Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)
MoLI’s founding values (Creativity, Education, Equality, Goodwill & the Courage to Experiment) underscore our mission statement, policies & public programming. Founded in 2019, we are a values-led museum for everyone - especially those who may not otherwise engage with the literary artform, providing opportunities for public engagement onsite and online across all backgrounds & stages of life.
RadioMoLI: Established February 2019, RadioMoLI is a continuously expanding & free-to-access media archive. Commended for its unique content, high-quality production & diverse representation of contemporary Irish writers, the channel is a gateway to arts engagement for wide-ranging audiences. https://radio.moli.ie/
First Fridays: Launched November 2021, First Fridays is a free monthly late opening of MoLI featuring readings, interviews, performances & screenings. A springboard for cross-disciplinary emerging artists, First Fridays celebrate the diversity of modern Dublin & the broad interdisciplinary relevance of literature.
Exhibitions: Since September 2019, MoLI has launched 15 multi-media onsite & 6 online exhibitions on a diverse range of subject matter, from children’s literature to memoir & folklore.
Education: MoLI provides free school visits alongside two free-to-access educational programmes (onsite & online) which have engaged with over 7,700 students since 2021. Our approach to education pivots on equal opportunity for all students, especially those in rural and disadvantaged areas.
Edna O’Brien Young Writers Award: A free-to-access annual young writer mentorship programme established July 2020, providing 15 young people a week-long writing retreat led by an established Irish writer toward the publication of an original anthology. Participants come from diverse socio-economic & ethnic backgrounds, including the Irish Traveller Community & state care facilities.
Community Outreach: MoLI works closely with a wide network of community partners to provide workshops & activities and those outside of formal education which focus on empowering self-expression and wellbeing. There is no such thing as a ‘hard-to-reach’ community, only resources/institutions that are difficult to access.
Explain in one sentence why you think the project you nominate is outstanding and could serve as an example for the entire community of modern and contemporary art museums.
MoLI is dedicated to a sustainable vision of Irish literature and culture which is truly representative of modern Ireland, a goal we can only achieve through meaningful engagement with local and wider communities from all socio-economic backgrounds, making it the central force behind all of our activities.
Explain why this practice or program is relevant and sustainable in creating meaningful and lasting connections with people, communities, and the museum context with a medium to long-term vision.
For many, the word ‘literature’ carries a stigma of being academically or socially elitist and as a result can lead to the exclusion of those with learning difficulties, low income backgrounds or low written literacy confidence from engaging with literature or pursuing a career in the artform.
Our mission is to break down this misconception, taking audiences of all ages and backgrounds on a journey through Ireland’s renowned literary history, especially writers who have not yet been adequately represented on the international stage of Irish Literature to date, all the while also seeking to foster & inspire the next generation of writers.
MoLI champions a richly diverse Irish writing community, of all sexualities, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. It is important that MoLI not only reflects but actively participates in the changing face of Irish arts and culture by supporting emerging writers and curating a museum programme that is boundary pushing & inclusive.