Guinness have announced details of the winning projects in the Arthur Guinness Projects creative and cultural initiative. The Arthur Guinness Projects, which was launched in June this year, was developed to champion and celebrate people whose ideas, passion and spirit are enhancing and shaping our culture and identity.

The initiative, which has showcased an abundance of talent and creativity, has seen hundreds of project applications from across the island of Ireland, with thousands also showing their support by voting online. 

Speaking at the winner’s announcement in Fade Street Social on Monday, Stephen O’ Kelly, Marketing Director, Guinness said: “Three months ago, we launched the Arthur Guinness Projects and from day one, the initiative captured the imagination of people across the island of Ireland. We have been really struck by the quality of the entries with no shortage of amazing ideas right across the four categories. Passion, flair and creative spirit were clearly evident and today, we pay special tribute to the winning projects.”

Arthur Guinness Projects applications were shortlisted by a public vote. The expert panel then deliberated at length to select the overall winning projects. Comprised of 16 experts, four within each category, the panel was spearheaded by world-renowned Irish band, The Script, who will also be performing on Arthur’s Day this Thursday, food guru, Dylan McGrath, Donegal inter-county manager and sports consultant, Jim McGuinness and celebrated Irish actor, Chris O’Dowd.

In determining the winning projects, the expert panel evaluated the projects against the criteria of innovation, creativity, achievability, as well as cultural impact and social good. In addition to the financial support awarded by Arthur Guinness Projects, the winning projects will also receive mentoring from the expert panel over the course of the next six months and marketing support from Guinness.

The project winners will also be showcased this Arthur’s Day at the Home of Guinness, where they will take over the screens across the seven storey Guinness Storehouse in a vibrant show reel. Guinness will also collaborate with publicans and Arthur Guinness Projects applicants to transform some local pubs into creative hubs on Arthur’s Day in various locations across the island of Ireland.

The Script said, “We are really delighted to be part of Arthur Guinness Projects. It is such an exciting initiative that gives people a great platform to further develop their ideas. We feel very passionate about its level of ambition and we are really looking forward to the mentoring stage and helping the projects in whatever way we can." 

Chris O’Dowd said, "We came across so many original and creative ideas through Arthur Guinness Projects that we had a tough time whittling it down to just four in the Arts category. What I was genuinely impressed by was the scale and potential for so many of these projects.  I am looking forward to sharing my experience and ultimately watch as the winners fulfill their dreams and ambitions." 

Dylan McGrath commented, “I was really inspired and impressed by the quality of the entries received. The level of innovation is what really stood out for me. The people I met are shining examples of the talent that is in Ireland and I look forward to the mentoring stage and doing whatever I can to support the projects within the food category to further develop and evolve.”

Jim McGuinness said, "I'm thrilled that some very worthy sport projects will get off the ground and expand through the support of this initiative. It was heartening to see the drive and professionalism these project owners have to succeed.  What's deep routed in all of them is the desire to implement projects that will benefit others and I think that's where the real strength lies in Arthur Guinness Projects. "

The winning projects are:

Arts

- Our Nation’s Son’s is a project that encourages the empowerment of potentially marginalised young men in their community.

- The Aerial Dance Creation Centre will be a dedicated space for aerial and circus arts to develop and rehearse in a purpose rigged facility.

- Man on Bridge celebrates the legacy of Arthur Fields, a Jewish-Ukrainian photographer who took at least 182,000 portraits of passers-by on O’Connell Bridge in Dublin over a period of 50 years.

- The Lifeline Project + Soap is a concept that will sensitively regenerate the disused Midland Great Western Railway, Broadstone to Broombridge, Dublin 7, into a productive green corridor, public amenity and inter-model transport link.

Sport

- Club Colours gives all sports clubs in Ireland, regardless of size, a chance to sell bespoke merchandise online in their club colours, helping local clubs to fundraise and build much needed support.

- Accessing the Ocean, Liquid Therapy provides free individually tailored surfing programmes for young people with special needs.

- Breast Cancer Fitness Programme is an aerobic fitness programme that uses Dragon Boat Racing, a Chinese sport in origin, as a means to build strength and fitness to those recovering from breast cancer treatment.

Music

- Popical Island is an independent music collective who rehearse, record and release music, providing opportunities for many new and up-and-coming bands and musicians.

- GoldenPlec is an online music resource that provides a creative platform for aspiring journalists, photographers and musicians and an outlet for daily music news, event information, interviews and reviews.

- Voices of Hope is a community choir for people affected by Parkinson’s Disease, led by Move4Parkinsons, an innovative idea sparked by the growing awareness globally of the positive improvements singing has on the quality of life for those effected by Parkinson’s Disease.

Food

- Grow HQ aims to create a broader understanding of and empathy for food, its origin and how it is produced. By addressing global environmental and food problems, this grass roots initiative will teach people to grow their own food in an urban setting, helping them to appreciate it.

- The Green Kitchen will be the focal point of a new multi-functional Community Resource Facility led by the community charity, WALK that will use produce from the community garden and provide training courses in food preparation, promoting up-skilling and employment.

- Foodcloud is an innovative solution to food waste and food poverty, redistributing food, from those who have a surplus, such as supermarkets and restaurants, to those who are in need of more.

- Gaelic Escargot is Ireland’s first free-range snail farm, producing snails more sustainably than in the warmer continental climates, where they are traditionally farmed.

Full details on the winners can be found on www.Arthur GuinnessProjects.com.