Our Land

"Our Land" was created in partnership with the children attending Ulla Beag preschool, located in the rural setting of Ogonnelloe, County Clare in the West of Ireland. Ulla Beag is an early childhood education setting renowned for its commitment to inclusivity and environmental awareness, prioritizing equal educational opportunities for all students. They adopt a child-centred learning approach and foster a creative learning environment. The school's educational approach revolves around Play-Based learning, as articulated in the Aistear curriculum. Aistear is the early childhood curriculum framework for all children from birth to six in Ireland. The principles of Aistear emphasise the importance of children's interests in shaping day-to-day educational plans. Extensive research supports the idea that play-based learning is the most effective method for children to acquire knowledge and skills.

"Our Land" draws inspiration from the ethos and ecology of Ulla Beag’s outdoor learning environment, where the children's voices are amplified with a unique resonance. The natural world becomes an engaged participant in their education, with open spaces, rustling leaves, melodious bird songs, and the magical light filtering through the canopy of trees providing an enchanting backdrop. This not only enhances the children's self-expression but also fosters a deep connection to their environment. In this setting, children's imaginations are not just welcomed; they are ingrained in the very landscape. Ordinary earth, the simplest material in their eyes, teems with potential, transforming into a powerful vehicle for communication, storytelling, and visceral learning. This allows them to leave their indelible mark on the world, both physically and metaphorically. The outdoors is not merely a classroom but a canvas where the children's voices, imaginations, and the natural world harmoniously converge to create a symphony of discovery and growth.

Our Land seeks to highlight the importance of listening to children in early years educational settings, framing the act of listening as a radical concept that challenges traditional hierarchical structures and positions children as active contributors rather than passive recipients of knowledge. Embracing this approach recognizes the inherent agency and unique perspectives of early learners, promoting a more democratic and inclusive educational environment. By actively listening to children, educators acknowledge the richness of their experiences, fostering a sense of empowerment and autonomy. This radical shift challenges the historical notion of adults as sole authorities in the educational process, encouraging a collaborative and co-constructive learning journey. Emphasizing the importance of children's voices in early years education not only breaks away from conventional practices but also lays the groundwork for a more equitable and transformative educational experience, where the diverse needs and perspectives of each child are valued and respected.

Denise Sheridan, Preschool owner, and LINC CPD program tutor MA Early Childhood Studies, comments:
“The film titled ‘Our Land’ effectively incorporates the fundamental principles of Arts in Early Years (EY) education, specifically by recognizing and valuing children's perspectives and their expertise in their own learning. Moreover, the film serves as a manifestation of key concepts such as the emergent curriculum, Aistear, and collaboration, while also highlighting the importance of incorporating children's voices in these processes,”
Our Land was commissioned as part of an Arts in Early Learning and Care and School Age Children Pilot Project in May 2023. This pilot initiative focuses on exploring and enhancing collaboration between artists and early years educators, while also reflecting on the Draft Principles for Engagement with the Arts in Early Learning and Care recently published by The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, a division of the Government of Ireland.

  • Rachel Louise Doolin
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 52 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography

Rachel Doolin is a visual artist and project facilitator based in Cork. Doolin’s multidisciplinary methodology merges art, experimentation, and ecology to create work that is inextricably linked to material research, driven by a desire to test the parameters of materiality, media, and the criticality of issue-based practice. Doolin frequently collaborates with artists, NGOs, and community and professional organizations to create meaningful artworks that intersect current social and environmental practices.

Doolin graduated with a BA in Fine Art from the Crawford College of Art & Design in 2015, receiving several graduate awards, including the RDS Taylor Art Prize and the National Sculpture Factory Graduate Residency Award for her degree show installation Promethean Illusions. She has since pursued her practice with great energy and ambition, her multifaceted oeuvre including exhibition works, public artworks, collaborative projects and participatory arts practice.

Doolin has been working in the realm of participatory arts since 2010. To date, she has worked with a variety of persons from birth to adulthood in a diverse range of community, arts, health, and educational contexts including higher-level institutions and art galleries across Ireland. Doolin’s participatory art practice is fundamentally rooted in ‘collaboration’. She works closely with young persons, adults, caregivers, artists, and arts organisations. Nurturing creative partnerships, while absorbing the input and ideas integral to producing meaningful work that carefully considers the social and emotional landscape particular to each setting.

Doolin has received two Lifelong Learning awards for her most recent arts and ecology-focused early learning projects; Little Pea Project (2022) an ongoing EY creative ecology project in partnership with Irish Seed Savers Association, which was delivered to multiple settings in Cork City and County, and Little Bird Babble (2021) a community arts project in collaboration with Wallaroo Child and Family Project and artists Fiona Kelleher (Musician) and George Hanover (Actor). ‘Little Bird Babble’ was designed and delivered over 6 months to families living in temporary accommodation (Direct Provision) during Covid 19. The project was supported by an Early Years Pilot Bursary awarded by Creative Ireland and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Doolin has been working on Graffiti Theatre Companies Early Years Arts Program – BEAG since 2016. BEAG is a unique integrated arts program that provides high-quality arts experiences for our youngest world citizens from birth to three. She is also an associate artist with Helium Arts organisation, Ireland’s national children’s arts and health charity organisation which works to transform the healthcare experience of children and teenagers in Ireland through art, imagination, and play.

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