Artists-in-Residence The Ark reveal Into the Light installation

Into the Light is a new installation in St Patrick’s campus, created as part of The Ark’s Residency at Dublin City University’s Institute of Education which brought together children, educators, and artists, led by artist Jane Groves and assisted by Olga Vnukova.

The artwork was crafted with reused materials and explores our relationship with the natural world, the interplay of colour and shadow, and the power of collaboration in artistic creation.

The Ark’s residency is funded by a Young People, Children and Education (YPCE) Residencies Award from the The Arts Council.

As part of the YPCE Artist-In-Residence scheme, The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre delivered specific opportunities and bespoke programmes for DCU students studying education throughout the current academic year, including Into The Light. 

Into the Light is made of wire structures and acetate circles, designed to mirror the emergence of spring buds and new growth. Children from two schools, South City CNS & Paradise Place ETNS, and third-year students from the Bachelor of Education Visual Art specialism module ‘Artists in Classrooms' with lecturer Dr Lucy Hill were invited to engage with the work through workshops with artist Jane Groves.

Una McCabe, Head of the School of Arts, Education and Movement, spoke about the impact of The Ark’s residency:

The Ark’s residency was a really valuable experience and a chance for artists, teacher educators, and prospective teachers to collaboratively exchange resources, expertise, and experiences, thereby strengthening our collective commitment to upholding every child's right to access art and culture as an essential component of their education and development.

Aideen Howard, Director of The Ark, spoke about their aims: 

The Ark was delighted to work together with DCU's Institute of Education on this residency, supported by The Arts Council. The Ark's purpose is to realise children’s right to art and culture with ambition and joy. Teachers are key allies in delivering this right. Working alongside Ark artists and the DCU Institute of Education Faculty, the aim of this residency was to share our artistic resources, knowledge and enthusiasm with a new generation of students, enabling them to bring their own expertise to children in the classroom. It built on The Ark’s long practice of teacher education in the arts, supported by the Department of Education.

For more information on the School of Arts Education and Movement in the Institute of Education at Dublin City University, visit their website.