Symposium: Child Consultation & Participative Decision Making 12 Mar 2019
Particularly aimed at artists, educators, children’s rights advocates, policy makers and arts organisations, The Ark and The Ark Children’s Council host a symposium to share the impact and benefit of our child participation model and reflect on what we have learned and how it has influenced the art we have created.
In 2016 The Ark set up its first Children’s Council as a pilot project with the purpose of creating an on-going participation practice in arts and culture for a diverse group of children who would in turn inform the organisation’s artistic programming and overall decision making. Since then The Ark Children’s Council has grown and evolved and had a substantial impact on The Ark’s practice.
Supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, The Ark has commissioned Deirdre Hogan and Shirley Martin from University College Cork’s School of Applied Social Studies to evaluate the child participation and consultation processes of The Ark’s Children’s Council and to provide recommendations for its future development.
The symposium will share the findings of this report, contributions from current and past members of the Children’s Council, artists who have worked with them and the launch of a short documentary film documenting the project.
You can find out more information about The Ark Children’s Council here: https://ark.ie/projects/details/the-childrens-council
This event is supported by a QCBI grant from The Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
| Time | Event | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 10 - 10.30am | Registration & Coffee | |
| 10.30 - 10.50am | Welcome & Opening Remarks | The Ark Children's Council |
| - | Why a Council | Aideen Howard, Director of The Ark |
| 10.50 - 11.10am | The Ark Children's Council Documentary screening | |
| 11.10 - 11.35am | Report Findings: An Evaluation of the Operation and Impact of The Children’s Council . | Dr. Deirdre Horgan, Dr. Shirley Martin and Dr. Annie Cummins-McNamara (University College Cork) |
| - | Q&A | |
| 11.35 - 11.40am | Break | |
| 11.40am - 12.15pm | Panel Discussion | Members of The Children’s Council, The Ark's Creative Arts Manager Aisling O’Gorman and artist Shane O’Reilly advise on child consultation. Chair: Shaun Dunne |
| - | Q&A with the panel | |
| 12.15 - 12.30pm | Closing Remarks | |
| 12.30-1.30pm | Lunch | The Ark Team are available to answer your questions over delicious food from Luncheonette |