Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Sustainable Event Management Workshop

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Full Event Details

Join us for a ‘Sustainable Event Management’ training workshop and talk to explore eco-friendly practices for organising a community-based arts event or festival. This event takes place on Saturday 18 July 2026, from 3-5pm at the O’Connell Room in The Barracks Heritage Centre, Cahersiveen, County Kerry. Places limited to 20 on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn about practices for running sustainable events along side tips on budgeting and marketing. Enjoy artworks from the curated exhibition Landscapes of the Soul and explore the deep relationship between people, land and sea, linking nature, community and human rights. This event is a unique sustainable event management workshop that celebrates the beauty of the local environment and our connection to nature while opening conversations around sustainability, belonging, heritage and care for our shared world. Facilitated by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality. Presented as part of The Art of Nature – Protecting our Forests and Oceans, a project using creative methodologies and digital technologies in the Cahersiveen area to promote biodiversity and environmental awareness with a focus on oceans and forests, using creativity to celebrate the beauty of trees and oceans, the importance of biodiversity and our deep connections to nature.

The Art of Nature is implemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with Acard and The Barracks Heritage Centre, Cahersiveen, supported by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG, Leader Programme 2023–2027.

The Art of Nature: Protecting Our Forests and Oceans

 Creative Approaches to the Environment, Sustainability, and Social Justice

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality presents The Art of Nature: Protecting Our Forests and Oceans, a unique project using the arts, creative methodologies, and digital technologies in the Cahersiveen and South Kerry area to celebrate the beauty of forests and oceans, the importance of biodiversity, and our deep connections to nature. The project uses the arts and creativity to promote practical awareness-raising and training in relation to environmental justice, with a focus on biodiversity, sustainability, and human rights.

The Art of Nature runs from August 2025 to July 2026 and is implemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with Acard and The Old Barracks Heritage Centre, Cahersiveen, supported by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG, Leader Programme 2023–2027. The focus is on sustainable development for the rural environment. A Project Information and Biodiversity Leaflet will be distributed to share information on biodiversity, connections between the forests and the ocean, and the magic of local biodiverse green spaces and ways to protect those spaces into the future.

This project aims to work with local communities in the Cahersiveen area to raise awareness and identify practical measures to be implemented to build the health and resilience of biodiversity in our areas, contributing to broader environmental efforts, both locally and globally. The aim is to use creative processes and digital technologies alongside skills development to build local capacity to promote biodiversity and sustainability linked to social justice and to identify key steps local communities can take to ensure the long-term sustainability of the country and to protect and nurture the natural environment.

The project beautifully intertwines live performance and creative science-based workshops with environmental themes, to promote biodiversity and sustainability linked to social justice. Artists working on the project include Mary Moynihan, a writer, poet, and creator of art and photography; Ciara Hayes, Arts Facilitator and Producer; and Freda Manweiler, Arts Facilitator and Producer. Activities include 10 environmental performing art roadshows featuring a promenade show called The Art of Trees followed by a town-hall style meet-up or discussion forum and 10 science-based creative art workshops conducted with five schools, five community groups and the general public.

The Earth naturally captures more than half of the CO2 released into the atmosphere, with its forests and oceans playing a critical role as carbon sinks. However, this role is being compromised by deforestation and ocean acidification – two issues that are squarely on the agenda for negotiations in relation to climate justice. Cahersiveen and the surrounding areas of the South Kerry region are rich in natural assets. However, the natural environment including the oceans, forests, trees and plants are experiencing increased pressure in relation to biodiversity.  Join The Art of Nature as we work together to support the environment and protect biodiversity into the future.

PAST EVENTS

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan

Live performance and post-show discussion reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature. Each show is followed by a townhall-style community meet-up (post show discussion) to discuss creative ways to protect the environment and human rights. The guest speaker is Elis Martinelli from Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Centre, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live, immersive, environmental performance blending theatre, poetry, and music to celebrate the beauty of trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity, and our deep connections to nature. Enjoy a magical performance, as we regale you with storytelling, poetry and music reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our deep connections to nature.

The show was presented for ten performances including:

• Tech Amergin Arts and Education Centre, Waterville, County Kerry V23 A243

Friday 17 April 2026, 8pm

• St John the Baptist Church, School Road, Valentia Island, County Kerry V23 TY72

Saturday 18 April 2026, 7pm

To date over twenty Science-based Creative Art Workshops for Sustainability, Biodiversity and Environmental Justice and live performances have taken place with schools, communities, and the general public to promote biodiversity, sustainability, social justice, and green spaces in South Kerry.

Open Call: Schools, youth, community groups and the general public can attend live performances, environmental talks, science-based creative art workshops and a sustainable event management workshop. If you wish to get involved, please get in touch. If you are already involved in an environmental project, feature your activities in our monthly Smashing Times newsletter and on the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show.

Contact Freda on 087 2214245 or email admin@smashingtimes.ie.

Click here to view the project’s web page.

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