Creating Connections Participatory Arts Initiative The Creating Connections project is a participatory arts initiative led by the TLO, artists & producers from Immersive Ireland, a heritage consultant/folklorist and Cork Traveller Women’s Network. It aims to explore the relationship between cultural identi ty and engagement within the Traveller community. Using a rights-based, user-led approach, the project seeks to empower Travellers by involving them directly in shaping how Cork City Council's Traveller Accommodation Unit delivers its services. Through a series of creative collaborations, participants co-created a virtual reality (VR) film, currently in post-production, aimed at raising awareness and promoting a deeper understanding of Traveller culture. The project focuses on providing an immersive experience for policymakers, planners, and the general public, highlighting key aspects of Traveller traditions such as communal living, intergenerational knowledge transmission (horse care), the cultural importance of singing tradition within the community and the central role of family networks.
The VR film is designed to challenge misconceptions about the Traveller community and encourage a more informed and empathetic approach to accommodation development. By offering a closer look at the cultural practices that shape Traveller life, the film will help stakeholders better understand the community’s specific needs when it comes to housing, particularly the importance of culturally sensitive features like communal spaces and flexible living arrangements. Once completed, the VR film will serve as a valuable resource in fostering dialogue between the Traveller community and those involved in planning and development, helping to ensure that future accommodation is more inclusive and aligned with Traveller values and ways of life.
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