Exhibition: Our Place

Our Place is a socially engaged art project in collaboration with Saint John of God Community SupportServices, Liffey and St John of God Skills for Life, Kerry presented across two dynamic exhibitions this autumn taking place simultaneously in
Dublin and Kerry.

Lead artists Sinead McCann and AlanJames Burns describe Our Place as – “Championing the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities by creating access to cultural expression and cultural spaces, placing the ideas, talents, and lived experiences of people with intellectual disabilities at the heart of the art making and exhibition design.”

In each exhibition venue, visitors will experience a multi-sensory installation that playfully explores themes of happiness, human rights, and belonging. The installation comprises an immersive sound artwork and vibrant neon and tactile light artworks. The gallery also features distinct sensory areas with both group and individual seating. Exhibition accessibility additionally includes Lámh, braille, audio and captioned descriptions.

Exhibition venues include;
RHA, Dublin Thursday 5 September to Sunday 22 September 
Royal Hibernian Academy Friends Gallery, 15 Ely Place, Dublin

Kerry County Museum 20 September to 20 October
Kerry County Museum, Ashe Memorial Hall, Denny St, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Our Place is a collaboration between artists Sinead McCann and AlanJames Burns and Saint John of God Community Support Services, Liffey that began as an online creative sound project from 2020. Sound On! utilised accessible audio recording and editing software, fostering both creativity and digital inclusion for adults with an intellectual disability, and was funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and Create Ireland’s Artist in the Community Scheme. In 2023, the project evolved into Our Place, a physical exhibition at Riverbank Arts Centre, creating an immersive experience of sound art, storytelling, and interactive design elements, funded by Creative Ireland Kildare, Create, and Riverbank Arts Centre. In 2024, Our Place further expanded, working with new collaborators in Dublin and St John of God Skills for Life, Kerry to present simultaneous exhibitions at the RHA in Dublin and Kerry County Museum. Funded by Rethink Ireland’s Disability Participation and Awareness Fund with consultation support by Create.

Creative collaborators include:
Afeefah Memon, Aidan Winters, Aaron Doherty, AlanJames Burns, Alex Kennedy, Chloe Larkin, Ciara Murnane, Conor Begley, Daniel Obina Moses, David Carter, David Carter, David Dean, David Deane, Dillon /McKeon, Doris Delaney, Eric Nolan, Ethan Browne, Ethan Deane, Finhas Tekeste, Frances Quinn, Gary McEnroe, Ian Coleman Horgan, Jonathan Smith, Jonathan Smith, Jordan, Kate McNamara, Katie Mahony, Keith Whelan, Laura Hickey, Laura Hickey, Meagan Lyons, Michaela Firlong, Niamh Cronin, Niamh Fortune, Palumi, Patrick Fitzgerald, Peter Power, Rachel Coss, Sam D’Allesandro, Sarah Boland, Sasha Fitzgerald, Sean Winder, Sinead McCann, Tony Davis, Trines, Wiktoria Porebreska.

Images by Julien Behal.