Artist | Arts Facilitator | Arts & Health Practitioner

"In partnership with Avista Ashbrook & Avista Riverview, this community-based art project, 'Croneen Connections,' will celebrate the Croneen trout, a genetically unique migratory brown trout and a vital part of Offaly's heritage, found primarily in the Camcor River. 

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(Avista is a person-centered, rights-based organization supporting people with disabilities in Ireland).  

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I aim to work collaboratively with adult participants at both centres in Birr to create a large-scale mosaic artwork inspired by the Croneen Trout and its river habitat. The project will foster community engagement, promote awareness of this important local species, and provide a meaningful artistic outlet for the Avista community, culminating in a public exhibition of the artwork. The series of workshops will take place at both Avista centres in Ashbrook and Riverview Birr, once a week in each centre for 12 consecutive weeks.  

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The two individual mosaic panels created at Ashbrook and Riverview will be unified into a single, framed artwork to be permanently installed at the Ashbrook centre, symbolizing connection and community through art." 

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The Inspiration: The beautiful Croneen trout is a unique type of brown trout that is found only in the Camcor River in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. It's a migratory trout, meaning it travels from Lough Derg to the Camcor River to spawn every year.

 

Project Aims and Objectives: 

Aim: To connect the community with the natural heritage of the Camcor River and the endangered Croneen trout through creative expression.  

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Objectives: 

To create a high-quality mosaic artwork depicting the Croneen trout and its environment, that would be on permanent display at Avista Ashbrook, Chesterfield Community Centre Birr. 

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To engage the Avista community in both centres in a collaborative and enriching artistic process. 

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To raise awareness amongst the participants about the Croneen trout and its importance to the local ecosystem. 

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To showcase the artwork in a public exhibition, celebrating the participants' creativity and achievements. 

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To foster a sense of community ownership and pride in the Camcor River that runs through Birr and its unique inhabitants.  

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Project Activities: 

Workshops: A series of workshops will be held at Avista Ashbrook and Avista Riverview, facilitated myself, Emma Barone. These workshops will guide participants through the process of designing and creating the mosaic, including: 

Learning about the Croneen trout and its habitat.  

Exploring different artistic techniques and materials. 

Developing design ideas and sketches. 

Creating the mosaic panels 

Assembling and finishing the final artwork. 

Community engagement (when the final artwork is on public display in Birr) ​

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