If ever a European Capital of Culture needed to be prepared for all possible weather over the course of the year, it’s Galway.
Hope it Rains | Soineann nó Doineann is a Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture project that aims to change the way we look at and relate to the weather here on the west coast.
To start it off they’re launching the ‘Weatherproof Me! International Design Competition’ asking people for their best wearable designs that take advantage of, and even embrace, Galway’s weather.
“We are looking for designs that transform our behaviour in the wind, the rain and the dark,” said Ríonach Ní Néill, Artistic Director of Hope it Rains | Soineann nó Doineann.
“They can be provocative, innovative, playful – and also challenge our attitudes and actions on climate change and water management.”
Five winners will be selected for commission to produce and deliver their designs, which will be put into use across Galway city and county.
As part of Hope it Rains | Soineann nó Doineann’s programme to transform Galway’s everyday weather into performance, Weatherproof Me! will have us going out in the rain and wind to see what’s coming next.
Artist Jeni Roddy is the Co-Lead of Weatherproof Me! She said that kids in Ireland and beyond are spending less time outdoors, and that this is affecting their health.
“So we welcome unique designs that actively address our decision-making around ‘the weather’s rotten, will I go out or not?’,” she added.
One of the Galway 2020 programme’s stated ambitions is to disrupt the everyday.
Well, here in Galway, where our weather dominates conversation and culture, we’re no strangers to its disruptiveness.
Especially it looks like weather extremes are going to increase, due to climate change.
Hope it Rains | Soineann nó Doineann aims to effect a cultural change in our relationship with weather and make it a source of creativity and communality during Galway’s year as the Capital of Culture.
The plan on making Galway’s people and places more weather and climate resilient, and have fun while doing so.
The closing date for online applications is 12am on August 10, 2019 and all details are available on the Hope it Rains website.
