Writing Home Initiative

WATERFORD Gallery of Art (WGOA) is hosting a screening of a film which is both poignant and relevant to the current homelessness crisis in Ireland.

‘Writing Home’ will be showing at the gallery on Thursday, March 16, at 6.30pm.

The title is named after the initiative shown onscreen that helps give a voice to people who are too often silenced.

The film follows homeless service users engage in creative writing outlets led by poet Colm Keegan.

The Dublin poet worked with numerous organisations to connect with homeless service users in Waterford, Dublin and Kilkenny.

Over the course of six weeks, Colm collaborated with people in vulnerable living situations in putting their experiences into words.

Colm believes that the Writing Home Initiative can spur positive change on a systemic and cultural level.

He said: “I believe that making art is a transformative experience that profoundly impacts the individual, but also that it can and should do more than that.

“With the right support, the processes and results of creative programmes like Writing Home could be used to bring more empathy into a multitude of systems in Ireland, especially those tasked with caring for people in challenging circumstances.”

The Writing Home Initiative is supported by Kilkenny County Council, Creative Ireland and Poetry Ireland.

Tickets are free but booking is strongly advised, and can be made through Eventbrite. To learn more about the Writing Home Initiative, go to colmkeeganpoetry.com