Exploring & Thinking - Early Childhood Arts in the Dublin Region
The four Dublin Local Authorities (Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council) are working in partnership for the creation of new artwork(s) of ambition, scale and depth for an early childhood audience.
Objectives of the Partnership
• Support artistic ambition in the research and development of new work in early childhood which can be presented in different contexts – including festival, professional arts space, library and childcare settings.
• Reach new early childhood audiences.
• Stimulate dialogue between the Dublin Local Authorities and with artists, early childhood educators and organisations.
• Build on current research investigating practice across artforms /professional disciplines/ contexts.
• Consider how engagement with audiences may be influenced by the presentation of the commission in the different contexts.
• Generate advocacy in early childhood arts.
Background
Each Dublin Local Authority supports early childhood arts practice, provision, partnership and policy that is responsive to local motivations and need.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council delivers residency programmes and with their local County Childcare Committee, building artists’ practice through longer-term residencies and co-commissions in childcare settings.
Fingal County Council produces an international early childhood arts festival that includes professional development for artists and educators; and is a partner in completing action research residencies in music and the visual arts in two creche settings in association with Trinity College Dublin.
Dublin City delivers a Children’s Art in Libraries Programme and Project 20/20 in Dublin 1, and will pilot an early childhood CPD programme with Preparing for Life in Coolock in 2016/2017.
South Dublin County has identified early years practice as an area for development in its new Arts Plan and is building resources and relationships with the County Childcare Committee.
In 2017, an international childhood commission was funded by the Arts Council of Ireland’s Invitation to Collaboration Scheme and the four Dublin Local Authorities.
For more information see supporting documents:
International Early Childhood Art Commission - Briefing Document
International Early Childhood Art Commission - Previous Work
