High Expectations: An Interactive Exhibition for Young Children

High Expectations is an interactive display for very young children created by artist Helen Barry.

This exhibition has arisen from an artist-in-residence programme undertaken by the artist at Ozanam House Early Learning Centre at Mountjoy Square. This year-long initiative is a partnership programme between North East Inner City and Hugh Lane Gallery, which ran from May 2023 to May 2024. The residency involved weekly sessions at Ozanam House Early Learning Centre with three groups of children, and each month the children, their parents and early years educators visited Hugh Lane Gallery where they creatively engaged and responded to artworks and the gallery space.

High Expectations is a wonderful demonstration of how the synergy between artist-led creative engagement and early years’ methodologies enhance and support the development of the early years’ child. We have witnessed how the impact of creativity offers the child a new way in which they can make their mark, find their voice and stamp their feet to a rhythm we have co-created with them and for them.

The exhibition will feature documentation of the programme, as well as interactive pieces created by artist Helen Barry for and with early years children.

The exhibition will run until 22nd September.

It will close temporarily between 18th June and 7th July to allow for installation of an adjacent exhibition and will re-open on Tuesday 9th July