What Does He Need?, 100 Thomas St, Dublin (2026)

26/02/2025

On 14 Feb ‘25, we held a one day conference ‘Boys in the Making - On Masculinity and Method’ at NCAD, marking the end of the month-long ‘Boys in the Making’ exhibition and programme of events at the NCAD Gallery.

The conference unpacked the origins, evolution and current ambitions of the Boys in the Making initiative, engaging with the creative and collaborative approach of the programme’s methodology and the recent series of events at NCAD Gallery. Responding to a range of critical reflections, conversations delved into the cultural, economic and political forces mediating masculinity today.

Contributors included Dannielle McKenna, Gillian O Connor, Michael Byrne, Sue Fagan and Sean Brophy (Rialto Youth Project); Dr Fiona Whelan (Artist and NCAD); Dara Clear and Aaron Sunderland Carey (artists); Dr Rob Grant (Philosopher, HearListen); Jim Lawlor (Independent Advisor); Kate Houlton and Patrick Fox (Heart of Glass); Feidlim Cannon (Brokentalkers); and Dr Ernesto Vasquez del Aguila (UCD). The full conference programme and speaker bios can be found here:
https://www.ncad.ie/gallery-event/view/conference-boys-in-the-making-on-masculinity-and-method

The Boys in the Making conference was conveyed by Fiona Whelan & Dannielle McKenna with artist, writer and researcher Dr Ciaran Smyth (Vagabond Reviews). The conference was funded through NCAD Research Seed Funding and Rialto Youth Project, with additional support from Heart of Glass and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Boys in the Making at NCAD Gallery is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Dublin City Council Arts Office, Rialto Youth Project and NCAD.

Photos by Evanna Devine.

23/02/2025

Some moments of children and young people’s engagement with the recent Boys in the Making exhibition at the NCAD Gallery.

Photos by Evanna Devine, Gillian O Connor & Fiona Whelan

21/02/2025

Looking back on this moment from the Boys in the Making exhibition and programme at NCAD Gallery…
.when artist Aaron Sunderland Carey publicly created a live artwork, exploring his engagement with the Boys in the Making project that has influenced and affected his own perspectives on masculinity.

[Boys in the Making exhibition and programme at the NCAD Gallery was supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Dublin City Council Arts Office, Rialto Youth Project and NCAD. The accompanying conference was funded through NCAD Research Seed Funding, with additional support from Heart of Glass and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.]

Photos by Evanna Devine, NCAD Gallery, 23 Jan ‘25.

20/02/2025

During our month-long Boys in the Making exhibition at the NCAD Gallery, Rialto Youth Project’s Boys’ Club and artist Aaron Sunderland Carey presented ‘Deco’ - an evocative pop up exhibition in the adjoining foyer. This multi-media installation delves into themes of masculinity, care, protection, and an exploration of identity and growth.

The pop-up exhibition represented a culmination of creative processes which began in 2021, when the group first created Deco - a 12 year old boy. In that story the group shared all the things they wanted to show Deco as he moved into the area.

‘Welcome to life next to Tesco. We are here to show you around, show you the places to hang out, where to get your food and everything that has been blocked up and locked up in the last few years.’ (2021)

The methodology of the Boys in the Making programme means that the group can always return to the boy they created. Deco is now 14 years old and Boys’ Club have added to his story, and created 3 murals that represent what Deco feels he can share about himself in safe spaces, versus what he presents to people in the outside world.

‘There’s a lot more to tell you. You have lots to figure out. All the things you were taught since you’re a baby - being told that a man can’t act like a woman and be a man. You are not sure about it all now. You hear there are lots of ways to be a man.’ (2024)

The artwork in the Deco pop up exhibition was developed by Rialto Youth Project Boys’ Club in collaboration with youth workers Karen Cronin and Stephen Quinn and artist Aaron Sunderland Carey, with writing support from Fiona Whelan.

Exhibition photos by Evanna Devine.

