.
Teenagers in Sligo work on our Reinventions project!See the upcycled artworks and toys created by Sligo teenagers for our Reinventions project
Highlights from Cruinniú na nÓg creative workshopsCreative workshops for young people facilitated by poets FeliSpeaks, Anthony Anaxagorou, Ella Frears and filmmaker Paul Mahon
New Climate Action Project with Children from Carns NS, Moneygold, SligoKids’ Own was delighted to receive funds from Creative Ireland, Sligo, to embark on a new local initiative, exploring themes of climate action with 2nd–6th Class children at Carns NS, Moneygold, Co. Sligo. Creative Director Jo Holmwood, and visual artist Vanya Lambrecht Ward have been working with 21 children through dialogue and creative activity, with a particular focus on water, as a central element representing the interconnectedness of global and climate change issues.
Over two sessions, the group engaged in lots of discussion about water and identified questions that they would like to investigate through individual research. They also took a walk to nearby Milk Harbour, and created beautiful artworks using inks with ice; and inks with salt and water.
This small-scale initiative was an exploration into ways of supporting children to engage with climate change and have their voices heard on this important issue. Kids’ Own will develop a poster or manifesto to present some of the ideas and thinking that the children developed through this process.
We hope to build on this in the future, so that more children can take part in similar processes that support them to engage with climate action through research and dialogue, observation, localised actions and creative activity, to build a bigger body of work that can share their voices, ideas and artwork with a wider audience on this topic.
Through the project, we also engaged Dr. Connie Nell from Sligo Environmental Network to develop some research into children’s role as climate activists, the impact of supporting children’s voices to be heard on this issue, and the value of creative approaches in supporting children’s engagement with climate change and climate action.
A-Z and Back Again ProjectHear about our arts-rich process of exploration at home for Early Years children
Callout: Exciting training opportunity for artists and writers interested in working with children and young people. Kids’ Own working on Teacher-Artist Partnership Special Initiative Kids’ Own announces next phase of Young Writers’ 2021 Kids’ Own hosts Cruinniu na nÓg Events in partnership with Creative Donegal, Sligo County Library, and Leitrim Libraries Kids’ Own launches Can’t Lose Cant! Kids’ Own invites you to the launch of Can’t Lose CantJoin us for the launch of Can’t Lose Cant with Senator Eileen Flynn, Oein De Bhairduin and more
Welcome to the Board Naomi!Naomi Feely is an experienced social researcher and policy analyst with over 15 years experience working in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors in Ireland.
Kids’ Own launches On the Brink!A new publication of short stories and poems by young writers from Derry/Londonderry and Letterkenny
CALL OUT: Independent Researcher for Scoping StudyResearcher needed to study how our child-led, child-centred model of engagement with professional artists can be brought to children and young people.
Welcome to the team Róisín!Róisín is a third year English and Media student and will be with us for the next 4 months.
Letter writing workshops for Human Rights Day!Read some of the letters our participants wrote!
Our Big Book of Sligo!Read about our new project gathering children’s stories about their experience of 2020.
Take Action: Write a Letter!Check out our letter template which folds into an origami-style envelope!
UN Eradication of Poverty projectRead about our creative sessions with young people from Foróige CRIB project and Sligo Comhairle na nÓg.
Our childrens’ book panel reviews are in!We have set up a team of book reviewers with children from all over Ireland.
A to Z and back again reprintWe are delighted to announce that we will be reprinting our much-loved classic!
LGBTQI+ callout for participantsWe are looking for participants for a new creative writing and art project – no experience needed!
Foróige Leitrim’s health & wellbeing projectThis project allows young people to have their voices heard on the issues that matter to them, as well as having a positive creative experience that they lead and develop.
Visual Thinking Team progress!Over 6 weeks this summer, 9 children from all over Ireland participated in a special online project – our Visual Thinking Team initiative.
Kids’ Own Library of Ideas!Look through reinventions that other children have made from recycled old materials. Get inspiration to make your own!
First art session with Foróige SligoWe were delighted to have our first practical session with Foróige Sligo delivered by artist Andy Parsons
Can’t lose Cant reprintWe are delighted to announce that we will be reprinting an old favourite of ours: ‘Can’t lose Cant!’, a beautifully illustrated dictionary of Cant words from the Traveller language.
Extract in Folens Explorer SeriesWe are delighted to have an extract from ‘I hope you grow‘ in one of Folens Explorer books. The book is for 6th class students learning about geography and science. ‘I hope you grow‘ is created by children about their lives and their experiences of homelessness in greater Dublin. This book contains a blend of poetry, stories, artwork and photography generated during a series of workshops in 2018, delivered by Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership in partnership with Focus Ireland.
News from the Schools Exhibition Project with Mayo Arts Service!
This week 4th class from St Angela’s will be getting some important post! Our artist Kiera has put together a guide for our young artists in 4th class that we hope will inspire them to create more of their own artwork. The guide focuses on testing all kinds of materials as an artist and discovering how they work, making our own natural art materials and inks, and drawing ON the landscape! Kiera’s guide gives insight into how she works as an artist, and invites the children to create their own work with her.
Reinventions: Making standing figuresGuide to to make self-standing cardboard cut-out figures and a range of tailor made paper outfits with artist Anna Spearman.
Reinventions: Building, binding and weaving an archGuide to building, binding and weaving an arch with artist Martha van der Muelen.
Reinventions: Making cardboard things moveGuide to making cardboard move with artist Vanya Lambrecht-Ward.
New health and wellbeing project with ForóigeKids’ Own is delighted to be starting a new project with Foróige, Sligo, exploring youth wellbeing and mental health. Two members of the Kids’ Own team, Jo Holmwood and Ciara Gallagher, connected with members of Sligo’s Comhairle na nÓg group for an initial consultation around this theme and to explore how they would like to address it through a community-focused artistic process.
The young people articulated some of the societal pressures and mental strains that young people face, as well as exploring positive messages to counter these, which could support other young people to achieve ‘self-acceptance’ and a greater sense of wellbeing. In the next phase of the project, a Kids’ Own associate artist will work with the group to develop artwork that shares these positive messages and can reach audiences within the wider local and regional community.
This project is funded by Sligo Leitrim Children & Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) with special help from Elaine Granaghan from Foróige. Watch this space for more information as the project evolves!
Reinventors: Busy in the lab!Our Reinventors have been busy experimenting over the last fortnight: making things move and creating new toys from old things. We meet on Wednesdays online and participants work on their inventions over the week. So far, we have completed 2 sessions: the first was led by artist Vanya Lambrecht Ward and focused on ‘Making Cardboard Things Move’. It was a fascinating session where we made hinges from cardboard bits creating movable sculptures!
The second session was led by artist Martha van der Meulen who suggested methods of how to make some interesting things from old stuff. The participants created lots of interesting sculptures!
‘Reinventions’ is a new Kids’ Own project supported by the Community Foundation of Ireland, which seeks to cultivate an ethos of sustainability and creative reuse. Soon we will be asking children all over Ireland to make their own new things out of old stuff and to send on their photos for the Library of Ideas.
(Image credit: Cardboard scissor hands by Vanya Lambrecht Ward)
