Creativity as a process for change
My creative practice in community arts engagement developed at a young age volunteering at Belfast Royal Hospital's Art Therapy department as a teenager and as a artist in residence with the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health, which prepared me for my Foundation in Fine Art. This intensive one year 'taster' course was taught by the iconic Irish painter Neil Shawcross MBE RHA HRUA at Belfast Art College and was the bedrock I needed for my Fine Art and Psychology degree under the supervision of Fine Art Printmaker Pete Dover at the ecumenical Liverpool Hope University.
It was here in Liverpool where I began to explore social justice themes of faith and creativity for the common good set against the backdrop of both Catholic and Anglican Bishops, Worlock and Sheppard, witness of faith to each other to bridge historic sectarian divides and support working class communities, inspiring my committment to justice and peace initiatives.
I have been encouraged by my peer support group, 'Quadmas' who challenge and inform my critical thinking about social justice and creativity for the common good.
For more than 25 years, I've worked alongside communities, charities, artists, activists and public institutions to challenge inequality, in leadership, community development and stakeholder engagement roles - you can find out more on my LinkedIn profile here
After qualifying as a counsellor with the Leeds Centre for Psychological Development under the supervision of Robin Walford, I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy at Leeds Beckett University. My clinical practice at Touchstone and Leeds Irish Health and Homes deepened my understanding of trauma, identity, belonging and the ways systems shape individual and collective wellbeing.
Bronagh Daly FRSA
Creativity for the common good
"As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, my practice embeds a culture of care through creativity in my work as a Good Governance advisor and curator of creative projects and has continued my professional development in creative pedagogies for decolonial change, through the wisdom and support of Dr Lisa Stephenson.
As a Fine Art printmaker, I have been involved in the international print exchange 20:20 for the past three years through my membership of the Leeds Print Workshop and several community listening projects linked to my body of work entitled 'Wisdom: Rooted in Place' which started thanks to funding from the Leeds Church Institute in 2023"
Printmaking
My work explores themes of inclusion, care for creation and eschatology (end of times) and often reflects on the role of diaspora communities in urban settings to build resilient and harmonious communities.
Inspiration lies in my homeland and the mythological stories of ancient Ireland, which appears as a recurring theme of nature metaphores of toponyms, rivers, seeds and shapeshifting zoosemiotics.
My prints have been exhibited with the 20:20 Exchange and also used as a backdrop for retreats and workshops with clergy on some of the hardest to talk about social injustices, like climate racism and poverty.
Creative Production
It has been a real joy to curate exhibitions, host talks and direct arts festivals. Working with theatre, performing arts, dance and LIVE arts organisations to stage immersive productions in churches, libraries and shopping centres has led me to work with inspirational partners including the Lagos based, PawPaw Studios and the founders of Lagos Fringe where we co-produced 'Esther's Revenge' at the Leeds Minster.
In the summer of 2026 I joined a community ensemble in Josephine Burton's immersive ingenuity 'Our Public House' at the Leeds Playhouse - an exhilorating experinece!
My work as creative director for the Art Theology festival saw exhibitions, workshops and talks hosted at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Leeds Art Gallery as well as community based 'Creativity Catalyst' in local church spaces.
Creative Writing
I use poetry and creative writing in my screen printing and workshops and it is great fun to host 'Ekphrastic Workshops' for change makers. My poetry has been included in 'The Holdings' anthology and short story published in 'From the Cauldron' anthology.
I have recently toured the 'Chair of Sanctuary' a collaborative textile screen print project with local poet Rachel Flint through the 'Writing on Air' festival.
I am passionate about supporting young people in the expression of their radical imagination and has recently launched the Leeds Children's Creative Writing Awards in partnership with the Grammar School at Leeds and the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.
Pro bono support
I volunteer my time with several organisations in Leeds where I live with my young family.
As a Director of the Leeds Literature Festival my time is spent focused on developing the fundraising strategy and volunteer management.
In the role of Interim Chair of the Board of Trustees at COMPASS Live Art Festival I work alongside my fellow directors, to ensure the charity's mission of animating the city of Leeds with interactive art projects in public spaces created by ambitious artists is realised.
Linked to my faith tradition, I am a member of the Steering Group of SPARK Social Justice based at the Leeds Catholic Diocese which helps me to put my faith into action and support young people to engage in social justice.
Recently I have been invited to join the steering group of the Leeds International African Arts Festival (LIAAF) and co-produce diaspora arts events with their Creative Director, Ndidi Nkwopara.
