Photos: Jenny Callanan Photography.
Morena Banozic, Diarmuid Woodcock, Caoimhe Murphy, Eden Munroe, James Moonan, Czacarri Muli, Kat Lalor, Sadbh de Buitlir-Kearney, and Moya Gibney from Highlanes AMPLIFY Young Persons Panel, who are adjudicating the Young Creatives Art Competition pictured here with Director of Highlanes Gallery Aoife Ruane.
Highlanes Gallery has unveiled its first-ever Young Creatives Art Competition and Exhibition, attracting an impressive number of entries from children and young people aged 18 and under. Celebrating imagination, originality, and innovation, the initiative showcases the creative talents of young artists of all abilities, with the winning works set to go on display in an exhibition running from August 8 to October 31.
The gallery’s AMPLIFY Young Creatives (aged 18-30) who were engaged to adjudicate the art competition include many artist creatives originally from Drogheda, or based in Drogheda and Dublin, including printmaker Moya Gibney, video-installation artist Kat Lawlor, artist-illustrator James Moonan, sculpture and installation artist Eden Munroe, painter and curator Caoimhe Murphy, painter Diarmuid Woodcock, illustrator, designer and writer Czacarri Muli, and art and design student Belle Hennessy.
But one of these creatives also designed the hugely popular illustration for the competition embodying the theme so eloquently to inspire a plethora of entries. He is Czacarri Mulia Filipino Irish illustrator, designer & writer who has just graduated from the National College of Art and Design, and was a second-level student at St Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda. He’s a Raising Voices Fellow with Childrens Book Ireland, a Young Writers delegate with the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin. Czacarri’s work humanises big topics through tactile textures and hands-on picture making. When he’s not covered in pastels & paint he can be found smelling the ROSES!
Czacarri and the AMPLIFY judges were on hand this week to spend time looking and discovering the ideas and processes in the myriad of entries, which impressed and intrigued the judges, making the process of selecting prize winners and Exceptional Talent Awards selected in each category nothing short of challenging, all the while wholly inspiring!
The Young Creatives Art Competition focuses on themes of identity and the environment under the title: Me, my place, our world, and the exhibition, which will run from Saturday 8th August to Saturday 31st October 2026.
This new initiative of this highly regarded gallery has garnered important financial and strategic support in sponsorship from dynamic businesses, McKeever Tallan Solicitors, McEvoy Craig Accountants, O’Reilly Thomas Solicitors, and Markey Minogue Coyle Solicitors, who are inspired by pioneering creativity and supporting Highlanes Gallery in this exciting venture.
Highlanes Gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10.30am – 5pm, and admission is free. www.highlanes.ie.