11/02/2025

Great piece published on the RTÉ website on the ‘Boys in the Making’ exhibition, now showing at NCAD Gallery 🎨

The article beautifully captures the essence of this collaborative project:

💬 ¨Artist, writer and lecturer at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) Fiona Whelan introduces Boys in the Making, currently exhibiting at the NCAD Gallery as part of a long-term collaborative project exploring how men and boys are shaped by and influence the world they live in.

Boys in the Making is an exhibition and series of events that emerged from a long-term programme for boys and young men, developed by myself and Rialto Youth Project. The programme was subsequently piloted in a number of community and school contexts across Dublin, led by a growing team of artists, educators and youth workers.

(...) A core component of the exhibition is a month-long programme of events, facilitating an in-depth dialogue in relation to the methodology and the emerging themes, culminating in a conference on the 14th of February 2025.¨

📍 ‘Boys in the Making’ continues at the NCAD Gallery until Friday, 14th February.

ℹ️ For public opening times, visit ncad.gallery

🔗 Read the full article: https://shorturl.at/Unsq6 (link in bio)

.youth.project

09/02/2025

Some more exhibition photos from Boys in the Making at NCAD Gallery, which runs until 14 February.

Image 1: 3 video works L-R ‘Stevie’ by Fiona Whelan, Rialto Youth Project and Paper Panther Productions; ‘Reece’ by Dara Clear and Poppintree Youth Project; and ‘Ashton’ by Gary Keegan, Scoil Chiaráin CBS and Arcade Film.

Image 2: ‘Big Boy Vincent’ drawings by Aaron Sunderland Carey and Dolphin House Homework Club

Image 3: Conversation space designed and built by Spaceforms

Image 4: ‘James and Louis’ publication by Aaron Sunderland Carey and Scoil Chiaráin CBS

Image 5: Boys created by artists and organisations across Dublin. Drawings by Fiona Whelan.

Image 6: Boys in the Making, methodology workshop publication by Fiona Whelan and Rialto Youth Project

Photos by Evanna Devine.

Led by Fiona Whelan and Rialto Youth Project, Boys in the Making is a dynamic place-based programme for boys and young men, which sees groups come together over time, to co-create a boy and explore his needs and experiences as he interacts with the world around him. The programme aims to explore, communicate and learn from the lived experiences and knowledge of boys and young men as they engage in a creative exploration of masculinity and its formation.

Exhibition continues at NCAD Gallery until 14 February, curated by Anne Kelly.
Supported by the Arts Council, Dublin City Council Arts Office, Rialto Youth Project and NCAD.

https://www.ncad.ie/gallery-event/view/boys-in-the-making

03/02/2025

Week 3 of Philosophy Fridays – last Friday at NCAD Gallery, as part of the Boys in the Making exhibition and programme.

Philosophy sessions are led by Dr Robert Grant and Jim Lawlor, and documented by artist Aaron Sunderland Carey.

As Rob explains ‘Using a philosophical approach to dialogue, we create an open listening space to explore ideas like care, protection, power, identity, appearance and violence as they relate to contemporary masculinity. The aim is to have critical reflections on the meaning of masculinity, providing a safe framework for young men and men to engage consciously with deeply-held, complex beliefs without fear of judgement or ridicule.’

Philosophy Fridays are part of the Boys in the Making exhibition and programme presented at NCAD Gallery (Jan-Feb 2025) by Fiona Whelan and Rialto Youth Project, in collaboration with Scoil Chiaráin CBS, Aaron Sunderland Carey, Feidlim Cannon, Gary Keegan, Dara Clear, Dr Robert Grant, Dr Ernesto Vasquez del Aguila, Dr Ciaran Smyth, Jim Lawlor, Poppintree Youth Project, Space Forms and Heart of Glass. Exhibition curated by Anne Kelly.
Philosophy Fridays are funded through an Arts Grant from Duvlin City Council.

Furniture designed and built by Spaceforms.

