CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at NUI Galway, was awarded the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) Youth Arts Explorer Grant to develop and deliver a STEAM Fashion project aimed at young people aged 10-12 in Galway City. For 8 weeks, artist Andrea Fitzpatrick, who runs CÚRAM’s Artist in Residence programme, worked with a group of young people at Foróige, Ballybane to introduce them to medical devices as a point of inspiration to create fashion works influenced by research being carried out the CÚRAM.
CÚRAM researchers, Jack Schofield, Chris Lally, Maura Tilbury, and Delphine Antoine, created videos talking about their research which were then played during workshops. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a blended in-person and online method was used for the workshops. A video containing footage and photographs taken by the young people was created and was launched as part of this year’s Galway Science and Technology Festival programme. You can see the video here.
STEAM Fashion was one of 16 successfully funded Youth Arts projects from 11 counties across Ireland and began in September. The project was carried out alongside Foróig youth worker John Rooney, and Colette Green, a youth worker in training.