As a member of CREATE – Ireland’s national development agency for collaborative arts in social and community contexts, I’m very excited to contribute to CREATE ‘s upcoming ‘Collaborating on Climate Justice and National Networking Day’ in Dublin Ireland, on Thurs 19 Oct with TASC (Think tank for Action on Social Change) and the wonderful John Gibbons of ThinkorSwim.com & Matt Coopers Radio programme. Booking details here
I’ll be speaking on broader #ecojustice and integrated principles from the peoples’ Earth Charter to guide our collaborative creative activities toward addressing intersecting social and environmental challenges. This is part of a paradigm shift in global education toward an equitable sustainability, and ecoliteracy is no small thing – it means rethinking arts education and creative practice beyond personal and collective wellbeing to also think and act for planetary and intergenerational wellbeing in all we do.
Delighted to be contributing as a CREATE member and I will also share examples of ecoliteracy training I provided over the last year to the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Invitation to Colloborate Scheme Gnáthóga Nadúrtha Natural Habitats project between the Arts Offices of Carlow (Project Lead), Kildare and Meath, 3 creative-led community wetlands restoration projects Drummin Bog Carlow, Ballydermot bog Kildare and Girley Bog Meath and Dr Anita McKeown, FRSA, FIPM and lead artists Jules Michael, Monica de Bath Dr. Kate Flood & creatives working with communities in those three counties.
Acknowledgements
Thank you Damien McGlynn and the CREATE Team.
Deeply grateful to Sinead Dowling & Aileen Nolan Carlow Arts Office, Jules Michael, Dr Kate Flood, Monica de Bath, Carole Nelson, Dr Anita McKeown and other brilliant creatives involved in the 3-county Gnathoga Nadúrtha programme and also to the Drummin Bog Project and all who live in Drummin bog, Carlow.
Hello! Kia Ora! My name
is Cathy Fitzgerald.
I’m a New
Zealander, living in rural
Ireland, the home of my ancestors, these past 25 years. Since 2019, I have offered ecoliteracy training to 250+ creative professionals in Ireland and internationally.
“In these urgent times, I’m passionate
about bringing ecoliteracy including
new ecological thinking, values,
language and head-heart-body
practices in empowering
transformative learning
to the creative and wider cultural
sector. Creative and cultural sector
professionals have a crucial
leadership role if informed and
supported. They can employ their
social inclusivity and creativity skills
to inspire diverse communities to
envision and embrace new
understandings, values and actions
for a more beautiful and just world.
Dr Cathy Fitzgerald
Ecological artist for the ongoing Hollywood Forest Story (begun 2008), Advisor for Creative Drummin Carlow Bog project, Accredited ESD* Earth Charter educator | researcher | advisor & mentor.
In 2022, Cathy was nominated by Earth Charter International, UNESCO Chair for ESD as Earth Charter Focal Point Communicator for Ireland.
*ESD is the UN-mandated shift in global formal and lifelong learning toward Education for Sustainable Development
