Project Arts Centre’s Open Day is back on Sat 30th Aug with an electric programme of FREE workshops, performances, screenings, dj sets, gallery tours, food and more! From 11am – 5pm, pop in for a nose and explore the diverse programme…with a fully accessible space and programme with ISL interpreted events and networking, relaxed spaces, sensory adapted environments, audio described film and more, there is truly something for everyone to discover at this years Open Day. And even better, there is no booking required for any of the Open Day events! Just show up, and see where the day might take you.
Speaking on this year’s Open Day, Artistic Director Sophie Motley says:
“I am thrilled to be presenting the fourth iteration of Project Arts Centre’s Open Day on Sat 30th Aug. Working with our brilliant producer of this years programme Karen Aguiar, we will be presenting work from some of Ireland’s most exciting creatives.
Project’s Open Day is a real chance for those who haven’t explored what’s behind our doors to come in and see what we’re about, and for those who do know us, we hope you’ll discover something new that you haven’t experienced before. Come along, throw yourself in, or find a cosy space to chill out in one of our quiet spaces if that’s more your vibe. We can’t wait to welcome you!”
Project Arts Centre’s 2025 Open Day programme includes:
10:45am – Join us for a welcome drink from middle-eastern hospitality curators TAWLA Collective to kick off the day!
Jessie Thompson | Movement and Performance Workshop | 11am – 12pm | Space Upstairs
Hip-hop and contemporary artist Jessie Thompson is welcoming people from all disciplines and backgrounds who have an interest in movement or/and performance. Through using elements of her work Live Dance work to date such as CRAWLER, the workshop will look at presence in the body as performance, collaboration within an environment and sustaining endurance. This workshop encourages beginners as-well as professional practitioners to engage with their physicality, breath and pleasure in a theatrical setting.
Tour with Artistic Director Sophie Motley | 11 – 11:30am | Meet in foyer
Join our Artistic Director Sophie Motley on a behind the scenes tour of Project Arts Centre. This is for anyone who wants to get to know Project, ask a few questions, have a good nose, or hear what our Artistic Director is loving at the moment. Sign yourself up (or not, you can just pop along on the day if you fancy it).
Neurogamers Ireland | 11:00 – 5:00 | Downstairs
NeuroGamers Ireland, formed in 2023, is an unincorporated association that provides a safe, inclusive space for people with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia etc to play board games and meet people.
Film Screenings | 12:00 – 13:10 | The Cube
Immerse yourself in a collection of films from Irish artist Phillip Connaughton and a selection of Brazilian filmmakers. We will be screening Phillip’s most recent award winning dance film Rebellious Hope and three films from a Brazilian collection titled The City Gents, Sunflower and Roll 1: What Am I Looking At?. More information on each film can be found at projectartscentre.ie.
Breadline | Theatre Reading | 12:15 – 12:25 | Downstairs
THE LOST PROLOGUE. An ode to the lost words of Irish Theatre. The missing monologues, the slashed soliloquys and the dumped dialogue that never had their hour in the sun. Breadline explore and expand on a prologue that never made it into their St. Mary’s Mansions Trilogy.
History of Project + Queer Theatre | Talk w/Q&A | 12:30 – 1:00 | Space Upstairs
Han Tiernan will present ‘Foul, Filthy, Stinkin‘, Muck’, a short presentation exploring the origins of the Project Arts Centre and its early days of LGBTQ+ theatre.
Tawla Collective | Food with Hospitality Art | 12:30 – 1:30 | Upstairs
Co-curating thoughtful, concept-led gatherings, Tawla is more than just food. Founded by Sula, she transforms the space into a cosy, conversation-filled dining experience, where origin stories are shared, and Middle Eastern dishes bring everyone together. It’s not just about the food — it’s about connection, care, and community.
Maryam Madani | Dance Performance w/Q&A | 1:15 – 1:55 | Space Upstairs
Maryam Madani combines wheelchair dancing with spoken word and song to tell a personal and universal story of the struggle of the spirit to survive and soar in a world full of oppressive forces, a world not designed for disabled people; the power of familial support and sisterhood; and the journey towards healing, disability pride and liberation.
Gráinnemir Abualrob | Theatre Workshop | 1:25 – 2:05 | The Cube
Gráinnemir Abualrob is a Palestinian Queer Actor, educator based in Dublin. They are graduates of The Freedom Theatre (TFT) in Jenin Refugee Camp, Palestine, where they studied Theatre and Cultural Resistance for four years. They are bringing their 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 to the Open Day which explores the importance of using cultural resistance in arts in Palestine and how it can be used here in Ireland.
Who Are We Now, Together? Fatima Groups United | Film Screening | 2:20 – 2:40 | The Cube
Who Are We Now, Together? is a short film depicting the work of LGBTQ+ community group Out South-Central and arts worker Hannah Scrine. The film reflects on how LGBTQ+ communities are mis/represented in arts projects and how to avoid using queers as decoration.
Arínola Theatre | Presentation / Zine Reading | 2:40 – 3:00 | Space Upstairs
MY CITY TOO is a zine dedicated to the artistic responses of immigrant artists to far-right violence created by Arínola Theatre. The zine is packed with poems, artwork, short stories, prose and music by people from immigrant communities, a lot of the work inspired by the rise in recent far-right violence and anti-immigrant sentiment in Ireland. The zine will be available for purchase, and there will be a brief talk on why it exists and how you can support artists of colour in Dublin, as well as a few readings from the zine.
WeAreGriot | Spoken Word Performance | 14:40 – 15:00 | Space Upstairs
WeAreGriot is a collective of Irish poets, storytellers, performers and playwrights dedicated to celebrating the power of creative expression. Drawing inspiration from the West African griot tradition, WeAreGriot amplifies voices from diverse backgrounds, using poetry and performance to explore contemporary issues, foster community, and push the boundaries of artistic expression. They will present performances from Dagogo Hart and Samuel Yakora.
IBILE | Food Catering | 3:00 – 5:00pm
IBILE is a modern West African dining experience that honours tradition while embracing innovation. Rooted in cultural integrity, community, and craftsmanship, we celebrate the region’s rich flavours and stories through bold food, art, and hospitality inviting guests to connect with the vibrancy of Africa in every bite. This is your chance to taste the flavours of one of Ireland’s most exciting food and hospitality experiences of the moment, for free!
DJ Sets from DJ BLCKCNS & Crystal Queer Club | 3 – 5pm
Come shake loose with DJ BLCKCNS, founder of The Sweet Spot Social who’s encouraging you to come through and unwind after the grind and Dublin-based collective Crystal Queer Club who celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the power of electronic dance music.
Jenny Brady | The Glass Booth | 11am – 5pm | The Gallery
In her new experimental moving image work The Glass Booth / An Both Gloine, artist Jenny Brady casts a cinematic gaze on the figure of the interpreter, exploring the interpreting profession and the contemporary landscape of interpretation. Through vignettes set in both extreme and familiar environments, the film portrays the processes of listening, speaking, and forgetting within acts of formal and informal interpretation.
Project Arts Centre’s Open Day takes place from 11am to 5pm on Sat 30th Aug 2025. Admission is free and all are welcome.
