Your Walls: Artist and Staff Training

We were so delighted to welcome some of our favourite artists, curators and makers to Draíocht for some training on Saturday 13 January 2024 facilitated by Dr Annie McKeown O’Donovan and Dr. Lucy Elvis, two philosophers from CURO, to support our newest project YOUR WALLS ...

YOUR WALLS is one of our latest projects that expands the walls of our Gallery right onto the walls of Dublin 15 schools. This Art Sharing Programme YOUR WALLS uses work from Draíocht's Collection and Draíocht will also commission some new work.

A work of art is a natural starting point for children to observe closely, think critically and share their thoughts and reactions through their own words. Draíocht is collaborating with CURO, a group of philosophers who think philosophical thinking should be for everybody. CURO it also Latin for curiosity - which is what they are all about! CURO use the Philosophy for Children (P4C) pedagogy, an inquiry-based learning that combines structured philosophical dialogue with creative activities, that will support schools and teachers to think carefully, creatively and critically together about the art works.

CURO trained us in their methodology for engaging children and teachers in schools to have interesting conversations about artwork and develop philosophical questions that extend beyond that. We are so thankful for their time and generosity in teaching us about Philosophy for Children.

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This programme started in November 2023 in Scoil Mhurie Senior National School, Blakestown and is open to schools from within the Dublin 15 area, who have considered a space to hang the works and who can commit to a small fee that covers relevant insurance and maintenance fees to protect and maintain the works.

For more information or to express interest on behalf of your school please contact Sarah Beirne sarah@draiocht.ie

CURO Website

Lucy Elvis - CURO

Lucy Elvis is a PhD student in the Philosophy department in NUI Galway, funded by a Galway Doctoral Research Scholarship. She has studied at Lunds Universitet, Sweden (MA in Visual Culture) and Leicester University, UK (BA in Art History and Politics.) She has also worked as a visual art curator and producer, director of 126 Gallery Galway, and is a board member of TULCA Festival of Visual Art. She is interested in the intersection of philosophy and culture (aesthetics) and in fostering philosophy outside the institution. She is a member of the Philosophy Ireland steering group. Lucy is a Philosophy for Children (P4C) Level 1 facilitator (SAPERE-approved) and has completed a residential summer school at the IAPC (Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children.) She also participated in the PDST (Professional Development Service for Teachers) P4C ‘Train the Trainer’ pilot.

Annie McKeown O’Donovan - CURO

Annie McKeown O’Donovan is a PhD student in the Philosophy department in NUI Galway, funded by a Galway Doctoral Research Scholarship. She has studied at NUI Galway (BA in Philosophy and Psychological Studies, MA in Philosophy: Ethics, Culture and Global Change) and in University College Dublin (MsC in Equality Studies). She has broad interests in areas of applied philosophy (bioethics, political philosophy), and on the use of philosophy to make a practical positive change in society. Annie is a Philosophy for Children (P4C) Level 1 facilitator (SAPERE-approved).

Orla Richardstown - CURO

Orla Richardson is a Philosophy for Children (P4C) Level 1 teacher (SAPERE-approved). She was awarded with a BA in Philosophy and English (1997) an MA in Philosophy (2001) from NUIG, and a PhD in Philosophy (2009) from Boston University. During her time in Boston, she taught philosophy and logic at both Boston University and Bridgewater State University. She returned to Galway in 2012 and has been lecturing in philosophy at NUIG since then. Her teaching and research interests include epistemology, ethics, philosophy of science and philosophy of sport. She also teaches at the NUIG Youth Academy which works with high-ability 4th, 5th and 6th class primary school children to support their learning and academic development.

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So many questions!So many open and inclusive discussions!

Lucy Elvis - CURO

Annie McKeown O’Donovan - CURO

Orla Richardstown - CURO

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So many questions!
So many open and inclusive discussions!