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Seen & Heard: 21 Years for Children 17 Nov 2016

Seen & Heard: 21 Years for Children

As both organisations turn 21 this year, The Ark and Children’s Rights Alliance are delighted to be teaming up to present a special public forum surveying the landscape of significant change for children in Ireland during the lifetime of both organisations.

Aimed at grown-ups interested in or working in the fields of children, education or artistic practice, the forum will bring together a wide range of experts to reflect on how Ireland has changed and look ahead at what should change for the better in the next 21 years.

Children’s lives are at the heart of this day-long event, which will include artists and policy makers as well as speakers from civil society, children’s rights, science, health and education. The forum will be officially opened by Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Education and Skills.

This forum will be held just a few days ahead of Universal Children’s Day (20 Nov). During the forum, The Ark Children's Council will premiere a short film that they have created to mark Universal Children’s Day, supported by Dublin City Council. In the film, the children talk about their rights and what’s important to them – making sure that their voices are heard as part of the discussion of the day.

Take a look at the programme here (subject to change). Topics will include Art, Education & Society, Future Challenges for Children in Ireland, The Voice of the Child, Participation and Decision Making, and Artists working with children.
Full list of speakers to be announced but will include:

  • Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Education and Skills
  • Sinead Burke, PhD candidate in TCD Dublin and writer. ISPCC Childline Ambassador
  • Catherine Byrne, Chair of The Ark
  • John Concannon, Director of Ireland 2016
  • Professor John Coolahan, Educationalist
  • Tom Costello, Chair of Children’s Rights Alliance
  • Roddy Doyle, novelist, dramatist and screenwriter
  • Martin Drury, founding Director of The Ark
  • Shaun Dunne, Artist in Residence at The Ark
  • Aideen Howard, Director of The Ark
  • Brian Irvine, Composer, Facilitator, Artist
  • Owen Keenan, Chair, National Advisory Council for Children and Young People under Better Ourcomes, Brighter Futures, The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People
  • Grainia Long, Chief Executive, ISPCC
  • Dr Anne Looney, Chief Executive Higher Education Authority
  • PJ Lynch, Laureate na nÓg, Illustrator
  • Vincent McCarthy, Founder Festival of Curiosity
  • Séona Ní Bhríain, Head of Young People, Children and Education, the Arts Council
  • Fintan O’Toole, The Irish Times
  • Elaina Ryan, Director Children’s Books Ireland
  • Jillian van Turnhout, Former Senator
  • Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of Children’s Rights Alliance
  • Ray Yeates, Dublin City Arts Officer

Part of VIEW: Temple Bar Politics, Arts & Ideas. an initiative of Temple Bar Company sponsored by Dublin City Council, Irish Stock Exchange and Fáilte Ireland