Art installation for Howth Junction and Donaghmede DART Station wins Business to Arts Award

An art project created by local young people at a Northside DART station has picked up a prestigious award. 

The transformation of Howth Junction and Donaghmede DART Station through a major community-developed art installation at the north Dublin transport hub has been recognised with the Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice category at this year’s Business to Arts awards which took place on 13th September in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

The ‘Actually I Can’ project, a creative and educational collaboration between Donaghmede’s Trinity Youth Services, Iarnród Éireann, public art consultancy Fresco and their network of artists promotes themes identified by the youths participating, including:

• the local community, past and present
• Love of family
• Local biodiversity and activities
• The importance of positivity and belief in what you can achieve.

Phyllis Mc Guinness and Liz Burkey, Trinity Youth Services; Joanne Bissett Iarnród Éireann; Artur ‘Oner’ Labuz Artist representing Fresco Consulting; Therese Kellett Trinity Youth services and Aru Sameli Artist representing Fresco Consulting at the Business to Arts Awards

Iarnród Eireann and Fresco Consulting held art and educational workshops with 15 young people from the local area.

Ranging in age from 10 to 16 years these young people worked on the project from first discussions, on concept ideas and planning, design creation.

The project also gave opportunity for established artists such as KinMx, KloWi, Artur ‘Oner’ and Aru Sameli to share their knowledge and techniques to the young people during the on site works.

Iarnród Éireann Buildings and Facilities Manager Joy Murray said: “we have loved working with our local community in the area of Howth Junction and Donaghmede area to complete this transformation of the station.  Rather than a standard re-paint of the station, we saw the potential to use it as a canvas and to build a bond to create a sense of ownership in the community for the station – particularly the young people.

“We are grateful to the fifteen talented and creative young people, Fresco, our guiding artists, and the wider community for their support and contribution.

“The station now projects the strength of this fantastic area to all who live here, pass through or pass by, and we are proud of the community and colleagues involved for winning the Business to Arts Award.”

Liz Burkey, Trinity Youth Services, Aru Sameli and Artur ‘Oner’ Labuz, Fresco Consulting, and Joanne Bissett, Iarnród Éireann celebrate the award for Best Commissioning Practice at the Business to Arts Awards for the “Actually I Can” art installation at Howth Junction and Donaghmede DART Station.
Business to Arts Awards 2023 Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Hannah Creevy from Fresco Consulting said: “Myself and the team were very proud to be part of this regeneration alongside Íarnród Éireann & Trinity Youth Service.

“This project was all about fostering that creative spark within the youth group and encouraging them to visualise a wonderful new space for their community, their friends & their families.

2So we would like to congratulate them for really putting in the work with the artists and helping to create these artworks! We hope that all those who use the station or simply pass through it will enjoy these vivid representations of the history and social fabric of Donaghmede.”

Liz McGuinness from Trinity Youth said: “This has been an amazing project to be part of and the young people have really got stuck in and enjoyed it.

“We are very thankful to Joanne Bissett from Iarnród Éireann for asking us to take part and to the Artists that worked with the young people.

“The group were looked after so well and treated with great kindness and respect from both Artists and Joanne.

“It’s been such a pleasure meeting you all and watching you work side by side with our young people from Trinity Youth Service.

“As a youth worker I have seen such a difference in the young people from the beginning to the end of the project from the nerves at the initial workshops to them arriving onsite and feeling confident to pick up the spray can and work away with the support of the Artists.

“The young people will carry the memories and admire their work for many years to come.

“Big thanks again to all that have looked after us and allowed us to be part of such an amazing project that has given our Community such a lift and the people within it a great sense of pride.”