Young people in Malpas, Cheshire West, as part of the 'Reflections' project. Image courtesy of Tadhg Devlin
Whose Story Is It? – CPD workshop with Tadhg Devlin
Workshop
Create is delighted to partner with Socially Engaged Photography Network (SEPN) and PhotoIreland to host a CPD workshop Whose Story Is It? Led by artist Tadhg Devlin, Head of Social Practice (Maternity Cover) at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool, UK, this one-day workshop will explore the notions of socially engaged photography and introduce the Socially Engaged Photography Network which is expanding from the UK to become an international network.
Tadhg will be joined by network member and Irish artist, Ala Buisir, who will share her collaborative socially engaged photography work and its impact on the communities she engages with, including first generation children of migrants.
Application
There are limited places for this workshop. To apply, please complete the application form before Thursday 8 October, 3pm. We accept written formats, but also voice notes and videos.
This workshop is offered free of charge. Please email Vance Lau at producer[at]create-ireland.ie for queries.
Tadhg Devlin
Tadhg Devlin is a Merseyside-based photographic artist, curator, and educator. After initially studying art in Dublin, he moved to the UK to study photography in Cornwall, later securing a prestigious internship at the internationally renowned Magnum Photos office in London. Since then, he has worked as a photographer for numerous publications across the UK, Europe, and the US. Alongside his editorial work, Tadhg is committed to socially engaged photography, collaborating with several UK organisations dedicated to housing vulnerable communities, individuals with disabilities, and those living with dementia amongst others.
Ala Buisir
Ala Buisir is an award-winning visual artist & journalist. Born in Ireland with Libyan roots, Ala holds a BA in Photography from TU Dublin and an MA in Journalism from DCU. She is currently undertaking a PhD by practice at the University of Limerick, investigating the ‘othering’ of Muslim women in the Western world. Her work aims to inform participatory arts-based interventions that challenge Islamophobia by amplifying Muslim women’s voices through digital storytelling. Ala’s practice documents current social and political tensions to raise awareness and bring about change. She is also the co-founder of Gorm Media and a board member of the Amal Women’s Association.
Socially Engaged Photography Network (SEPN)
Working with organisations, photographers, community groups, academics and curators from across the country, Open Eye Gallery (Liverpool, UK) has been building a network to discuss and accelerate the practice of socially engaged photography. In the spirit of social practice, the network is shaped collaboratively by its users and has been running as a distributed network since October 2019. SEPN now has over 500 members and 25 organisational partners supporting its development and delivery.
When referring to the term socially engaged photography, SEPN means activities or projects where photographers and communities/ individuals come together to co-author or co-produce visual representations of the world around us. The process behind the work produced is often as important as the final photographic work, and projects are often reliant on collaboration and discussion. The work often reflects multiple voices about a particular social, political, economical or environmental issue, rather than that of a single artistic voice.
PhotoIreland
Since 2010, PhotoIreland has been an arts organisation supporting photography and the visual arts, dedicated to stimulating a critical dialogue around photography in Ireland and to internationally promoting the work of Irish-based artists. PhotoIreland is a key constituent of the arts and culture sector in Ireland, working to ensure local audiences benefit from a healthy arts ecosystem and providing frequent professional development opportunities to artists.
The International Centre for the Image is a groundbreaking cultural institution in Dublin’s Docklands, launched by PhotoIreland with support from Kennedy Wilson. It redefines the role of image-making in contemporary society—both still and moving—and connects Ireland’s visual arts scene with global artistic discourse. Officially launched in July 2025 at the Coopers Cross campus, the Centre marks a new milestone for cultural partnership in Ireland.
