an initiative from scéal arts collective with Smart Balbriggan
a festival curated by Valeria Ceregini
How It’s Made: The Shared Living System of Water
4th Annual How It’s Made
5–14 November 2026 | Swords and Balbriggan
Where the arts and research collide
How It’s Made brings artists, researchers, scientists and communities together to explore ideas through art and research. The fourth annual event focuses on water as a shared living system, as part of Science Week 2026 and its theme, Water: From Molecule to Ocean.
Through exhibitions and events in Swords and Balbriggan, How It’s Made will explore how water connects ecosystems, infrastructure, landscapes and communities. Artists took part in a symposium at Trinity College Dublin over the summer, with ongoing sessions alongside hydrologists, environmental researchers, scientists and communities.
2026 How It’s Made Schedule
7th–15th november 2026
Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Launch Event: Sat Nov 7th 18:30 - 22:00 How Its Made: The Living System of Water kicks off in Balbriggan!
Location: The Warehouse and then The Lark Concert Hall, Balbriggan
The 4th annual HOW IT’S MADE kicks off in Balbriggan for Science Week!
Join the launch of How It’s Made ’THE LIVING SYSTEM OF WATER’ at 18:30 in The Warehouse on Vauxhall street with a panel discussion about the future of Water followed by a tour of art exhibitions and experiences in The Lark Concert Hall! You’ll be able to meet researchers, the artists and talk about their journey and creations! A special music performance also at 8pm back in The Warehouse.
Artists collaborated with researchers & scientists at Trinity College over the summer to examine how water impacts human life and the broader ecosystem and produced engaging experiences in response!
The launch is one event in the HOW IT’S MADE series from November 7-13th for Science Week in Balbriggan, with further events in Swords as well.
The events are funded by Research Ireland with support from Fingal County Council in partnership with Smart Balbriggan, the CONNECT Centre and the SCÉAL Arts Collective.
23 Participating artists: Elaine Gaffney, Ann Conmy · Murielle Celis · Margot Galvin · Emily Fitzell · Catherine McDonald · Jo Kimmis · Anastasiia Kerdina · Fiona Marron · Nicola Geddes · Karl Mooney · James Hatton · Paul Malone · Nina McGowan · Francesco Pennacchio · Michael Fedorin · Darren Rogers · Domnick Sorace · Thomas Hendy · Leia Mocan · Christine Mackey · Petra Skyova
Participating Researchers: Dr. Muhammad Ali (Trinity College), Research Fellow Ciprian Briciu-Burghina (DCU Water Institute), Dr. Karolina Anielska (Trinity College), Dr. Francesco Pennacchio (Webster Geneva, Switzerland)
Sun Nov 8th - Fri Nov 13th Exhibition & Experiences: How It's Made - The Living System of Water (12p-8p daily)
Location: The Lark Concert Hall
Take a wander through the world of water via the eyes of creative artists and researchers during Science Week! In a fascinating series of creative experiences and an art exhibition curated by Valeria Ceregini, open daily from 12p-8p at The Lark in Balbriggan from Sunday November 8th through Friday November 13th.
Artists collaborated with researchers and scientists at Trinity College over the summer to examine how water impacts human life and the broader ecosystem and have produced engaging experiences in response. Guided tours can be arranged where you’ll be able to meet researchers, the artists and talk about their journey and creations!
The exhibition is one event in the HOW IT’S MADE series from November 7-13th for Science Week in Balbriggan, with further events in Swords as well.
The events are funded by Research Ireland with support from Fingal County Council in partnership with Smart Balbriggan, the CONNECT Centre and the SCÉAL Arts Collective.
22 Participating artists: Ann Conmy · Murielle Celis · Margot Galvin · Emily Fitzell · Catherine McDonald · Jo Kimmis · Anastasiia Kerdina · Fiona Marron · Nicola Geddes · Karl Mooney · James Hatton · Paul Malone · Nina McGowan · Francesco Pennacchio · Michael Fedorin · Darren Rogers · Domnick Sorace · Thomas Hendy · Leia Mocan · Christine Mackey · Petra Skyova
Participating Researchers: Dr. Muhammad Ali (Trinity College), Research Fellow Ciprian Briciu-Burghina (DCU Water Institute), Dr. Karolina Anielska (Trinity College), Eamonn Donlyn (Trinity College), Dr. Francesco Pennacchio (Webster Geneva, Switzerland)
Mon Nov 9th - Fri Nov 13th School Tours: How Its Made - The Shared Living System of Water (Booking required)
Location: Walking Tour: The Warehouse, Vauxhall St. and The Lark Concert Hall)
Book a guided walking tour of How It’s Made: The Shared Living System of Water for Science Week curated by Valeria Ceregini starting in The Warehouse on Vauxhall St in Balbriggan! Bring your students down to engage with art exhibitions and experiences in The Lark Concert Hall.
