Central Mayo school launches Creative Freedom : Saoirse Cruthaithneach exhibition
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Straide National School pupils at the launch of Creative Freedom: Saoirse Cruthaitheach. ALISON_LAREDOImage 2 of 4
Pupils have been busy in the art studio exploring the theme of social justice. ALISON_LAREDOImage 3 of 4
Linenhall arts facilitators Isaac and Alex. ALISON_LAREDOImage 4 of 4
Straide NS pupils with principal Caithríona Murrihy and artist Derval Dunford, Breathwork & Creativity. ALISON_LAREDOTHE pupils of Straide National School have launched an interactive, inclusive art exhibition entitled Creative Freedom: Saoirse Cruthaitheach on the theme of social justice.
The event launched Roola Boola at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar.
The Michael Davitt Museum in Straide developed an outreach programme in collaboration with Straide NS to honour the work of Michael Davitt. The first ever Social Justice Flag was launched in June this year.
The exhibition includes four key areas to develop a sense of empathy, creativity, inclusion and diversity. It also endeavours to create opportunities to break barriers.
Empathy: Michael Davitt Museum staff worked very closely with the children of Straide NS to develop a sense of what life was like for Michael Davitt, a boy from their locality, who was evicted at the age of four and a half, disabled at the age of 11, and who went on to be the most influential Irish man of the 19th century. The aim is to increase awareness and acts of empathy for each individual and how it relates to their everyday experiences in society.
Creativity: Three artists worked with the children on the theme of social justice to create a fully inclusive art exhibition. The four mediums of art are video, ink, installation and clay. There has also been input from Disability Services Ireland and AsIAm to raise awareness of inclusion.
Inclusion and diversity: The children have developed an awareness of the needs of others and how to create an accessible, inclusive environment. They explored the themes of being unique but having similarities through self-identity. For the exhibition, there is large text, QR code scans with video and audio, and low light events.
Breaking barriers: Workshops between Straide National School and Rehins National School have been rolled out to the children, funded by Mayo North East SICAP. Children from different cultures were brought together to engage in a breath workshop hosted by Derval Dunford of Mindfulness Matters.
Four pieces of art will be on display in the Linenhall Arts Centre, to celebrate inclusion and social justice. The children worked on a fifth piece with the artists in the Linenhall, exploring the strands of print and construction.
Visit the Linenhall and experience the creativity through the eyes of the children with this fully interactive exhibition.