Courses
ATU welcomes Government climate action funding for inclusive community project
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of the €7.5 million Creative Climate Action Fund III, following the successful award of €538,907 to support its innovative project, Inclusive Climate Futures for All: No One Left Behind.
The funding, announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD, and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD, will support large-scale creative projects that help communities engage with climate change and inspire meaningful behavioural change.
ATU’s project was one of a small number selected nationally through the highly competitive programme and will be delivered over three years in partnership with Corlann Roscommon, the Housing Association for Integrated Living (HAIL), community artists, Project WAVE students and people with lived experience of Intellectual Disability.
Through creativity and co-production, the project will explore inclusive approaches to climate action, repositioning people with intellectual disabilities as leaders in climate action and ensuring their voices, knowledge and lived experience help shape more sustainable communities.
Welcoming the announcement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:
“Climate change is a critical, shared challenge and I welcome this opportunity, supported by the Government’s Shared Island Fund, for those in the arts, culture, climate and science, and community engagement sectors across this island to collaborate to increase public awareness of climate challenges and to support the public in taking impactful, sustainable actions.”
Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD said:
“I am proud to see Government supporting this innovative approach to addressing the challenges posed by climate change, and to see Ireland leading in embracing the power of creative practices to capture hearts, stir minds and spark lasting change in communities as we move towards a more sustainable world.”
Minister Darragh O’Brien TD added:
“The climate challenges we face require strong collaboration across Government and society. We welcome the role of the creative and cultural sector in helping to deliver the priorities of the national Climate Action Plan.”
Dr Michele Glacken, ATU Vice President for Students, Teaching and Learning, said the award highlights the importance of ensuring all voices are included in climate action.
We are delighted to receive this significant national funding award. Through this project, people with intellectual disabilities will be empowered to play a leading role in shaping climate action and creating more sustainable communities. We are proud to work with our partners to deliver a project that ensures no one is left behind in Ireland’s climate transition.
A key strength of the project is ATU’s partnership with Corlann, whose expertise in creative, community-based practice is central to the programme. Corlann personnel have been instrumental in developing the project and will play a leading role in facilitating participant engagement through creative, collaborative and participatory approaches, helping to ensure the project is genuinely co-produced and participant-led.
The interdisciplinary project team includes Dr Tamsin Cavaliero (Project Manager), Dr Mark Kelly, Jennifer Gilligan and Alfie Cavaliero from ATU; Niamh O’Connor and Josie Flemming from Corlann; Naoise Cunningham from HAIL; artists Naomi Draper and Andy Parsons; and Eamonn Seydak of S3 Solutions, who will lead the project’s Social Return on Investment evaluation.
Photo Caption: Dr Tamsin Cavaliero – Atlantic Technological University with Kevin McLoughlin ATU Project WAVE former student and Inclusive Climate Futures participant.
For media enquiries, contact:
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Tel: 086 086 6913
E: aidan.haughey@atu.ie
