Mayor of fingal launches artist mentoring report

Mayor of Fingal Cllr

Howard Mahony Launches the HoMEGroUND report & Documentary

Film following a successful 2 year artist Mentorship Programme by Draíocht Blanchardstown & Fingal arts office HoMEGroUND was a two-year artist Mentoring Programme that ran during 2020-2022 and comprised of bespoke artist supports, both personal and professional, for artists from or with a connection to Draíocht, Dublin 15 or the wider Fingal County and whose work was socially engaged, collaborative or focused on children and young people.

Four artists were chosen and over a 2 year period, which included the very challenging and uncertain period during Covid-19, the artists met with 8 mentors; had 12 peer discussion group sessions; had 50 one to one Coaching Sessions; and had 75 one to one Mentoring Sessions, both in person and online.

The four participating artists of HoMEGroUND selected via open competition were: Michelle Hall – an interdisciplinary visual artist from Dublin 15.

Thomas Johnston – a musician and theatre maker, dedicated to promoting high quality and meaningful experiences of the traditional arts amongst children.

Monica Muñoz – a choreographer and dancer, and recent artist in residence in Balbriggan Educate Together National School.

Jijo Sebastian Palatty – a collaborative Film Maker, based in Dublin 15, with more than a decade of experience in participatory, collaborative and intercultural filmmaking. HoMEGroUND was conceived and led by Emer McGowan Director, Draíocht and Sharon Murphy, resident Curator, Draíocht with support from Sarah o’Neill (Deputy arts officer, Fingal County

Council) and Caroline Cowley (Public art Co-ordinator, Fingal County Council).

Launching the HoMEGroUND report & Documentary, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony, said“Fingal County Council has been committed to Draíocht’s Programme delivery for over 20 years.

We have been proud to watch its importance grow not only as a recognisable asset to Dublin 15, but to the greater Fingal area and beyond with programmes like HoMEGroUND.

We wish the artists and the team continued success in their professional journeys.

” Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony of HoMEGroUND, Emer McGowan, Director of Draíocht commented“HoMEGroUND was conceived both out of Draíocht’s 5 year Strategy ‘a Space for the arts’ where providing support and expertise to develop artist’s practice is one of our stated goals and out of a body of collaborative and children/young people’s practice that we have engaged in over our 20 years of operation.