Julie Spollen
Activate, a conscious place for living,
as an artist, a creative & a community member,
artists in the community,
our place,
this place matters.
October / December 2019 @ The Atrium, Tullamore.
Regeneration The Public Dance Halls Act 1935 'dances all moved to the town'
...a place to do, a place to sit, a place to move, a place to dance, a place to exist
The exhibition artwork is from collaborative group sessions & gatherings within the context of care settings & community interactions, advocating artistic expression that enables inclusion & social health. This collage of research & creative feedback is informed by exploring & communicating with participants the necessity of tactical placemaking, the benefits of arts & cultural advocacy & for a spatial agreement to generously live together, for the community by the community.
As part of my arts practice I designed & managed the projects to include a wider exploration with a collective of professionals:
Dr. Owen Douglas, Urban & Rural Designer, School of Architecture UCD, Catherine Donnelly Dance Artist, Laura Angell, Visual Artist.
Separately with Visual Artist Rowena Keaveny researched a Creative Charter by older people for older people;
Spaces – Identity, Participation, Equality. Draft 1 - funded by The Community Foundation for Ireland, Advocacy for Older Peoples Fund.
'Things are getting better, I think, can’t take our eye off the ball, will need to keep a check up.'
'I was delighted to be involved, I'm proud of what’s happening, someones listening.'
Many thanks to the participants, artists & stakeholders for their support - Anam Beo, Arts, Health & Wellbeing Organisation,Offaly Public Participation Network, The Community Foundation for Ireland, Offaly Bealtaine participants, the Irish Wheelchair Association, B.L.C Active Age participants, Riada Day Care & Residential Centre, Older Peoples Network, the Dublin Mid-Leinster HSE & Offaly County Council Arts.
Julie Spollen NCAD Bdes MA RCA