Young People's Assemblies, National Museum of Ireland.

The National Museum of Ireland held two Young People’s Assemblies on 30 and 31 March 2023, to seek to identify and address the key concerns and issues for young people in Ireland as we approach the end of the Decade of Centenaries. A period of reflection about the multiple identities, traditions and perspectives that are part of the overall Irish historical experience, in thinking about the past it is equally important to consider how Ireland will deal with significant challenges in the future. These Assemblies offered students from across the country the opportunity to create a ‘Manifesto’ for a future Ireland, in the context of the Decade of Centenaries.

The Young People’s Assemblies are part of the Museum’s Artist in Residency with artist Anthony Haughey, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023. With participation by five post-primary schools from across Ireland, through a series of preparatory workshops, students from these schools identified concerns and questions such as a united Ireland, a better health system and access to mental health provision, homelessness and housing and emigration.

Each Assembly started with a keynote address by invited historians and cultural commentators to the participants and reflect on some of the key historical and contemporary issues that will affect the lives of young people living in Ireland in the coming years.

A video artwork documenting the process will be exhibited at the National Museum, and participating students will also be invited to present the outcomes of the ‘Assembly’ at a schools conference at the NMI Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks in May 2023. It is envisaged that the forum methodology, Manifestos and documentation will be made available as a learning resource in tool kit format for schools to facilitate further discussion with students, especially students of CPSE, History, and Politics and Society and the Key Stages 3-4 in the CCEA Environment and Society and Arts curricula.

For information, click on National Museum of Ireland - Youth Assemblies.