Youthreach Tuam was buzzing with creativity and energy this October as it hosted YouR Arts Fest, a two-day celebration of art, collaboration and community that brought young people from across Galway together.
Funded by Creative Places Tuam through the Cultural Growth Fund, the festival offered young people an opportunity to explore their creativity alongside professional artists. Students from Galway Youthreach, Portumna Youthreach and local participants came together for the event, each workshop opening new doors to imagination, self-expression and connection.
A Festival of Making and Expression
Across two energetic days, the Youthreach Tuam building transformed into a hive of artistic activity. Ten workshops ran throughout the festival, each led by talented artists and facilitators who shared their craft with enthusiasm and care.
Ceramic artist Maeve Gallagher introduced students to the tactile world of clay, guiding them as they shaped their own sculptural creations. Mike Fahy’s woodwork workshop encouraged craftsmanship and creativity as participants built ornamental horse-and-wagon models inspired by Traveller traditions.
In Alec Silke’s flower arranging sessions, colour and scent combined to create calm and focus, showing how creativity and mindfulness intertwine. Magdalena Hylak’s dance workshops got students moving, building confidence through rhythm and shared energy.
Traveller artist Bridget Ward shared the art of Beady Pockets, connecting students to cultural heritage through storytelling and textiles. Author Katherine Scanlon guided students in creative writing, while John Cloonan from Wire Trees and More showed how something as simple as wire could be transformed into intricate sculpture.
Music filled the halls too, with The Whileaways leading a songwriting workshop that inspired teamwork and self-belief, and Eamonn Murphy from Beoga bringing infectious rhythm and energy through drumming. Meanwhile, artist Martina Passman led a screen-printing workshop where students designed and printed the official YouR Arts Fest logo on T-shirts, proudly wearing their creativity by the festival’s end.
Empowerment Through the Arts
For many students, including those from the Traveller community, this was their first experience of making art in such an immersive, supportive environment. Over two days, they wrote songs, told stories, worked with clay, danced, crafted and created.
The impact was clear. One participant asked “can we do this again next month?” Another participant thoroughly enjoyed the ceramics workshop as she had never worked with clay before. Another said, “I am going to try and write my own song now that I know how.”
A Celebration of Community
The festival culminated in a vibrant public event showcasing the students’ artwork and performances. Guests included Gerard Griffin, National Director of Youthreach, County Mayor David Collins, The Saw Doctors and Joanna McGlynn from Creative Places Tuam, who all gathered to celebrate the creativity and collaboration that had taken root over the two days.
The success of YouR Arts Fest extended far beyond the workshops themselves. It built bridges between students, staff, artists and communities, strengthening bonds, nurturing confidence and planting the seeds of lifelong creative curiosity.
The ripple effect touched the wider community too, by raising awareness of young people’s talent, fostering inclusion and building a culture of creativity that enhances wellbeing, expression and civic engagement.
