A free copy of ‘Better Words: A Field Guide to Contemporary Art and Culture’ for every school in Ireland

We are very happy to announce that a free copy of Better Words: A Field Guide to Contemporary Art and Culture is now available to all primary schools libraries nationwide.

The Field Guide is a new book for general readers that offers an introduction to contemporary art and culture through the eyes of 8–12 year olds. It features new artistic terms, words and word-forms, that describe many aspects of contemporary art practice and its response to social and political issues in today’s world. All of the new terms featured in the book were created through workshops with 150+ children across schools in Limerick.

The book marks EVA’s year-long collaboration with schools, leading artists, curators, and arts writers, on an initiative that has sought to creatively overturn language as a common barrier to broader public engagement with the critical ambitions and complexities of contemporary art. The participating schools were Corpus Christi Primary School (Limerick City), Knockainey National School (Hospital), Limerick School Project (Limerick City), Our Lady Queen of Peace (Limerick City) and St. Senan’s National School (Foynes).

Published by EVA International and designed and illustrated by Piquant, Better Words also features a foreword by acclaimed author Kevin Barry and notes by curator Maeve Mulrennan who led on the workshop process.

To order a free copy please contact eimear@eva.ie. Please note that a nominal fee of €3 for post and package will apply. Queries should be made by schools directly, one copy available per school while stocks last.

Better Words: A Field Guide to Contemporary Art and Culture has been supported by the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund.