Institute of Art Design + Technology
Dún Laoghaire
On Show 2020
Alex Connolly

Vibrance is a new kind of festival. A festival which showcases creativity, and celebrates all of the amazingly different people and cultures in Ireland. By foregrounding music, food, fashion and art Vibrance aims to bring people from all walks of life together in a space which facilitates cultural celebration and empowerment. Vibrance Festival is concept event that was created as a stealth campaign to raise awareness around the dysfunctional direct provision system in Ireland. Asylum seekers in Ireland are largely victims of societal apathy — we assume that because they are provided with food, shelter and funds, they are sufficiently catered for. However few of us ever explore the realities of living in direct provision. Loneliness, intimidation, lack of privacy, language barriers, loss of dignity, isolation and an absence of hope are all issues they must deal with.

The festival would act as an outlet for people living in Direct Provision, an opportunity to express themselves creatively, while also creating a space for people all over Ireland to feel empowered by their culture. Vibrance Festival would be the initial big event followed by smaller ‘Vibrance Events’ — continuous events throughout the year run by direct provision centres/advocacy groups. Visit the festival website.

I am interested in Visual Identity and Branding, Motion, Image-Making, Editorial and Web Design. Dissertation title: ‘Mother’s Ruin’ to ‘Signature Serve.’ The resurgence of gin consumption in Ireland.