A Better City (A.B.C), is a spectacular outdoor gallery featuring works by six artists in Dublin 8 as part of St. Patrick’s Festival 2024. This incredible new street art initiative has been created with the Guinness Storehouse in partnership with The Digital Hub and Dublin City Council and is open to all passersby to enjoy from 15th March 2024 for three months.
The outdoor gallery showcases new large-scale murals and printed works across the architectural nooks and crannies and unused sites of Thomas Street, Crane Street and Market Street - celebrating the values of joy and community that runs through the St. Patrick’s Festival programme. Spectators are encouraged to follow the trail and discover new artworks along the way.
To celebrate the launch of A Better City 2024 and tie all of the works together, writer and actor Emmet Kirwan has been commissioned to create a new piece of spoken word poetry, inspired by the festival’s theme of ‘Spréach’.
A Better City 2024 has been curated by Good Shout Studio, a Dublin 8-based creative studio. The featured artists are Claire Prouvost, Sophia Vigne Welsh, Mark Conlan, Ruan van Vliet, Bebhinn Eilish & Gavin Connell. All of the works uniquely interpret ‘Spréach’ (Spark), the theme of St. Patrick’s Festival 2024.
Along Thomas Street, Claire Prouvost’s bold dancing characters celebrate the joy and energy of the community; Sophia Vigne’s abstract work signals the forthcoming spring; and Ruan van Vliet’s playful characters explore the modern day cowboys of Dublin 8.
Around the corner Crane Street, Bebhinn Eilis’s panels honour the ancient goddesses of Ireland and Gavin Connell’s tongue in cheek illustrations poke fun at Irish sayings. Turning onto Market Street, Mark Conlan has taken classical Dublin 8 architectural landmarks and breathed a spark of whimsical nature around them.
A Better City 2024 aims to contribute to the revitalisation of the neighborhood in Dublin 8. It will build on the community’s reputation as a destination for both Irish and international visitors to Dublin by breathing colour and vibrancy to the area surrounding the Guinness Storehouse and The Digital Hub through commissioning established and emerging artists from Ireland and further afield.
Written by Emmet Kirwan
Directed, shot & edited by Al Hooi
Produced by Good Shout Studio & Archetype
Music Agency: Studio M+U
Music: Freecell
Learn more about A Better City 2024 at stpatricksfest...