Open Road

Open Road was a project that invited children from diverse communities across Cork city to work with Irish artist Fatti Burke and the wider Glucksman team on the design and creation of a public artwork that was installed and unveiled during Cork Midsummer Festival 2021.

The project was designed to amplify the voices of children from communities who have less frequent opportunities to engage in cultural, artistic and creative programmes. It provided young people aged 6-12 years old with the opportunity to work collaboratively with a professional artist and to design an artwork for the public realm. 

Open Road was designed so that the children were co-creators of this public artwork. The sessions led by Fatti Burke, curator Tadhg Crowley and Glucksman facilitators introduced art-making techniques to participants and encouraged them to develop stories and drawings about their dreams. The artist interpreted the material produced by the children to identify common themes, concerns and aspirations.

In June 2021, the artist and participating children painted their design onto Oliver Plunkett Street, a pedestrianised area in Cork city centre. The short film describes the ways in which the artist incorporated the perspectives of the young participants and transformed their personal concerns into an imaginative intervention in urban realm.

Open Road is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland with additional support from Cork City Council.