The Fourth Annual Creative Tech Fest

Yesterday one hundred and fifty young people gathered in the CHQ Building in Dublin for the fourth annual Creative Tech Fest, which celebrated their creation and invention with technology over the past year. These young people are participants in the national TechSpace movement.

TechSpace is an afterschool programme that inspires young people to become digital creators, inventors and makers through free access to hardware, software, trained educators and creative mentors.

“TechSpace works beautifully,” says Jen Hesnan, a TechSpace Educator based in Galway and working with young people on the autistic spectrum, “It channels young people’s point of interest into something they can socially engage in and exhibit to others. Whether it’s sport, dance, history or anything else that the they are interested in, creative facilitation techniques ensure that any young person who comes in the door can find a purpose and have fun with their peers”.

The program teaches the fundamentals of the digital world, while developing skills in problem solving, creativity, communications and teamwork. Typical activities in the areas of creative media and STEAM include animation and video production, mobile app development, music production, digital photography, web design, programming, electronics and circuitry.

The young people, who took part in the TechSpace after school program, gathered to exhibit the projects they have completed over the past year. The work was in the area of creative technology (video and photography projects) and ‘maker’ technology (electronics, programming, tech DIY). The youth attendees took part in workshops, heard from inspirational speakers, and also got inspired for the year ahead.

Some of the participants at the FM Radio maker  workshop. Photo source Infomatique.

CEO of Camara Education, John Fitzsimons the organisation that delivers TechSpace nationally said, “It is fantastic to see the educational outcomes being achieved by these young people, as they develop new skills in key areas for their future success”.

There was also an award ceremony for the best projects and one of the winners is pictured below.

Photo source Infomatique.

Live music was also provided by Flynn Johnson a 19 year old Irish rapper from Dublin. A man of many talents a writer, rapper, musician and spoken word artist, Flynn was promoting his In The Meantime (EP).

Photo source Infomatique.