Tours are available each day between 10a-2p and last approximately 1 hour and 15 mins.
The tour starts art exhibit in The Warehouse and then travels just up the road to The Lark.
Young people will have the opportunity to meet some of the Artists and learn how they collaborated with researchers and scientists at Trinity College to learn about the power and mystery of Water and how they produced engaging experiences in response to those learnings, a great experience for young people of primary or secondary school ages.
The Science Week events are funded by Research Ireland with support from Fingal County Council in partnership with Smart Balbriggan, the CONNECT Centre and the SCÉAL Arts Collective.
Enjoy an opportunity to meet many of the creatives, contact info below to book a tour for your school or class!
email:
info@scealcollective.com
to book a tour!
Weds Nov 11th 19:00 - 22:00 The Living System of Water Workshops, Talks & Performances @ a Special Brigg Bus!
Location: The Warehouse Balbriggan (Vauxhall St)
Do you realise the many different ways water impacts our daily lives? Ever wondered how water works in the natural ecosystem? The history?
Artists have worked with researchers thinking about things like this, and now you have a chance to observe and interact with: The Shared Living System of Water events.
A special talk with workshops and experiences throughout the evening, as part a Brigg Bus special workshop night in Balbriggan!
The gathering is part of the 4th annual How It’s Made event. All ages welcome to explore the world of water. An exchange of ideas between young and old and everyone in between, no experience or knowledge necessary.
Come join the discussion with experts from Trinity College, creative people in the Brigg Bus crew and share your views or soak it all in!
The Science Week events are funded by Research Ireland with support from Fingal County Council in partnership with Smart Balbriggan, the CONNECT Centre and the SCÉAL Arts Collective.
Fri Nov 13th 19:00 - 22:00. Community Water Event (How It's Made Closing event in Balbriggan)
Location: The Warehouse
Bring a bottle of water and chat all things local water. From Swimming in the ocean to drinking water, the harbour and everything inn between. A local gathering to network with informative talks and social discussion about water in Balbriggan and Fingal and a bit of music to close out the Science Week events.
Invite your community group, friends or family to come along for a community Balbriggan gathering!
5th–13th November 2026
Swords, Co. Dublin
SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW: Thurs Nov 5th 16:30 - 19:30 How Its Made: The Shared Living System of Water...kicks off in Swords!
Location: Swords Castle but starts in the Atrium, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main St, Swords Demesne, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 X8Y2
Join a SNEAK PREVIEWS of HOW IT’S MADE 2026 in Swords Castle! A welcome reception with beverages and speakers in the atrium of Fingal County Council and then a tour of The Shared Living System of Water exhibition in Swords Castle across the street in advance of Science Week!
Join a presentation and discussion at 16:30 on the Future of Water before the tour of the exhibition at 17:30, and you’ll be able to meet the artists and talk about their journey and creations! A special music performance follows at 7pm.
The artists collaborated with researchers and scientists at Trinity College over the summer to examine how water impacts human life and the broader ecosystem and have produced engaging experiences in response.
The launch is one event in the HOW IT’S MADE series from November 7-13th for Science Week in Swords, with further events in Balbriggan as well.
The events are funded by Research Ireland with support from Fingal County Council in partnership with Smart Balbriggan, the CONNECT Centre and the SCÉAL Arts Collective.
23 Participating artists: Elaine Gaffney, Ann Conmy · Murielle Celis · Margot Galvin · Emily Fitzell · Catherine McDonald · Jo Kimmis · Anastasiia Kerdina · Fiona Marron · Nicola Geddes · Karl Mooney · James Hatton · Paul Malone · Nina McGowan · Francesco Pennacchio · Michael Fedorin · Darren Rogers · Domnick Sorace · Thomas Hendy · Leia Mocan · Christine Mackey · Petra Skyova
Participating Researchers: Dr. Muhammad Ali (Trinity College), Research Fellow Ciprian Briciu-Burghina (DCU Water Institute), Dr. Karolina Anielska (Trinity College), Eamonn Donlyn (Trinity College), Dr. Francesco Pennacchio (Webster Geneva, Switzerland)
BEHIND THE SCENES School Tours Swords: Thurs Nov 5th - Fri Nov 6th How Its Made - The Shared Living System of Water (Booking required)
Location: Walking Tour: Swords Castle, Bridge St, Townparks, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 X439
Book a guided walking tour behind the scenes of How It’s Made: The Shared Living System of Water for Science Week curated by Valeria Ceregini in Swords Castle, with Trinity College researchers and artists!
