Weatherproof Me! – Weatherproofing Galway for 2020

News Release

Announcing an international design competition to celebrate Galway’s unique weather as part of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture

If ever a European Capital of Culture needed to be prepared for all weathers it’s Galway.

HOPE IT RAINS | SOINEANN NÓ DOINEANN is a Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture project which, through a broad and varied programme of engaging initiatives, from now til the end of 2020, will put our weather to good use to make Galway the place to be in 2020 – because of the wind and rain.

One of the Galway 2020 programme’s stated ambitions is to disrupt the everyday, and here in Galway, where our weather dominates conversation and culture, we’re no strangers to its disruptiveness. And 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. We’re going to help make Galway’s people and places more weather and climate resilient, and we’re going to have fun while doing so.

In preparation, we’re launching the Weatherproof Me! International Design Competition, and seeking wearable designs that take advantage of, and even embrace, Galway’s weather.

HOPE IT RAINS | SOINEANN NÓ DOINEANN Artistic Director Ríonach Ní Néill explains “We are looking for designs that transform our behaviour in the wind, the rain and the dark. They can be provocative, innovative, playful – and also challenge our attitudes and actions on climate change and water management.”

Speaking of the competition criteria, Co-lead Weatherproof Me! Artist Jeni Roddy said that “Irish people, including kids, are spending less time outdoors, and this is adversely affecting our physical and mental health. So we welcome unique designs that actively address our decision-making around “the weather’s rotten, will I go out or not?”

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.

The closing date for online applications is 24.00 GMT on August 10, 2019 and all details are available on www.hopeitrains.ie.

ENDS