Minister launches 1916 exhibition in Hill Street

Dublin People 09 Jul 2016

Minister Zappone pictured with local children at the launch of the 1916 photographic exhibition celebrating diversity. PHOTO: JEANETTE LOWE

MINISTER for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, said there’s no place for racism in Dublin’s North Inner City during the recent launch of a major photographic exhibition celebrating diversity.

‘Cherishing all of the children of the Nation equally 1916-2016’ features photographs of local families living around Hill Street and the highlights changes that have occurred in the local community over the past 100 years.

The exhibition is a cross generational, multi-cultural photography exhibition, funded by Dublin City Council, commemorating 1916 through the production of a visual record of the changing face of families living in the local community.

Over the course of three days, Jeanette Lowe, a photographic artist, took 48 family portraits from 18 different nationalities for the exhibition.

Launching the exhibition at the Hill Street Family Resource Centre Minister Zappone said: “This hugely positive event in a community which is the true home of the rising sends out the message that we believe in inclusion and diversity, not division, racism and hatred.”

“Family life in Ireland is becoming more diversified. Some 27 different nationalities avail of the services of Hill Street, and it is right that it should be the host of the exhibition by photographer Jeanette Lowe.”

The minister praised the work of Hill Street Family Resource Centre, which she said supported families with childcare as well as providing training opportunities and counselling to get people through difficult times.

She also encouraged Northsiders to visit the exhibition so they could be inspired “not just about the future of this community but the future of our country”.

“The heroes of 1916 had a vision of a country with equality, fairness and justice – here just a short distance from the GPO we are recapturing that vision,” she added.

“All of our families and children should be cherished equally – no matter what their background.

“It is what our forefathers in 1916 would have wanted.”

The launch was followed by a multicultural family fun day with entertainment, arts and crafts and outdoor sport activities for both children and parents.

The exhibition at the centre is open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am-12pm and 2-4pm until August 12.