Arts Week with Judy Murphy

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children will run from October 10-19, with schools, families and young audiences across Galway being invited to dive into a world of imagination, creativity and wonder.

This year, the country’s top children’s festival will feature stunning new work in theatre, circus, puppetry, dance and visual art by leading Irish and international artists.

Highlights include First Impressions by Cork based artist Jane Hayes. This is a landmark exhibition made especially for early-years audiences. Sculpture, textiles, photography and animation will come together to reflect how young children truly experience art: playfully, curiously and with all their senses.

FEN by Orla Clogher is a visually rich and poetic story, told through puppetry, shadow play and music. As machines threaten a precious wilderness, one gentle soul rises to protect the world’s last curlew egg with the help of a playful fox. This is a moving and magical non-verbal experience for schools and families.

Matière(s) première(s) by Compagnie par Terre / Anne Nguyen Dance Company, France, takes a trip into urban African culture. This powerful dance show blends street and African dance, as it explores heritage, resilience and connection.

With a vibrant mix of top-class Irish and international performances, this year’s festival promises ten days of excitement and adventure for younger audiences.

According to Artistic Director of Baboró Festival Director Aislinn Ó hEocha the aim is to spark joy, provoke thought and encourage young minds to express themselves freely.

Baboró’s ethos centres on accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that children from all backgrounds across Galway can experience the transformative power of the arts. The programme has shows made especially for children with additional needs and provides access support for young audiences.

“Baboró is about creating space for children to engage with big ideas, experience joy and explore their own creativity through the arts,” says Aislinn Ó hEocha. “We believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience joyful, powerful, thought-provoking performances that nurture empathy, imagination and confidence, alongside moments of pure joy and belly laughs.

“Bringing international and Irish artists to venues throughout Galway city and county makes that possible, for ten extraordinary days, when children are the most important audience.”

Baboró will launch its full programme on Tuesday  September 2 and the box office will open Wednesday, September 3. School bookings and group rates will be available.

For more information on events, people can sign up to up the Baboró newsletter on www.baboro.ie, or check out its social media pages.

Pictured: Orla Clogher’s FEN  is a visual and poetic work, with music, about a bid to save the world’s last curlew egg.