Athy youngsters to create mural with international artist
Street artist RICE is coming to Athy to create a community mural
UK-BASED street artist, RICE (Eduard Sacrest), will be engaging with young people in Athy’s Castle Park to co-create a community mural in the housing estate.
RICE was selected as the recipient of the Castle Park Mural Award delivered through Kildare’s Empowering Communities Programme with Creative Places Athy.
The Barcelona-born, UK-based artist, Eduard Sacrest, aka RICE works primarily in the field of urban art, interacting with public space using the environment and streetscapes to express interests, concerns, and spark reflection on social challenges.
He combines studio and street work with social projects, using mural painting and street art as tools for community engagement and positive social change. His work is seen on walls and in urban street settings around the world, as well as in galleries and museums.
RICE will work closely with Kildare’s Empowering Communities Programme and residents of Castle Park, Athy, through a series of creative workshops taking place over the Halloween period.
The project aims to encourage young people to reflect on the diversity, strengths, and unique experiences that shape their community, leaving a lasting visual legacy that reflects their voices and experiences.
Laura Buckley, Creative Places Athy coordinator, said: “We are thrilled to have internationally renowned street artist RICE to Castle Park, Athy to collaborate with young people in the area on the creation of a new mural, providing a platform to make their voices heard and to directly influence and shape their local environment.”
Joe Boland, director of services with Kildare County Council said: “This is an exciting first project for the next three-year phase of Creative Places Athy, and we are delighted to partner with Kildare's Empowering Communities Programme on this community-focused creative collaboration. Bringing together a renowned international artist and local young people, the project reflects our commitment to participation, creativity, and placemaking.”
