Natural Born Artists Conference
Natural Born Artists
Conference on Arts for Early Years hosted by Baboró
Fri 16th and Sat 17th October 2009 Galway, Ireland
Baboró International Arts Festival for Children will host a conference exploring the world of the arts for early years (0 to 6 yrs) as part of the 2009 Baboró International Arts Festival for Children in Galway, Ireland
Baboró has recently secured funding under the Small Size - Big Citizens Project through the EACEA Culture Programme 2007 - 2013. This is a 5-year international project with 11 European partners – forming a European network for the diffusion of the performing arts for early years. The conference in October is part of this project, and marks another step in Baboró’s commitment to the research into and development of the arts for early years in Ireland.
Download Conference Schedule as a pdf or a Word doc. Download Conference Booking Form here
Conference Overview
This conference will bring together parents and practitioners, artists, educators and researchers to explore and discuss the arts for early years with a view to further Irish artistic development and research in this area. There will be a series of presentations and discussions from the perspective of artistic development, children’s engagement, child psychology, cultural policy, and the roles of adults (teachers and parents) in engaging with children and the arts. Delegates will also attend performances and exhibitions programmed specifically for children in the Early Years range (0-6)
The conference will be opened by Michael D Higgins, TD - long recognised as a champion of the Arts, and the first Minister for the Arts in Ireland.
Key Speakers include:
Martin Drury, Arts Director, The Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Martin Drury began working in the arts in 1979, the same year as the groundbreaking report The Place of the Arts in Irish Education was published. His work – both in and outside of The Arts Council – has been central to many developments in arts education and provision for young people. His contribution to the Baboró conference will reflect on 30 years of arts policy and provision for young people in Ireland and will offer views on what needs to be attended to in the coming decade.
David Coleman, Clinical Psychologist, Broadcaster and Author
A graduate of University College of Dublin, David has been a practising Clinical Psychologist, working with children and families for over ten years. He has become well known in Ireland as the presenter of the RTÉ television series’ Families in Trouble and Teens in the Wild. He is also the presenter of 21st Century Child, a landmark venture for RTÉ that follows 12 Irish families for 6 years from the birth of their babies. David is also the author of Parenting is Child’s Play, a guide to raising children.
There will be presentations from
Rhona Matheson of Starcatchers, Scotland
Charlotte Fallon, of Théâtre de la Guimbarde, Belgium
Corina Chiran – Independent Practitioner, Romania
