We are absolutely delighted to announce that Baboró and ‘The Wonder Project’ by Phillida Eves have been awarded a grant from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal for 2022 by the Community Foundation of Ireland. The award will enable Baboró to expand its mission of access to the arts for all children by funding the development of artistic work for children with additional needs.
‘The Wonder Project’ by Phillida Eves, is an interactive, sensory experience for children with additional needs, originally commissioned by Baboró in 2021 as a week-long residency in Ábalta Special School. Live music, movement and a feast of sensory engagement lead the children to discover and explore their own stories, dance, and creativity. The award will expand the project by touring to more schools across Ireland and training artists to work in this specialised area.
‘This is a truly transformative fund that addresses the overwhelming demand for arts experiences created with, and for, children and young people with additional needs,’ said Phillida Eves, creator of The Wonder Project. ‘It will enable meaningful and tailored participation giving everyone a voice, verbal and non-verbal, in the creative process.’
Children and young people with physical and intellectual disabilities are often overlooked when it comes to the design of creative programmes and projects due to the expense of training, delivery, care and medical interventions.
In addition to expanding ‘The Wonder Project’, the grant will be used to provide bursaries for artists developing work in this area and allow the festival to commission specialised performances for this audience.
‘We want to enhance the lives of children with additional needs by giving them opportunities to explore their world via meaningful creative engagement in their school settings,’ said Aislinn Ó hEocha, Executive Artistic Director of Baboró. “Creativity and play are an essential human right for all children. This fund will enable Baboró to extend our reach into special schools across Galway and Ireland.”
Learn more about ‘The Wonder Project' here.
‘The Wonder Project’ is an interactive, sensory experience for children with additional needs. Live music, movement and a feast of sensory engagement lead the children to discover and explore their own stories, dance, and creativity.
Created by artist Phillida Eves in collaboration with composer/musician Michael Chang and choreographer/dancer Monica Muñoz, the Wonder Project is a week-long residency in a special school where the children are co-creators of the experience.
‘The Wonder Project’ is produced by Elaine Donovan and stage managed by Karina Nachbar.
‘The Wonder Project’ is funded by the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, The Arts Council of Ireland and Baboró International Arts Festival for Children.
Inspired by children, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal works to bring the magic of the Late Late Toy Show to every child in Ireland. By funding essential support, health, well-being, play and creativity we aim to change children’s lives for good.
The donations to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, are received and managed by registered charity, The Community Foundation for Ireland with whom we work in partnership. For more information about The Community Foundation for Ireland, please see here: www.communityfoundation.ie.
Given the level of public support for the Appeal, and with the ambition to help even more children, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal will return for a third year and will be a part of the Late Late Toy Show on Friday 25th November 2022.
