On 14 October 2025, the historic Rathfarnham Castle in Dublin hosted the Creative Arts Eco-Conference, an international event organised by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality within the framework of the Creative Europe–funded TREES project. Held during the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival, the conference brought together artists, environmental experts and citizens to explore how the performing, visual and digital arts can advance climate action, biodiversity protection and ocean literacy.
The event formed part of the wider TREES initiative, led by Dah Theatre (Serbia), which uses performing arts to raise environmental awareness across Europe. Representatives from partner organisations in Greece, Germany and Spain joined the Dublin event, reinforcing cross-border cooperation and exchange.
The programme opened with an address by Mary Moynihan, Artistic Director of Smashing Times, who reflected on the role of creativity in shifting attitudes towards nature and sustainability. Dijana Milošević, Artistic Director of Dah Theatre, presented the TREES project and invited partner representatives to share experiences from their local eco-arts festivals. Their contributions showcased how theatre can mobilise communities to reflect on environmental loss and collective responsibility.
Two Irish experts expanded the discussion beyond the arts. Cushla Dromgool-Regan, Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme, highlighted the need for stronger ocean literacy and community engagement with marine ecosystems. Diarmuid Hayes, Biodiversity in Schools, emphasised Ireland’s biodiversity crisis and the importance of hands-on environmental learning for young people.
The conference also connected theory with practice through two participatory workshops. Druid and storyteller Eimear Burke guided participants in an experiential session on Celtic mysticism, exploring spiritual connections with trees and the natural world. In parallel, attendees joined an artist-led tour of the exhibition From the Forest to the Ocean, a multidisciplinary showcase by Mary Moynihan and Hina Khan. The artworks—spanning visual art, photography, poetry and film—invited reflection on the interconnectedness of forests, oceans and human well-being.
The event created space for dialogue, networking and collective reflection on the intersections of art, environmental justice and civic engagement. The venue, Rathfarnham Castle—situated within a biodiverse park and steeped in centuries of history—served as an evocative backdrop for conversations about conservation and the future of the planet.
The Creative Arts Eco-Conference demonstrated the potential of the arts to inspire public awareness and policy-relevant conversations about climate change and biodiversity loss. By blending creativity, science and community participation, the event encouraged attendees to envision new pathways for environmental action—affirming that art can be a catalyst for a more sustainable and just world.
