New Creative Project Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Roscommon 

Kids’ Own, in partnership with Roscommon Foróige and Roscommon Arts Centre, is running a creative project that places LGBTQI+ young people at the centre of shaping services and expressing their experiences through art and writing. 

Running in two phases from October 2025 to the end of 2026, the project provides a platform for young people to explore issues that matter most to them and to share their perspectives with those who support them. 

About the Project 

The project will bring LGBTQ+ young people together in a welcoming, inclusive space to: 

• Participate in storytelling and reflective conversations 
• Engage in creative arts activities and writing 
• Shape a youth-led resource that authentically represents their experiences

Workshops will be guided by a professional Kids’ Own artist and writer, supported by youth workers from Foróige and staff from Roscommon Arts Centre. Through these sessions, participants will explore identity, wellbeing, belonging, and visibility, while helping shape future LGBTQ+ youth services in the Roscommon area. 

Project Objectives 

The project aims to: 

• Place the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ youth at the centre of service development 

• Support the LGBTQ+ community in Roscommon to have their experiences given visibility and credibility 

• Lead a youth-directed artistic process exploring issues and ideas important to participants 

• Produce an authentically youth-led, visually dynamic resource for young people and service providers 

• Disseminate the resource to raise awareness and understanding of the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ youth 

Phase One: Exploration & Creativity 

Running Late 2025 Phase One focuses on sparking creativity, connection, and exploration. Participants will explore the issues that matter most to them and begin shaping ideas for a meaningful output. Workshops will combine visual art, writing, and collaborative creative processes, offering young people a safe, inclusive space to express themselves. 

Phase Two: Youth-Led Resource 

Phase Two will channel the insights and creativity from Phase One into a tangible outcome. Participants will lead the creation of a youth-led resource, whether a digital toolkit, website, printed publication, or other creative format. With support from the Kids’ Own artist and writer, as well as design and production guidance, young people will take part in every stage of development, from content selection to final design. 

The project will conclude with a high-profile public launch, celebrating participants’ creativity and leadership, and providing a platform for LGBTQ+ youth voices to be heard by peers, service providers, and the wider community.