Made of Words - New Youth Project

Creative Ireland's Creative Youth Nurture Fund creates opportunities for young people to explore creativity and culture, with a particular focus on including voices who are seldom heard.

'Made of Words' led by Draíocht, comes from the idea that everyday speech reveals how we think, feel and make sense of the world. The words young people use every day (like slang, memes and private jokes) are rich with meaning. 

Working with professional artists, philosophers and youth workers, participants will explore the language they use to describe their experiences and transform it into original creative work. Through Philosophy for Children (P4C) enquiry sessions with CURO Philosophers, spoken word workshops led by Rising Tides, and printmaking and image-making workshops with artist Andrew Carson in Fingal's Maker Space, young people will experiment with language, image, symbol and performance.

The project places both artistic practice and young people at its centre. It creates opportunities for participants to engage on their own terms with creative processes, allowing space to develop artistic skills, and experience the joy and sometimes the frustrations of making original works. Through writing, making, discussing and performing, participants will explore how metaphor can help us understand ourselves and our experiences.

'Made of Words' will culminate in a co- designed publication featuring participants' poems, texts and visual artworks, alongside a supported spoken-word sharing event in Draíocht's Black Box Studio. 

Together, these outputs will celebrate the creativity, imagination and perspectives of young people and contribute new voices to the cultural life of Dublin 15.

'Made of Words' is a partnership between Draíocht, Jigsaw Dublin 15, CURO Philosophers, Rising Tides, Andrew Carson, Fingal Libraries Maker Space, and evaluator Sinéad Begley.

For further information please email Sarah Beirne, Children & Youth Arts Officer Draíocht at sarah@draiocht.ie