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Process

About

The ROAM initiative was funded through Creative Ireland’s Creative Health and Wellbeing in the Community programme and guided by a collaborative, interagency steering group.

Through music, art, and shared creative experiences ROAM provided opportunities for people to reconnect, explore, and celebrate their communities. Children and older people were at the heart of these activities, rediscovering their neighbourhoods and sparking intergenerational conversations and connections. 

A panel of seven local artists were specially trained in creative approaches to grief and loss, equipping them to lead workshops, performances, and exhibitions in schools and community spaces. Children and older people were at the heart of these activities, rediscovering their neighbourhoods and sparking intergenerational conversations and connections.

 

The project grew in four phases, Discuss, Develop, Deliver, Reflect, running from June 2024 to Autumn 2025. 

Discuss - June to October 2024

The lead groups explored approach and responsibilities.

Develop – October to December 2024

A call out to artists selected 7 from 56 applicants. Irish Hospice Foundation led bespoke training in art and its roles in loss and grief. Through this training artists developed their process for working with groups of young and older people. At the same time Irish Hospice Foundation led training in grief and loss for community groups, Council staff and Cork NGO’s and healthcare workers.

Deliver – January to May 2025

The project kicked off with a rousing night of music featuring many Cork community musicians playing with the Tinderbox Orchestra to a full house in Dance Cork Firkin Crane on Valentine’s weekend.

Artists were paired with schools and older adult groups. They worked through visual arts and music to explore their areas, what stories are in the landscape and in the landscape of the imagination. The programmes were designed to increase confidence and curiosity.

They developed towards  ROAM Cork over May 29th, 30th, 31st with Encounters, Exchanges and Exhibitions.

Reflect – June onwards 2025

This project is a short moment in the life of these communities, the local agencies and the collaborators. At the end of every project, we take some time to listen and learn. What happened here?

Learning

Roam Cork showed that creativity can play a powerful role in strengthening community wellbeing, particularly when projects are built on trust, collaboration, and shared values. The initiative highlighted the importance of embedding creative health work within existing local authority, education, and health structures so that its impact can be sustained. It also demonstrated the value of supporting artists with time, mentoring, and stable frameworks, as their relationships with participants were central to fostering confidence, connection, and meaningful engagement. The project reaffirmed that working with communities, rather than for them, leads to deeper, more resonant outcomes, and that joy, curiosity, and playfulness are essential elements of healing. These insights will guide future creative health initiatives across Cork and beyond.
Cover of the Roam Cork book compiled by Rachel Lartey. Cover image shows Councillor Oliver Moran with three boys examining art work at the Roam exhibition in Knocknaheeny Youth Project.

Compiled by artist Rachel Lartey, the RoamCork artists’ book documents the creative journey of the participating artists, capturing their reflections, processes, and responses to themes of grief and loss. It serves as both a record of the project and a resource for future community-based creative practice.

You can access the full digital version of the book here.

Front cover of Roam Cork project report. Creative Ireland logos are across the top and project partner logos across the bottom. Cover image shows a child's hands holding two painted clay hearts.

The full Roam Cork project report can be accessed here.
 
Three young members of the Kabin Crew perform on stage at Dance Cork Firkin Crane  Artist Amy McNamara with Tinderbox Orchestra and girls from Mayfield performing on stage at Dance Cork Firkin Crane
 Spiral of small painted mosaic tiles, circular and heart shaped, surrounding a central arrangement of more tiles in various shapes and colours

A child's hands holding two painted clay hearts, with several unpainted clay tiles on a table.  

 

Roam Cork