States of Independence
A celebration of Change-Makers
Celebrating the stories of ten change-makers from the Decade of Centenaries and the stories of ten changemakers today working to make society a better place for all
Supported by The Arts Council Open Call, as part of ART: 2023 a Decade of Centenaries Collaboration between The Arts Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Inspired by the stories of ten changemakers, visionaries and leaders from the Decade of Centenaries 1912-1922 and the stories of ten change-makers from today working to make society a better place for all, ten professional artists come together to collaborate on the development of a series of artworks for public display in eight sites – both ancient and modern – across Ireland and for display via creative billboards and online.
States of Independence celebrates the stories of ten change-makers from the Decade of Centenaries 1912-1922 linked to the stories of ten change-makers today working to make society a better place. The twenty stories gathered act as inspiration for the creation of new artworks by ten artists, working in visual art, film, dance, theatre, creative writing and digital arts. The artists come together to create a range of artworks and performances for public display in eight sites – both ancient and modern – across Ireland and for display via a creative billboards campaign and online on the Smashing Times Virtual Art Gallery. The stories, artworks and performances are shared with public audiences to reflect on modern day revolutionary visions for the future inspired by the past, launched for the annual Dublin International Arts and Human Rights festival 13 to 22 October 2022.
The internationally acclaimed team of ten artists is led by Mary Moynihan, an award-winning writer, poet, director, theatre and film-maker and Artistic Director, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, working with John Scott, Artistic Director and Choreographer, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, and a range of artists working in literature, visual arts, theatre, film and new digital technologies.
The team collaboratively create a series of interconnected artworks including a live multi-disciplinary performance, visual art projections and a creative billboards campaign to be launched for the 2023 annual International Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival taking place from the 13 to 22 October 2023. Events are accompanied by panel discussions and public talks on new visions for a peaceful and equal society for all.
Events take place in Dublin, Kerry, Clare and Donegal with online work accessible across Ireland and internationally celebrating changemakers and heroes from the past and today, bringing people together to promote active citizenship, equality, human rights and diversity and celebrating new visions for a peaceful and equal future for all. Events take place in a range of venues both ancient and modern including Office of Public Work spaces throughout Ireland.
For further information please contact Freda Manweiler, producer, telephone 087 2214245 or email freda@smashingtimes.ie
Stories of Change
When it comes to who our change-makers are, we need to move beyond the traditional narratives to learn about new heroes for new states of independence on the island of Ireland. If we remove the cloak of invisibility, what stories exist in the liminal space from diverse sources. A key theme is to explore why do we need change-makers and what are our revolutionary visions for the future?
Why do we need change-makers? For young people they can inspire and motivate them to be heroic themselves. Change-maker stories can amplify values of equality and rights, they can show us how to overcome challenges, how to stand up for others, and can inspire us to work together to build a better world for all. Change-makers highlight qualities we already have but may not be aware of. Stories of change can pick us up when we are down and give us hope. They bring light into darkness and validate cultural values of dignity and respect for others. Finally, stories of heroes and heroic myth have been around for centuries alongside our desire for equality and justice. Heroes can fuel a community desire to stand up for justice and the rights of others.
The work generates discussion and reflection on how the past impacts on our lives today in positive, inspiring ways and highlights the future as a place where anything can happen, and you can be anything you want to be. Change-maker stories are drawn from women, working classes, union members and diverse communities active in Ireland from 1912-1922 and active in Ireland today highlighting the role ordinary citizens played in the fight for freedom as well as in the struggle to create a better society for all.
Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality – Who We Are
Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality is an award-winning creative arts organisation, leading the developing of the arts to promote and advance equality, human rights and diversity. Founded in 1991, Smashing Times operates as a world class arts space and digital hub for artists, activists, citizens, communities and the general public presenting work on the national and international arena and working with over 50 organisations across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Europe and internationally. The vision is to connect citizens to the arts, human rights, climate justice, gender equality, diversity, health, well-being and peace, working with artists and local communities and communities of interest to create collaborative art practice in local, national, European, and international settings. The company provides a Resource and Advice service; an Arts and Human Rights network; an annual and multi-annual interdisciplinary arts programme; training and an annual international Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival. All artistic mediums are supported with a focus on the performing and collaborative arts including theatre, film, visual arts, dance, music and digital arts. The company is led by award-winning writer, theatre, film-maker and Artistic Director Mary Moynihan and Producer Freda Manweiler. Company patrons are Sabina Coyne Higgins, Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House, Ger Ryan, actor and Tim Pat Coogan, writer and historian. Founding patrons were writers Maeve Binchy and Brian Friel.
Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival
Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, and a range of partners, present the fifth annual, international Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival taking place from the 13 to 22 October 2023 and featuring a range of exciting and innovative events which promote equality, human rights and diversity through the arts.
The aim of the festival is to use high quality creative processes and collaborative arts practice to showcase and highlight the extraordinary work of human rights defenders in Ireland and around the world, past and present, and to celebrate the role of the arts and artists in promoting human rights today. The artistic curator for the festival is Mary Moynihan, Artistic Director, Smashing Times and the human rights curator is Laura O’Leary, International Events and Promotions Coordinator, Front Line Defenders. The festival is a hybrid programme delivered over 10 days and hosts an exciting blend of events happening in-person and online, featuring Irish and and international artists and guest speakers, reaching audiences locally, nationally, and internationally. There is something for everyone interested in the arts for equality, human rights and diversity. The Dublin International Arts and Human Rights festival is supported by The Arts Council.
Partners: Supported by the Arts Council, the Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival is an annual, international festival organised by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, a Dublin based international organisation working to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders at risk, in partnership with Amnesty International, Fighting Words, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, National Women’s Council of Ireland, Trócaire, Poetry Ireland, and Irish PEN. Creative partners include Irish Modern Dance Theatre, dlr Mill Theatre Dundrum, EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, Unapologetic Magazine, and UNESCO Dublin City of Literature.