Celebrating 10 Years of The Ark Children's Council

“The Children’s Council is very fun. It’s something we look forward to every month because we get to come together, play games, and do workshops.

It’s a really good way to meet new people, especially if you don’t know anyone at the start. It’s always nice interacting with new people. It’s also nice because people here are kind of the same, we like theatre and creativity, so it’s easy to connect. It helps with confidence too. Some of us were shy before joining, but now we feel more comfortable speaking up. It made us feel confident, and it’s easier to share ideas.

One of the best things is that our ideas are actually listened to. If you have an idea, you can say it, and no one says it’s too childish or too silly. Even if it doesn’t get used, it still gets listened to.

We do lots of different things, not just theatre. We go to workshops, do crafts, play games, and sometimes talk to artists and give them feedback. Because we’re the audience, it helps them know what we like so they can make things better. We also learn a lot. Like in puppetry, we learned you can tell a story with anything even something really simple. It’s really good for teamwork. We do activities where you have to work together. Everyone is included and everyone gets to share their ideas, not just the same people all the time.

If we had to describe it, we’d say it’s a place where kids can come to express themselves. It’s kind of like being on a board of management, but less boring. We get to help make decisions and share what we think. It’s a place where you can be creative, meet people, build confidence, and have your voice heard.”

The Ark Children’s Council 2025-2026

Zac Kelly, Patrick Matei Rosu, Tadhgh McKinney, Nell O’Connor, Freya Winstanley, Chloe Carrol, Ruth Thompson, Evie Lynch, Eva Doherty, Síona Ní Bhaoighill, Alanna Mitchell Hayden, Yahya Carr, Aobh Lawlor, Lucy Harte, Emmet Taaffe-harward, Lily Coffey, Alice Arthurs, Zack Lopes, Sarah Husu, Olive Kavanagh, Sarah Lawlor, Gideon Smith, Nora Kenny, Conor Iglesias, Dominik Erol, Alicia Cooper, Rosa Scollan, Izzy O’ Neill, Adam O'Meara, Rory Bills-Eveerett, Orla Ramanauskaite Ni Dhomhnaill, Harper McCarthy, Vivaan Gopinath, Hannah Oluwatoyin Akeem A, Ryley Gannon.

A Decade of Big Ideas, Brave Voices and Creative Change

Ten years ago, The Ark asked a simple but powerful question: "What if children helped make the decisions?"

The answer was the Children's Council.

In 2015, as part of The Ark's 21st birthday celebrations, the first Children's Council was formed. Fifteen children from schools across Dublin came together to share their ideas, experiences and opinions. Guided by artist Shaun Dunne, they became a group whose job it was to help adults listen better to children. What started as a new experiment quickly became something much bigger. The irst Council began with approximately 10 members and is now 40 strong, with a two-year participation structure and added learning support assistance for additional participation needs.

Today, the Children's Council is 10 years old and is at the heart of The Ark. Members help explore new artistic ideas, meet artists, respond to work in development and make sure children's voices are included in decisions that affect them. Their monthly workshops use process drama methods with a focus on public speaking and teamwork. The Children's Council shows that when children are listened to, amazing things can happen.

Seen and Heard

In 2016, the Children’s Council presented, acted as photographers, presented and sang an original song It’s a Right! as part of the Seen and Heard symposium and strategy launch! This project gave children the chance to discuss important issues and share their views with wider audiences. It showed that children's opinions are valuable and deserve to be heard.

Meeting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

In 2017, we asked the children of Ireland what questions they would like to ask Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Universal Children's Day. The Children’s Council then looked at all of the submissions and made selection to send to the Taoiseach. Excitingly, we actually secured an in-person meeting with The Taoiseach. It was a momentous day where the Council got to represent the children of Ireland and get answers to the questions that were on their mind about their life in Ireland as a child and their life in Ireland in the future. Their message was simple but powerful: children have important things to say.

Right Here, Right Now Festival

As the years passed, the Children's Council continued to grow in confidence. In 2019 and 2023 the children’s council were a part of the Right Here, Right Now Festival, a festival celebrating children's rights - the right to play, to engage in cultural activities and the right to express yourself! A group of children from the council co-curated the festival alongside Aideen Howard, The Ark Director. They even made a call out to the children of Ireland to name the festival and selected the title themselves. We also collaborated with Irish Rail to allow children to have their voices heard though a poster campaign on the railways and stations highlighting the things that the children of Ireland said they would like to change!

Presenting to the Oireachtas

On 22 June, 2021 children from The Ark Children’s Council presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, sharing what the children of Ireland have told them about their experiences of lockdown. This was a milestone achievement as it was the first time children directly addressed the Oireachtas.

Hear Our Voice

At The Ark, child participation is at the heart of everything we do and we have been continually building on our child participatory practice over the years. On Universal Children’s Day 2021, The Ark Children’s Council launched a national callout asking children across Ireland: when do you feel heard?

The Children’s Council read through all responses and used these to create a guide for The Ark about how to ensure children’s voices are heard in all its decision making. In early 2022, the Children’s Council decided on the final content and design for the document which they named, ‘HEAR OUR VOICE! Instructions on how to listen to children.’ They have been received an used by organisation all across the country.

Still Loading

Over the years, the Children’s Council have presented Still Loading, which is a mini-festival of new performances-in-progress for children. “One of the best things about Still Loading... is that we all get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at new performances that aren't fully finished yet, that you might be able to see at The Ark in the future!” – Council Member

Over the last 10 years, the Children's Council has helped shape exhibitions, performances, workshops and research projects. Members have asked thoughtful questions, challenged assumptions and brought fresh ideas to every discussion.

They have shown courage by speaking in front of audiences, confidence by sharing their experiences, and creativity by imagining new possibilities for the future.

Ten years may sound like a long time, but the story of the Children's Council is still being written.

Every year new members arrive with new ideas. They ask new questions. They imagine new possibilities. And because of them, The Ark continues to be a place where children are not only welcomed, but listened to.

Here's to the next 10 years of listening, learning and making sure children's voices are seen, heard and celebrated #artsforEVERYchild.

Picture here is The Ark Director Aideen Howard, Engagement and Participation Coordinator Estibaliz Errazquin and Engagement and Participation artist Shaun Dunne

“Working with the Children’s Council has been a highlight in my career. Getting to know so many amazing young people over the past ten years has taught me so much. Bring on the next ten”

- Engagement and Participation artist: Shaun Dunne

“It has been invaluable to witness young people being creative in their own unique ways; expressing their ideas, thoughts and feelings in a space that really listens and a values what they have to say. An unforgettable experience!”

- Engagement and Participation Coordinator: Estibaliz Errazquin

“It has been a joy to witness the creativity of the Children’s Council and their enthusiasm, inclusiveness, and care for one another. They are an inspiring group of young people who will undoubtedly go on to do amazing things!”

- Additional Needs Assistant: Alana Mullins