Since 2008, ARTlifeCULTURE has designed, developed and delivered collaborative children’s and youth arts programmes around the world, including Japan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Britain, Lithuania, Hungary, Ireland, Italy and The United States of America.

Irish children have participated in our International Youth in Concert Programmes in European Capitals of Culture: Liverpool 2008, Vilnius 2009, and Pécs 2010. Their performances have featured at international youth arts festivals in Japan, China and Malaysia, and by special invitation of an Taoiseach, Ireland’s Prime Minister, ARTlifeCULTURE’s international youth ensemble has represented Irish youth arts at Shanghai World EXPO 2010.

ARTlifeCULTURE’s current international youth arts initiative, AiR an Atmospheric Irish Recital, designed for the Ireland Pavilion at Milan World EXPO 2015 and supported by the Arts Council and the Environmental Protection Agency, presents songs and rhythms from the traditional Irish repertoire weaved through electro-acoustic composition framed by a multi-media installation of Irish natural soundscapes, cinematography, stills photography and youth participants’ expressions inspired by the dramatic personality and natural heritage of the Irish Wild Atlantic Way. Following its World EXPO 2015 debut, AiR will premiere in Ireland as part of the Cork International Film Festival 2015 and will feature at the David Rubenstein at Lincoln Centre NYC on St Patrick’s Day 2016 supported by Culture Ireland as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.

At home in Ireland, ARTlifeCULTURE’s international integrational programme, SING! to summer SING!, facilitates weekly access for more than 1,000 children to quality artistic engagement. Then each July, SING! to summer SING! sees more than 360 children embrace the rich heritage and culture of Cork City as part of its summertime festival week and boasts a growing professional and volunteer, national and international staff, of more than 120 children’s and youth arts enthusiasts. SING! to summer SING! is produced by ARTlifeCULTURE in partnership with Music Generation Cork City and is further supported by Cork City Council Social Inclusion Unit, Cork City Council Arts Office as part of their UNESCO City of Music bid, University College Cork International Office and the Association of Irish Choirs. SING! to summer SING! is realised through ARTlifeCULTURE’s extensive collaboration with participating DEIS primary schools, targeted children’s communities, charitable institutions specifically Cork Penny Dinners and Cork City’s cultural venues. SING! to summer SING! is a key cultural component of Cork City’s children’s arts provision already earning international reputation as a social, cultural and artistic model of best-practice in children’s and youth arts.

ARTlifeCULTURE’s child and youth-centred approach emphasises equality of access and quality of process and guarantees excellence and innovation in collaborative international children’s and youth arts initiatives.