Purpose

Creativity at the heart of every childhood

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Baboró’s purpose is to nurture children’s innate creativity and curiosity for the world around them through their experience of the creative arts.

We do this by:

  • Curating an exciting international arts festival and innovative arts in education programmes in Galway.
  • Encouraging and enabling families, teachers and communities to facilitate children’s participation.
  • Supporting artists across Ireland to make innovative work for children which has the potential to tour nationally and internationally.
  • Advocating for children’s right to participate fully in the cultural life of their community.

We value play, curiosity, boldness, collaboration and belonging.

Play

Play is at the very heart of what we do.

We encourage children to play freely and express themselves. We invite artists to tell new stories and find innovative ways to connect with young audiences.

Curiosity & Boldness

We are inspired by children’s natural curiosity.

We take an active role in learning and growing, and encourage others to do so too. We are bold in our advocacy of every child’s right to participate in culture.

Collaboration

We believe in the importance of respectful collaboration and meaningful partnerships.

We strive to continually expand the community of collaborators who share our values and challenge our assumptions.

Belonging

Baboró is for everyone; the arts is for all of us.

We welcome differences; they are integral to our world. Our intention is that all audiences, artists and partners feel welcome at the festival and a part of our community.

Rights of the Child

Every child’s right to a rich cultural life guides how we approach all of our work.

Every child has the right to express themselves artistically and to have their voice listened to on matters that impact their lives. These rights are established in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the Irish state is a party.

1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.

1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.

2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:

(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or

(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (order public), or of public health or morals.

1. Recognise the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

2. Shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity. [i]

([i] See also Article 27 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948) which states inter alia that Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, [and] to enjoy the arts...)