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ACT 2 Waterford – Creative Climate Action Across Communities

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3 min read

ACT 2 Waterford – Creative Climate Action Across Communities

3 min read

29/09/25

ACT 2 Waterford – Creative Climate Action Across Communities

ACT 2 Waterford (Action on Climate Targets 2 Waterford) brings together art, science, and community engagement to inspire creative approaches to climate action across Waterford and Dungarvan. Managed by South East Technological University’s CALMAST (Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science and Technology) in collaboration with Waterford City and County Council and local communities, the initiative has supported five innovative projects that use creativity to raise awareness, promote sustainable behaviours, and celebrate local heritage.

Crockery Mountain – Sean Corcoran

Crockery Mountain is a project which saw thousands of donated plates, cups, and bowls transformed into a large-scale permanent mosaic in Dungarvan. Over 150 volunteers participated in mosaic masterclasses, delivered by environment artis Sean Corcoran at The Art Hand studio, using art as a medium to promote community engagement and spark conversations around environmental sustainability, and culminating in the installation of this striking eye-catching public artwork.

The project encouraged participants to reflect on consumer habits and household waste, while fostering community pride. Through hands-on participation and shared storytelling, Crockery Mountain has become not only a visual landmark, but a symbol of local pride, collective memory and sustainable practice.

Watch the official Crockery Mountain launch below.

Between Land and Sea – Spraoi

Between Land and Sea explored Waterford’s coastal tidal zones through the character Seaweed Girl, created to engage audiences with the biodiversity of coastal ecosystems.

Debuting at the Waterford Festival of Food in Dungarvan, and later at the Spraoi International Street Arts Festival, Seaweed Girl interacted directly with children and communities, sparking conversations with children around environmental threats and opportunities, resulting in awareness by the children of the dangers faced by the sea, and its plants and creatures.

The project also recorded children’s insights to create immersive soundscapes and radio content for WLR and RTÉ, amplifying young people’s voices as authentic climate messengers. By blending performance, visual spectacle, and science education, the initiative encouraged intergenerational awareness and action.

Climate Action in the Comeraghs – Mollie Anna King

In the Comeragh Mountains, wool from local sheep is often discarded or undervalued. The How to Place-Based Insulate project explored sheep wool as a low-carbon, sustainable, locally sourced insulation material, reducing emissions while revaluing wool as a cultural and economic resource.  Workshops in wool cleaning, natural dyeing, and felting enabled participants to create insulative panels, combining craft with climate action.

By reconnecting with local heritage and sustainable building practices, the project addressed rural climate resilience, offering alternatives to synthetic insulation while fostering collaboration between farmers, craftspeople, and residents. A two-day workshop in Ballymacarbry Community Centre in November 2025 will allow participants to craft and showcase framed insulation panels from raw wool and timer, while discussing the historical and future uses of Comeragh wool.  By combining place-based craft, storytelling and climate action, the project promotes rural climate resilience through local knowledge, collaboration and sustainable innovation.

Take the Bus for a Change – Joanne Donohoe

This project creatively engaged bus users and underrepresented groups, including the Irish Wheelchair Association and Men’s Sheds, in conversations about carbon emissions, climate action, and public transport.

Through collaborative artmaking, storytelling, and conversation art workshops,  participants reflected on daily travel, accessibility, and mindful commuting. The project enhanced confidence and skills among participants, while bringing environmental awareness into public spaces. A final exhibition will unite all contributions, celebrating inclusion, creativity, and everyday climate action, aiming to foster new conversations, build community and celebrate the value of inclusion, creativity and everyday climate action.

Online – Kate Twohig

ACT 2 Waterford’s online strand used Instagram and Facebook to showcase the work of all four creative projects, highlighting how individuals can engage in climate action through art.

Through regular updates, workshop highlights, and community stories, the online presence has nurtured a digital community of climate-conscious creators, supporting broader Public relation efforts, and connecting audiences outside traditional in-person events.

Across the projects, community participation has been at the core. From mosaic-making to street theatre, wool workshops to public transport art, each initiative encouraged hands-on involvement, storytelling, and reflection.

Participants reported enhanced confidence, environmental awareness, and pride in contributing to public artworks, while projects generated regional and national media coverage, amplifying messages about sustainability and climate action.

Creative Ireland’s flexible funding allowed projects to adapt and evolve in response to community needs, ensuring that initiatives remained inclusive, authentic, and impactful.

Nollaig Healy, ACT 2 Waterford Project Manager said;

"The flexibility of the support meant projects could respond to the communities involved, allowing authentic co-creation and ensuring the work remained relevant and engaging."

ACT 2 Waterford demonstrates how creativity, collaboration, and local knowledge can drive climate action, empower communities, and leave lasting artistic and environmental legacies across Waterford.

View ACT2 Waterford’s Instagram page here

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