Children’s Council 2018/19

Our third Children's Council met for the first time on the 22 September. With 35 members, our Council is the biggest it has ever been.

Our first session was a day of ice-breakers, warm ups and name games. As well as getting to know The Ark and one another, the new Council drew up their guidelines on our process for the year ahead.

On 13 October, the Council attended our Dublin Theatre Festival show The Young King and also got to meet with Andy Packer, artistic director of Australia’s Slingsby Theatre who produced the play.

On 3 November, the Council met with Creative Arts Manager Aisling O’Gorman, who discussed her role within The Ark as well as how the Council will be involved in programming and delivering the upcoming Big Bang Dublin music festival. The Council also met with The Ark's Director Aideen Howard. As well as discussing Aideen’s role and the important relationship the Children’s Council has with the director, we talked about The Ark’s new Festival of Children and what role the Council will play in selecting a name for the festival. This festival will be a celebration of art, culture and children’s rights – ensuring that children are seen and heard across Dublin. The Council will be integral to the planning and decision-making in creating the new festival. As well as leading a national call out to name it, (the Council will select a shortlist and vote on a name based on entries from children across Ireland), the Council will inform the development of the festival throughout the year. In our November session the Council also met our Early Year’s Artist in Residence Lucy Hill, who told us about her work within in the Ark. The Council attended a performance of Bombinate Theatre’s Half Light and also had a chance to meet director Mollie Molumby and Bombinate’s creative team.