Trauma Informed Artists Network Ireland
Creative Places Darndale has been a leader in trauma-informed community arts practice, recognising the need to protect both communities and artists from harm.
In 2025, CPD delivered Ireland’s first trauma-informed conference for socially engaged artists, followed by specialist training designed specifically for artists working in complex community settings. The training was co-created by Lucy Mannion (TINT Education) and Doulab Circus, drawing on extensive expertise in trauma-informed practice.
These sessions led to the creation of the Trauma Informed Artists Network Ireland — a public directory supporting organisations seeking artists with trauma-aware training and experience.
Training levels vary and are clearly indicated. Listing does not imply endorsement, and organisations must carry out their own safeguarding and Garda vetting procedures.
TARYN DE VERE
(she/they)
Discipline:
Placemaking; collage; upcycling and recycled-materials art; wearable art; jewellery and badge making; clay, sculpture and papier-mâché; shrine and headpiece making; storybook creation with children; memory-based creative work with older people; community arts and crafts.
Region:
Dublin and surrounding areas
Age Groups:
All ages
Trauma-Informed Training:
Two-day trauma-informed practice workshop for socially engaged artists (TINT Education)
Two-day Theatre of the Oppressed workshop
About:
Taryn is a multi-disciplinary artist and arts manager with a strong focus on making creativity accessible to everyone. Their work spans a wide range of community settings, including schools, youth centre’s, nursing homes, museums, galleries and recovery services. Taryn has extensive experience working with people who have experienced domestic abuse and in contexts where care, sensitivity and trauma-aware practice are essential.
Contact / Links:
https://linktr.ee/Taryn_de_Vere
Sophie Meehan
(she/her)
Discipline – Film, Visual Art
Training
Trauma-Informed Practice in the Arts from Doublab/ Tint Education, via Creative Places Darndale, 2025.Being an Active Bystander in the Arts and Creative Sectors; Addressing Unconscious Bias: Basic Awareness; Tackling Bullying and Harassment at Work, via Safe to Create, 2025.Starting Out in Foróige; Child Protection Training, via Foróige, 2025
About Sophie…
Sophie Meehan is a filmmaker, poet and interdisciplinary artist from Dublin. Her work explores social realities through a poetic lens, using humour as an entry point. Her films, poetry and music have featured in film festivals, poetry journals and performance spaces at home and abroad including Dublin International Film Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, International Literature Festival Dublin, Bloomsday, Poetry Ireland, Culture Night and more. She was a co-founder of the Working Class Writing Archive with Dr. Emma Penney, an Arts Council funded project.
Sophie is a workshop facilitator across multiple disciplines including zine-making, visual art and filmmaking. Her ongoing training includes Trauma-Informed Practice in the Arts from Doublab/ Tint Education; Being an Active Bystander, Addressing Unconscious Bias and Bullying and Harassment from Safe to Create; and Foróige’s volunteer youth worker training.
Sophie works across all ages but particularly enjoys working with children and young people in schools and community settings.
Area locations – Greater Dublin Area, Meath, Louth
Age Groups – 5-18
Contact – @someehan instagram,
website: sophiemeehan.weebly.com/workshops
Nicole Tucker
(she/they)
Discipline – Quilting
Training – I did the 2 day trauma informed workshop with Creative Darndale in 2025. I also have done de-escaltion and mental health workshops with the City of New York in 2016 and 2017.
About Nicole…
I am an artist and graduate student in Geography here in Ireland. I immigrated here from the USA in January of 2025 with my daughter to seek a better life for myself. I am primarily a quilt artist, however I also draw, paint, sculpt and more.
Age Groups – Adults
Location – Dublin
Contact info – http://quiltomany.bluesky.com
Rukmini Kelkar
She/Her
Discipline – Visual artist
Training – I was hosted for a 2 day certificate course of Trauma informed training by Creative Places Darndale. This course initially stated with a symposium and then turned into a 2 day intense workshop held over 2 weeks.
About Rukmini…
I am an Indian artist based in Dublin. When I moved to Ireland in 2017 I made the difficult decision to leave a career as a dentist to figure out a new path for myself. That is when I found art something I used to pass my time at home. In the past 5 years I taught myself to paint and have since gained a HND in graphic design and recently graduated with a masters in Art and Social Action from NCAD. My work revolves around joy, empowerment, strong female characters and me navigating the two cultures I am proud to belong to (Indian and Irish)
Age Group – Young adults to adults
Location – My work primarily centres around Dublin and especially North County Dublin.
Contact – IG- @rukminikelkar
Do you have “Trauma Informed Training”? Want to be part of our directory? Fill out this quick form to be included!
https://forms.gle/7okqYJGhZcU2DLxu9
N.B Listing does not imply endorsement. Organisations are responsible for their own safeguarding procedures, including Garda vetting.
Garda vetting information:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/5206c-national-vetting-bureau-nvb/