What’s wrong with Galway? What’s right with it? University of Galway’s UrbanLab invites members of the public to share their thoughts through a series of Speak Outs in Galway City and Gort. These Speak Outs offer an opportunity to explore the question, ‘How can we make better places?’. People who wish to present at the Speak Outs are asked to give a short five minute talk on a local issue of their choice.
The events are being organised by UrbanLab Galway which is a home for collaborative research into placemaking, place development and the future of Galway in particular. Dr Mark Rainey, a member of UrbanLab Galway, states that ‘The Speak Outs allow people to have their voices heard on local development issues. Citizen engagement is crucial when we imagine the future of Galway and the wider region’.
The first round of these speak outs Speak Outs are taking place in Galway City and Gort this month. This work is part of the Horizon Europe funded InSitu Project which explores the role of the Creative and Cultural Industries in rural areas of Europe. As part of this project UrbanLab Galway is working with partners in the Azores, Iceland, Finland, Latvia and Croatia who will also be hosting their own Speak Outs.
Following the Speak Outs, and as part of the InSitu project, UrbanLab Galway will be engaging with local creatives and artists to respond to issues emerging from events. As Dr. Patrick Collins states, ‘We all have a vested interest in the place that we live. Speakouts act as a unique forum for sharing that interest. We want to identify issues that matter to the people of Galway and use creativity as a way to respond it, elevate it, produce more debate and hopefully action on those issues.’
The first Speak Out will take place in Galway City on Wednesday next March 22 at 7.30 pm on the Upper Floor of the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane. People can register to attend the Galway Speak Out via the Eventbrite page.
The second Speak Out will take place in Gort on Thursday March 23 at 7.30 pm in the WB Yeats room of the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort. People can register to attend the Gort Speak Out via the Eventbrite page.
For those wishing to present at one of the Speak Outs please contact [email protected]
