In 2015, I collaborated with artist Martina Finn from Third Space Galway, Kieran Cunnane and Caoimhín Ó Maolalligh from Transition Towns Galway, and others, to organise a series of events as part of a shared initiative called Collaborative Ways Forward. Bringing together artists, community organisations and local activists, this series of public events fostered dialogue on the relationships between culture, cooperatives and the commons. By making visible cooperative economic practice in the west of Ireland, the events aimed to cultivate an alternative economic vision for the region.
Wednesday 1st July: Cooperatives, The Commons and Job creation. In collaboration with An Áit Eile. Galway City Museum Café.
Saturday 25th July: Potluck Picnic, Woodquay Park, Galway.
Friday 18th September.
Agri-Cultural Inventions, a discussion with PhD researcher Trish O’Flynn and farmer/inventors, Edward Healy and Bernard Conroy. Hosted at The Art Farm, Clonkeen, Newbridge, Co.Galway.
Coop Culture, an on the street, participatory art space using the seating system designed by artist Seoidín O’Sullivan. These two events were part of the programme for Galway City and County Culture Night.
October 2015
Collaborative Ways Forward organised a series of events as part of the programme of the nationwide Co-operative Convergence. Convergence is Ireland’s longest running annual festival on community resilience and sustainable living, coordinated by Davie Philip and Cultivate.
Tuesday 20th October:
‘Beyond Grants’ – Financing Social Enterprise and Co-operatives
‘Transformative Power’ – Community Energy and Cooperative Successes
Friday 30th October –
‘Emerging Futures’ – A Cultural Vision for Galway
‘A Co-operative Salon’ – A community harvest dinner and social.
The featured photograph at the top of this page is from the event ‘Emerging Futures – A Cultural Vision for Galway’ held on October 30th, 2015. The photo is credited to Caoimhín Ó Maolallaigh.
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