Engagement
The project sought to connect with a wide range of people living across County Wicklow. 14 participants were photograhed and interviewed as part of the project and they brought us to 14 unique places across the county. The exhibition and associated guided tour and panel discussion enabled the presentation and discussion of the project with a wider audience.
The exhibition was formally launched in Wicklow Town on Culture Night 2023. It was open to the public from 20th September - 11 October. As part of the launch, a guided tour, led participants and invited guests on a walk through Wicklow town to the sites of the exhibition.
On Culture Night, a panel discussion was held in Wicklow Town Library. Moderated by architect and Wicklow local, Jenny O’Leary, photographer Finn Richards, architects Phoebe Brady and Sarah Doheny from Cineál, and sociologist Dr Nikki Dunne, discussed various aspects of the project, from inception and theme, to production and build.
​​
Demographic and social shifts have resulted in a questioning of rural identity; of how experiences and cultural values are shared, of how attachments between people and place are made. The project sought to uncover the varied interpersonal connections that form the backbone of rural communities. Further, it discovered the relationships to place that are vital to the well-being of those communities.
​​​
The exhibition facilitated dialogue within the locality, presenting a diverse range of individuals who participate in and shape the community. Through the selected sites and interviews, it highlighted shared values and collective experiences. Its outdoor setting enhanced accessibility and created opportunities for new connections between people and place.
​