Tours are available each day between 10a-2p and last approximately 1 hour and 15 mins.
Wandering through the enchanting Swords Castle and see the inspiring creations developed by National artists and creative people!
Meet some of the Artists and learn how they collaborated with researchers and scientists at Trinity College to learn about the power and mystery of Water and how they produced engaging experiences in response to those learnings.
The Science Week events are funded by Research Ireland with support from Fingal County Council in partnership with Smart Balbriggan, the CONNECT Centre and the SCÉAL Arts Collective.
Contact information below to book a tour for your school or class!
email:
info@scealcollective.com
to book a tour!
Fri Nov 6th - Sun Nov 8th. Exhibition & Experiences: How It's Made: The Living System of Water (10a-5p daily)
Location: Swords Castle
Take a wander through the world of water through the eyes of creative artists, in a exhibition curated by Valeria Ceregini open daily from 10a-5p Swords Castle.
Artists collaborated with researchers and scientists at Trinity College over the summer to examine how water impacts human life and the broader ecosystem and have produced engaging experiences in response.
The exhibition is one event in the HOW IT’S MADE series for Science Week in Swords, with further events in Balbriggan as well through November 13th.
The events are funded by Research Ireland with support from Fingal County Council in partnership with Smart Balbriggan, the CONNECT Centre and the SCÉAL Arts Collective.
23 Participating artists: Elaine Gaffney, Ann Conmy · Murielle Celis · Margot Galvin · Emily Fitzell · Catherine McDonald · Jo Kimmis · Anastasiia Kerdina · Fiona Marron · Nicola Geddes · Karl Mooney · James Hatton · Paul Malone · Nina McGowan · Francesco Pennacchio · Michael Fedorin · Darren Rogers · Domnick Sorace · Thomas Hendy · Leia Mocan · Christine Mackey · Petra Skyova
Participating Researchers: Dr. Muhammad Ali (Trinity College), Research Fellow Ciprian Briciu-Burghina (DCU Water Institute), Dr. Karolina Anielska (Trinity College), Eamonn Donlyn (Trinity College), Dr. Francesco Pennacchio (Webster Geneva, Switzerland)
2026 How It’s Made Artists & Venues
Valeria Ceregini, Curator
Valeria Ceregini is an internationally active Italian curator, art historian and creative producer based in Ireland, specialising in ecological, transcultural and socially engaged contemporary art. Her independent curatorial practice explores the relationships between art, ecology, cultural identities and societal transformation, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and meaningful public engagement. Through exhibitions, commissions and international collaborations, she champions artists,
develops ambitious curatorial programmes and connects cultural institutions across borders. Her recent collaborations include Fingal County Council’s Arts Act 2026 and Westmeath County Council’s European Culture Presidency Programme. Valeria holds an MA in Communication Science, an MA (Hons) in History of Art and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies. She is also an accredited Relational Dynamic Coach and a Safe to Create signatory. Her professional development includes studies in art, ecology and environmental activism at NODE Centre, Berlin, and Wellbeing Coordination in the Arts and Creative Spaces at University College Cork.
2026 How It's Made, Artists & Creators
23 Participating artists: Elaine Gaffney, Ann Conmy · Murielle Celis · Margot Galvin · Emily Fitzell · Catherine McDonald · Jo Kimmis · Anastasiia Kerdina · Fiona Marron · Nicola Geddes · Karl Mooney · James Hatton · Paul Malone · Nina McGowan · Francesco Pennacchio · Michael Fedorin · Darren Rogers · Domnick Sorace · Thomas Hendy · Leia Mocan · Christine Mackey · Petra Skyova
Participating Researchers: Dr. Muhammad Ali (Trinity College), Research Fellow Ciprian Briciu-Burghina (DCU Water Institute), Dr. Karolina Anielska (Trinity College), Eamonn Donlyn (Trinity College), Dr. Francesco Pennacchio (Webster Geneva, Switzerland)
Swords Castle
Bridge St, Swords
The Lark
Church St, Balbriggan
The Warehouse
Vauxhall St, Balbriggan
The Warehouse: Home to the Brigg Bus every Weds 8-10p
About How It’s Made
About How It’s Made
Founded by the SCÉAL Collective and curator Valeria Ceregini, How It’s Made makes science, technology and environmental topics accessible, engaging and relevant through collaboration between artists, researchers and communities.
The 2026 event is funded and supported by Fingal County Council and Research Ireland, in partnership with Smart Balbriggan and the CONNECT Centre, Trinity College Dublin.
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how it’s made
The Living System of Water
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