Nov. 09 - Thomas O'Connor

In 2005 the youth-work team at the Stoneybatter Youth Service / MOST Garda Diversion Project invited artist Thomas O'Connor to be their artist-in-residence and to facilitate a programme of artistic interventions that would allow users of a new youth activity centre to take ownership of the space over an extended period of time. Over the next two to three years strong relationships were formed between the artist, young people and youth workers and resulted in an installation in the Youth Activity Center at 149 O'Devaney Gardens, an exhibition at the Bridewell Garda Station on Chancery Street, a series of workshops involving the artist, young people, youth workers and Gardai and a corresponding publication "Transition Space". The project was supported by the City of Dublin Youth Services Board. In this interview Thomas outlines the development of the project, touching on the subjects of aesthetics, interventionist art and social engineering.

Listen to audio of interview with Thomas O'Connor: Social Engineering

Download the MP3: Interview with Thomas O'Connor .MP3 file

View a slideshow of the work created as a result of the collaboration between Thomas O'Connor and the Young People at O'Devany Gardens, its surrounding area and the Stoneybatter Youth Services: