Kids' Own 25th Anniversary Conference

Calling all educators, teachers, artists, writers, change makers, cultural workers and policy makers! Kids’ Own is delighted to host our 25th anniversary conference at The Model, Sligo, on the 25th and 26th of November. Join us for panels, discussions and workshops, covering early years arts practice, children’s creativity and authorship, social inclusion and more. The conference is free to attend, places must be booked in advance.

Our conference is an opportunity to hear informative and lively panel conversations, hosted by leading practitioners, and a chance to meet others working in similar spheres. If you have any questions about the conference, please email events@kidsown.ie. We hope to see you in November!

Provisional timetable:

Friday 25th November, 9am - 5.15pm (light lunch and refreshments provided)

Provisional timetable for presentations and panels:

9am: Tea/Coffee; time for networking and exhibition browsing.

10am: Welcome & Introductions

Ciara Gallagher, CEO and Creative Director of Kids' Own, in conversation with Kids' Own founders, Victoria Ryle and Dr. Simon Spain (via live link-up)

10.30am: Social Inclusion: Publishing Unheard & Seldom Heard Voices

Presentations by Mary Branley (Kids’ Own Associate Writer), Francesca Hutchinson (Kids’ Own Associate Artist), Gina Miyagawa (Roma Education Worker, Cork STAR Project) and Rachel Coffey (Traveller Education Worker, Cork STAR Project), Dr Connie Nell (Community Development Worker, Cranmore Community Co-Op, Sligo)

11.45: Coffee Break

12pm: Parallel presentation sessions:

Cultural Rights from Birth: Best Practice in Early Years

Presentations by Dr Carmel Brennan (Maynooth University), Naomi Draper (Kids’ Own Associate Artist), Maree Hensey (Kids’ Own Associate Artist) and Rose Murphy (CEO Waterford Childcare Committee).

Research with Children: Insights from recent Kids' Own projects

Presentations by Dr Amy Hanna (University of Strathclyde), Dr Susan McDonnell (ATU Sligo) and Dr Tamsin Cavaliero (ATU Sligo).

13:00: Lunch

13.45: Panel Discussion

Children’s Rights, Children’s Voices: Who’s Listening?

Panel discussion chaired by Dr. Amy Hanna, with Mary Branley, Francesca Hutchinson, Dr Bernadette Ní Áingléis(Education Advisor, Kids' Own) and Maeve Whittington (Sligo Leitrim Children & Young People’s Services Committee).

14.45: Panel Discussion

Arts Practice with Children: What does good practice look like?

Panel discussion chaired by Seóna Ní Bhriain (Head of YPCE, The Arts Council), with Ann Donnelly (Kids’ Own Associate Artist), Vanya Lambrecht Ward (Kids’ Own Associate Artist) and Liz Coman (Assistant Arts Officer, Dublin City Council).

15.45: Coffee Break

16:00:Youth Panel Discussion

An opportunity to listen to the thoughts of young people who have been part of recent Kids’ Own projects.

16.30: Reflection and Discussion

Led by conference rapporteur Dr Bryonie Reid (Quarto Collective).

Saturday 26th November, 10am - 1pm

Choice of creative workshops, for those interested in working collaboratively with children. Places on workshops are limited and must be booked separately, for booking and more information please see our Kids Own Eventbrite profile. Priority will be given to conference attendees.

Kids Own aims to ensure that the conference venue is accessible to all delegates. Please let us know if you have any additional access requirements as early as possible and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. You can share more details with us about your requirements by emailing events@kidsown.ie. If you require an ISL interpreter please let us know as early as possible.

About us:

Kids' Own is a children's arts organisation and publishing house and Ireland’s only dedicated publisher of books by children. Through a range of local, national and international projects, we connect children with professional artists and publish the work that they create.

Our Vision and Mission:

Our vision is for a society that recognises children as independent writers, thinkers and creators and that truly values the arts in the lives of all children.

Our mission is to develop, publish and promote artwork and writing created by children for children and their communities, through meaningful engagement with professional artists.

Kids’ Own is a registered charity, core-funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, working with an ethos of social equality. Many of our projects involve children from diverse cultures, such as Traveller culture, migrant, intercultural and multilingual populations, and children who are socially excluded or part of a minority group. More information is available on our website: www.kidsown.ie