News
News | 22 April 2025
Creative residencies - opportunities for people to try out their own ideas
Our Artists in Residence at Sports and Recreation Centres across Dublin have been busy.
Creative Residency in Sport & Recreation Centres 2024-25 is a partnership between Dublin City Council Culture Company and Dublin City Council Sports Section. The residency is an opportunity to try out ideas, develop and share new ways of working, and facilitate the introduction of new audiences to Dublin’s sports and cultural offer. We have appointed four artists to the residency, based in four different Dublin City Council sports and recreation centres across the city:
- Siobhán O’Callaghan, a visual artist, based in Ballybough Youth, Community & Fitness Centre, Dublin 3
- Justine Doswell, a dance and movement artist, based in Bluebell Recreation Centre, Dublin 12
- Mark Joyce, a visual artist, based in Poppintree Community Sports Centre, Dublin 11
- Sharon Kelly, a visual artist, based in Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre, Dublin 4.
Since September 2024, we have worked with 37 community groups to run 89 creative workshops with 1197 participants. Here we share a few examples of how people have joined in and tried something new.
First hellos and early experiments
Each artist has been getting to know their new surroundings, and more importantly, the people who bring these centres to life. The first few weeks were all about introductions. The artists met with local groups, popped into classes, and ran taster sessions to get a feel for what kind of creative sparks might fly.
“You don’t know what you’re going to like until you try it.” Participant, Ballybough Christmas crafts workshops
In Ballybough Youth, Community & Fitness Centre, artist Siobhán O'Callaghan ran seven drop-in Christmas arts and crafts workshops. Some participants wandered in from other classes at the centre, others dropped by out of curiosity, and soon a little community of makers had taken shape.
Over the course of two weeks they explored card making, wreaths, decorations, and even designed their own wrapping paper. With festive music in the background, hands busy with scissors and glue, the atmosphere was a lovely mix of laughter and quiet concentration. The wonderful creations made their way home just in time to be proudly shown off - or given away - over the Christmas break.
In Irishtown Sports and Fitness Centre, artist Sharon Kelly ran drop-in 'Meet the Artist' workshops. This was a first for the centre, which usually focuses on sports and fitness programmes. More than a dozen children from the Neurodiversity Irishtown Ringsend & Pearse Street group took part.
They jumped right in, crafting their own personalised cards with enthusiasm and focus. The space quickly filled with colour, conversation, and the gentle buzz of creativity. For a while, a corner of the centre near the gym became a warm, joyful space where imagination took the lead.
Branching out
As the residencies progressed, the work began to evolve and the artists began regular workshops with groups at the centres.
In Poppintree Community Sports Centre, artist Mark Joyce spent time with the ‘Rascals’ group from Poppintree Youth Project as part of an ECO-UNESCO initiative.
The group of seven teenage girls started by chatting about the environment, what gives them hope, and how they might share that visually. The idea for a mural came from them. “What about a tree?” one of the girls said. “With the words as the roots and branches?”
And so, they painted one - full of colour and meaning, with phrases like “shine bright” and “we care” displayed alongside bees in flight and the earth decorated with sunflower petals - a favourite of Youth Support Worker, Hugo - spreading across the wall. It now stands proudly on the wall of the centre, a reminder of what young voices can grow when given space.
Mark also worked with a group from Crosscare Ballymun Youth Block to develop designs for the walls of a planned ‘Art Room’ on the premises. This will be a dedicated space for people of all ages to drop by and get creative. Thanks to our budding young artists, design ideas for the walls inside are taking shape - now onto the painting soon!
It’s so important for the kids to have an outlet like this. Doing these kinds of lessons with someone who is experienced adds a lot to their feeling of coming here. Jordan, Group Leader, Crosscare Ballymun Youth Block
At Bluebell Recreation Centre, artist Justine Doswell has been running regular dance workshops where participants try out different styles of dance each week. The workshops have brought new users to the centre, and one participant even made a lengthy trip on the Luas to join in. “I didn’t know what to expect,” they said, “but everyone was so friendly. I was roped in straight away.”
The women leading the line dancing brought so much energy and confidence to the room. Everyone jumped in with enthusiasm, even if the steps didn’t come easily at first. There were plenty of spins in the wrong direction and bursts of laughter, but that was part of the fun. Moving together, even a little out of sync, felt joyful and connecting.
Get involved
At all of the four sports centres where these residencies are taking place there are regular drop-in workshops. Whether you’re curious to try something new or just fancy a chat and a cuppa, come along - you’re very welcome.
Explore art and craft with Siobhán O’Callaghan in Ballybough Youth, Community & Fitness Centre, Dublin 3
Thursdays, fortnightly: 12:30pm - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 7:30pm until July 17th
8th & 22nd May
5th & 19th June
3rd & 17th July
Dance with Justine social dance workshops in Bluebell Recreation Centre, Dublin 12
Thursdays, weekly: 6:30pm - 7:30pm until July 24th
Drop-in social art workshops with Mark Joyce in Poppintree Community Sports Centre, Dublin 11
Thursdays, weekly: 4:30pm - 6:30pm until July 24th
Coffee mornings with Sharon Kelly in Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre, Dublin 4
Fridays, weekly: 10:30am - 12:30pm until August 22nd
For more details contact Evan Musgrave on neighbourhood@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie or 083 010 5287