Branar, one of Ireland’s leading companies making arts experiences for children, is marking its 25th birthday with a question about the next 25 years of childhood in Ireland: what if?...
The Wonder-full Symposium takes place on Wednesday 11th of November from 11am to 5pm at the Mick Lally Theatre in Galway. The free event will bring together artists, practitioners, researchers, educators, producers and audiences to listen, reflect and imagine what childhood in Ireland could look like in the next quarter of a century.
International and Irish speakers will share ideas from design, education, psychology and the arts. They include Alexandra Lange, journalist, design critic and author who was awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism for a series on how urban design and architecture affect children and families. Her books include The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids.
She will be joined by Fabiola Camuti, Professor of Critical Creative Pedagogies at HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, who leads research on neuroinclusive arts education and pedagogies of care. Vlad Glaveanu, Professor of Psychology at Dublin City University (DCU) and founder of the DCU Centre for Possibility Studies, explores creativity, imagination and wonder in his work. Rhona Matheson is a PhD Researcher at Queen’s University Belfast whose work focuses on the realisation of babies’ rights in Scotland. She founded Starcatchers, Scotland’s Arts and Early Years organisation, and was formerly a Board member of Branar. Branar Founder and Executive Artistic Director Marc Mac Lochlainn completes the line-up.
The symposium brings both Alexandra Lange and Fabiola Camuti to Ireland for the first time, offering audiences here the chance to listen to their ideas in person.
Branar has invited the speakers to inspire, incite and ignite thinking about how the lives of children in Ireland can be shaped over the next quarter of a century. The aim is to advance practice around work for children and the world they live in, so that childhood is given proper consideration by decision makers in government, in education and beyond.
Marc Mac Lochlainn, Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Branar said; "What if? is a phrase we use a lot in our creative process. As Branar celebrates 25 years of existence, we look towards the next 25 years and how we can take steps to ensure children experience their best possible childhood: What if children could access high-quality arts experiences, regardless of geography or background? What if excellent art and arts experiences for children are prioritised in policy and practice? What if art for children is better understood, valued, and resourced? What if we foregrounded the needs for children in design? What if creativity was central to children's education? What if the children’s sense of wonder and curiosity was embraced and harnessed? We have invited speakers from around the world who explore these very questions so that we might be inspired and see what might be possible for the future. We hope that people leave with ideas they can carry into policy, education and their own lives.”
The Wonder-full Symposium is presented in partnership with Galway City Arts Office and supported by the Arts Council.
The event is free but booking is required at www.branar.ie/en/symposium. Anyone with access requirements can email info@branar.ie
Cover Photo of 'Leaves' by Ros Kavanagh.
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