In total 67 awards totalling almost €875,000 were made by the IRC to Irish Higher Education Institutions under the 2022 round of the funding scheme. Of those 67 awards, 12 projects were based at Trinity College Dublin, with three coming from Trinity’s Arts and Humanities schools.
The three awardees are Dr Catherine Barbour, Assistant Professor in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, Dr Jane Carroll, Associate Professor in the School of English and Dr Steven Hadley, Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow based at the School of Creative Arts.
Dr Barbour and Dr Carroll’s awards are amongst 43 awards which will fund projects under the strand of the scheme which supports collaborations between academia and civic society organisations enabling those organisations to attain new evidence and insights to enhance their services and impact.
Dr Hadley’s project was one of 8 projects funded under the Department of An Taoiseach Shared Island awards. Awards made under that strand are funding research that is focused on the Shared Island priorities set by Government.
Speaking about the announcement Dr Eve Patten, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub commented that the New Foundations scheme is a unique and valuable opportunity for Trinity’s Arts and Humanities researchers to explore new networking and research opportunities while working closely with civic society organisations on issues of mutual interest and benefit. She added that Arts and Humanities research has an important contribution to make to the types of engaged research projects funded under the New Foundations scheme.
Details of the three projects funded are provided allow. In addition to these, nine other awards were made to Trinity College Dublin under the 2022 round of the scheme.
Dr. Catherine Barbour Project Title: Creating Community in Times of Crisis: The Role of Creative Practice in Empowering Donegal Women’
This partnership between Trinity College Dublin and the Women’s Collective Donegal will examine creative practice as a means of empowerment for women in Donegal border communities faced with acute societal 'crises' such as pandemic recovery, the climate emergency and the rising cost-of-living. Art and writing workshops which probe the impact of 'crises' will be followed by focus group discussions to obtain participant reflections. Outputs include a publication showcasing the women’s work, a documentary film and an online symposium. Findings will be published in a report recommending best practice in facilitating creativity for rural women's empowerment.
Dr. Jane Carroll Project Title: The Collecting Childhood Research Network
The Collecting Childhood Research Network project asserts the central value of childhood to Irish heritage and culture. The project involves a partnership with the Museum of Childhood Ireland. This research network brings together academic researchers, museum staff, curators, librarians, creative practitioners and community stakeholders to generate new insights into the collection, display, study, and interpretation of childhood artefacts (such as books, toys, souvenirs and ephemera) in Ireland. The network will forge ties between hitherto distinct parts of the research and heritage communities and generate new understanding of the role of collection in defining, imagining and constructing childhood in Ireland.
Dr. Steven Hadley Project Title: Audience Data for Cultural Policy: A Shared Island Approach to the Creative Industries €20k
Limited statistical data currently exists on audiences for cultural events on the island of Ireland. Survey work shows that people participate in a variety of activities, but this data is not linked to actual attendance (e.g., ticket purchase) or geography and is not suited to the development of policy which promotes cultural connections and understanding on a shared island basis. Our project brings together academics, cultural data specialists and arts sector organisations from England, Ireland and Northern Ireland to develop a data system which will revolutionize our understanding of cultural engagement and impact on policy, tourism and creative industries development. This project will involve collaborations with Ulster University, University of Galway, National Concert Hall Dublin, National Museum of Ireland, Thrive and the Audience Agency.
The IRC announcement of this scheme can be found here: https://research.ie/2023/02/14/11824/