Creative-Climate-Dingle-creative-ireland-Lisa Fingleton

In 2022, the Dingle Peninsula is hosting an embedded artist working with the local farming community as a part of Corca Dhuibhne Inbhuanaithe – A Creative Imagining, one of 15 new projects being funded by Creative Ireland’s Creative Climate Action fund.

The Corca Dhuibhne Creativity and Innovation Hub has appointed artist Lisa Fingleton as the Embedded Artist for the Creative Climate Action project being run on Dingle Peninsula.

‘Corca Dhuibhne Inbhuanaithe – A Creative Imagining’ was awarded funding under the inaugural Creative Climate Action fund, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Programme in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications that supports creative, cultural, and artistic projects that build awareness around climate change and empower citizens to make meaningful behavioural transformations. 

‘Corca Dhuibhne Inbhuanaithe – A Creative Imagining’ aims to work with local farmers, including the West Kerry Dairy Farmers’ Sustainable Energy Community, to creatively look at ways in which farmers on the peninsula can diversify to address climate change.

Lisa, in her role as Embedded Artist, is very much looking forward to engaging with the local farming community over the next year, creatively exploring how farming can play an important role in acting on the climate emergency:

“I am delighted to have this opportunity to work with farmers on the Dingle Peninsula to explore the issues that are going to affect us so much, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. As we transition into the future it is essential that we listen to farmers and work together to find sustainable solutions. This is a partnership project bringing together new, fresh and creative perspectives and I am very grateful to be part of the team.”

Lisa will be working alongside Corca Dhuibhne Creativity and Innovation Hub, Catríona Fallon of the Green Arts Initiative in Ireland and Clare Watson of MaREI.

Catríona Fallon of the Green Arts Initiative in Ireland commented:

“Lisa has addressed environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security as part of her creative practice over many years. She is an ideal candidate for this role, and we are delighted to be working with her on this innovative project.”

Deirdre de Bhailis, Manager of the Corca Dhuibhne Creativity and Innovation Hub, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Lisa on this project. Her talent as an artist, commitment to sustainability and natural rapport with the farming community make her the ideal candidate for this journey. We are really looking forward to all that can be learned from exploring climate change solutions through a creative lens.”

“Domsa, tá an talamh, an teanga agus an t-athrú aeráide ar fad ceangailte lena chéile. Eachtraíonn ainmneacha Gaeilge na bpáirceanna scéalta faoin aimsir chaite a d’fhéadfadh sinn a threoiriú i dtreo na todhchaí. Sa chomhrá domhanda faoin athrú aeráide táthar ag leagan an-bhéim ar an méid gurbh fhéidir linn a fhoghlaim ó dhaoine bundúchasacha. Tá Séamus ag feirmeoireacht anseo ó bhí sé ina gharsún, agus is mór an phribhléid an talamh a shiúil ina theannta”.

“For me the land, language and climate change are intrinsically related. The farmers here all know the Irish names of their fields. The names tell stories of the past which can help inform the future. In the climate conversation globally there has been much emphasis on drawing from the knowledge of indigenous people. Seamus has been farming here since he was a child and it is such a genuine privilege to walk the land with him”.