The potential for the arts as a way to connect to people has always resonated with me. Growing up in the rural midlands, I was a bit of an outsider and didn’t exactly thrive in the limited and somewhat intimidating social opportunities that were available to me; there’s no place for Whitney Houston chat at a GAA match!
It was art classes and other creative spaces that introduced me to a whole different type of person. From there on, the link between the arts and social connection is something that I have found real value in and I do not take for granted. The artworks created in an art class can often pale in comparison to the relationships built there.