Blanket Forts

In 2026, The Dock hosted a series of gatherings led by studio artist Shane Finan, as part of Storm Meitheal, to test a set of commons-based practices and protocols that can be activated before, during, and after storms. This included a community-led communication network, a pickling and food preserves workshop, and making shadow puppets to think about the future of community care. Storm Meitheal is rooted in a community-governed approach in Leitrim’s meitheal tradition of collective labour and care.

Blanket Forts (and other ways of sheltering) assembles a provisional redistribution site in the gallery space that brings together the community infrastructures from Storm Meitheal to consider community care and shelter as an integral part of climate resilience and disaster responsiveness. The organising principle of the space echoes an Irish phrase on mutual aid and interconnectedness: Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine, or we live in each other's shadow. The word 'scáth' can mean either shadow and shade or shelter and protection. Poet Pádraig Ó Tuama leans into the multivalence of meanings to translate the phrase: "It is in the shelter of each other that the people live."

The gallery space is organised as an evolving exhibition-environment and brings together artistic contributions from Shane Finan, Colm O’Neill, Paddy Critchley, Amy Bunce, Virginia L. Montgomery, and Storm Meitheal participants, curated by Erika Mei Chua Holum. The exhibition-environment includes a pickles and preserves pantry, zines, shadow puppet theatre, mesh network information, and storm resilience resources. The Storm Meitheal gatherings were part of a commoning experiment funded by Trans Europe Halles and the artistic contributions to Blanket Forts (and other ways of sheltering) are supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.

During Blanket Forts (and other ways of sheltering), Storm Meitheal will continue with a series of fireside chats. We want to hear about your experience of recent storms, to map supports and identify gaps, and to model commons-based protocols. How can a cultural space like The Dock adapt in climate emergencies? What assets can we co-organise as a shared resource for storm resilience? 

During Blanket Forts (and other ways of sheltering), The Dock will launch Climate Commons supported by the Decarbonising Zone (DZ) Demonstrator Fund and co-organised with members of the DZ Taskforce. Climate Commons is a community learning and exchange programme bringing people together to explore collective action and creative responses to climate change. 

The schedule of activities will be available on our website. If you would like to know more or to get involved, you can email us at thedockartscentre@gmail.com.