Photo by Dannielle McKenna, Jan 2025

01/02/2025

Thank you to Patrick Freyne for the article today in the Irish Times about our Boys in the Making exhibition at NCAD Gallery, and the programme it emerges from.

To read the full article, see here:
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art/2025/02/01/young-men-arent-just-brds-running-around-on-their-bikes-everyone-has-their-own-dreams/

Boys in the Making at NCAD Gallery is presented by Fiona Whelan and Rialto Youth Project, in collaboration with Scoil Chiaráin CBS, Aaron Sunderland Carey, Feidlim Cannon, Gary Keegan, Dara Clear, Dr Robert Grant, Dr Ernesto Vasquez del Aguila, Dr Ciaran Smyth, Jim Lawlor, Poppintree Youth Project, Space Forms and Heart of Glass. Curated by Anne Kelly, NCAD Gallery. Boys in the Making is part of the What Does He Need? project, a collaboration between Dr Fiona Whelan, Rialto Youth Project and Brokentalkers

Boys in the Making at NCAD Gallery continues until 14 February.
For public opening times, see:
https://www.ncad.ie/gallery-event/view/boys-in-the-making

22/01/2025

𝗕𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 event:
Thursday, 23 January 2025, 1 pm - 4 pm, NCAD Gallery

𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 run by Artist Aaron Sunderland Carey, who will create a live art piece exploring his engagement with the 𝗕𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 project that has influenced and affected his own perspectives on masculinity.

Public event, all welcome - No booking required.

📷 Boys in the Making exhibition (by Fiona Whelan, Rialto Youth Project and collaborators) with artist Aaron Sunderland Carey pictured along side work he made with young men, 2025. NCAD Gallery. Photography: Evanna Devine.

What Does He Need? Rialto Youth Project NCAD Gallery
Dublin City Arts Office Heart of Glass Brokentalkers Fiona Whelan

21/01/2025

𝘽𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 | 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁

Exhibition, Programme & Conference.

📍𝗡𝗖𝗔𝗗 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆
𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 - 𝟭𝟰 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

In collaboration with Scoil Chiaráin CBS, Aaron Sunderland Carey, Feidlim Cannon, Gary Keegan, Dara Clear, Dr Robert Grant, Dr Ernesto Vasquez del Aguila, Dr Ciaran Smyth, Jim Lawlor, Poppintree Youth Project, Space Forms and Heart of Glass. Curated by Anne Kelly.

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀: Mondays: 11 am - 5 pm, Tuesdays 11 am - 3 pm, Wednesdays 11 am - 6 pm, Thursdays 1 pm - 6 pm, Fridays 2 pm - 4 pm.
___________________________

𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙮.
𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.
𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

𝘉𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 is a dynamic place-based programme for boys and young men, which sees groups come together over time, to co-create a boy and explore his needs and experiences as he interacts with the world around him. The programme aims to explore, communicate and learn from the lived experiences and knowledge of boys and young men as they engage in a creative exploration of masculinity and its formation.

Boys in the Making at NCAD Gallery is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Dublin City Arts Office, Rialto Youth Project and NCAD. The conference is funded through NCAD Research Seed Funding, with additional support from Heart of Glass and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

The 𝘉𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 programme forms part of a long-term project called 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘏𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥? - a collaboration between artist, writer and educator Dr Fiona Whelan, Rialto Youth Project and Brokentalkers Theatre Company. Through public art, performance, educational programmes and workshops, 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘏𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥? aims to create significant public dialogue about the current state of masculinity.

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

📲 Find out more at NCAD.Gallery.

📷 Boys in the Making, Fiona Whelan, 2025. NCAD Gallery.

What Does He Need?Fiona Whelan Rialto Youth Project NCAD Gallery Dublin City Arts Office Heart of Glass Brokentalkers
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

What Does He Need?

26/02/2025

23/02/2025

21/02/2025

20/02/2025

11/02/2025

09/02/2025

03/02/2025

01/02/2025

22/01/2025

21/01/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Establishment

Shortcuts

Share

Category