The thematic for this year’s iteration of the festival will be related to 'Alternative Futures'. AATE will invite audiences to reflect on propositions/ opportunities for change and intervention in a world of uncertainty.
AATE Festival Director, Frank Monahan says of the theme: "The pandemic made us more adaptable, more flexible, and asked us to examine our priorities, how we do things. The new reality we are now moving into presents fresh challenges and a chance to re-evaluate how we live and take more responsibility for our shared future."
With this in mind AATE are planning to host a number of talks, tours, workshops and exhibitions related to the theme. "Like previous AATE themes, we want participants to interpret and respond to it with imagination, flair and enthusiasm" says Monahan.
For the past four years, Architecture at the Edge has celebrated the West of Ireland’s built environment in counties Galway and Mayo. Last year’s offering adapted in response to the pandemic, to deliver an expanded online programme, with events streamed live online over the course of the festival with a chat facility open on Zoom in order to encourage a broad audience participation. Given the broad success of this format in 2020, with discussions still available to view online via the AATE YouTube Channel, it will do so again as part of a series talks relating to this year’s theme.
Orla Murphy, UCD, will moderate a discussion, Wednesday, October 13, that will explore how we might employ more creative and enabling policies in relation to our response to the Climate Environment Crisis in the context of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP26 ). Speakers will include Kevin Loftus, Architect / Urbanist, and Co-founder of Ballina Irelands Greenest Town initiative, Robert Bourke of Act Now Collective and Léan Doody, Associate Director and Cities & Planning Leader for Europe at Arup.
On Thursday, October 14, Andrew Clancy, Clancy Moore Architects and Professor of Architecture at Kingston University will lead a panel including Grainne Hassett, Head of School, SAUL School of Architecture University of Limerick, which will examine architecture in education at 3rd level, ideas of change and how things are evolving in various institutions. Elsewhere, Alison Harvey of the Heritage Council will lead discussion on the social benefits of Placemaking. ‘Women at the Edge’ in partnership women in architetcureNI will also make a welcome return following on from its successful inclusion last year.
For those of you whom might prefer to get out and about to explore Galway city and counties Galway and Mayo, other live events are making a return for AATE this autumn.
Guided tours of the restoration works at Westport House will take place on Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10. A Road Trip with a Difference - 6000 Years of Irish Art and Architecture in the company of artist Joe Boske and archaeologist Michael Gibbons, takes place on Friday, October 15.
At Kylemore Abbey, a guided tour led by Michael Horan, Axo Architects will take place on October 9. Guided tours will take place on Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10 at Blacksod Lighthouse. Prebook for this and other events via Eventbrite.
The Jackie Clarke Collection, Ballina, Co. Mayo will see the installation of the House of Memory designed by architect David Kelly, which invites the public to share their personal experience during the pandemic.
The House of Memory was recently featured as part of the Galway International Arts Festival. The project part-funded by the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF ) in partnership with Creative Ireland aims to inspire and support creative responses to the themes of dying, death and bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
So much to look froward to over the course of what’s sure to be a great week so keep up to date @ArchAtTheEdge on Instagram and other social channels for the latest!
Architecture at the Edge is proud to be supported by the Arts Council, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council & the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.
