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Winning concept by NCAD students revealed in BAM sponsored competition

The winner of an animation competition sponsored by BAM UK & Ireland and the Community Benefit Programme with the aim to bring Ireland's New Children’s Hospital to life has been revealed.

The winning concept, The fox that brings flowers, was developed by students Jamie Craig, Myla Sirvyte, Robin Rösing and Grace O’Reilly from the National College of Art and Design (NCAD).

The competition forms part of BAM’s commitment to support local communities where it operates and offered an opportunity for BAM to collaborate closely with the students at NCAD and to support their career development. BAM sponsored the prize of €3,000 for the winning students.

The charming animation tells the story of a curious fox, who explores the new children’s hospital against the backcloth of the busy construction site, through the hospital concourse, passing patient rooms into the Rainbow Garden. As he explores, he leaves a trail of blooming grass and native plants behind for patients and families, representing how nature plays a role in the project.

The competition is part of the Community Benefit Programme for the New Children’s Hospital, which was established to ensure that surrounding communities benefit from the development. As part of the programme BAM launched the €500,000 BAM Community Benefit Fund for the New Children’s Hospital in 2020 to provide education bursaries and community grants, to support various community projects.

Ingrid McElroy, NPHDB’s Community Benefit Programme Manager said: “As the NCAD is the new children’s hospital’s neighbour in Dublin 8, we wanted this competition to bring the hospital to life for the students who live, work and study in the area. They interpreted and actioned the brief to a very high standard, culminating in this winning piece of moving art that will tell the story of the construction of the new children’s hospital for a very long time.

“The true success of the Community Benefit Programme is in the legacy it will leave. We are already seeing this in the jobs created, Education Bursaries and Community Benefit Grants awarded to local business and social enterprises. The College was fantastic to engage with and a sincere thanks goes to the students and Ed McGinley, lecturer in NCAD’s School of Moving Images”, she added.

Denis McCarthy, Regional Managing Director of BAM Ireland said: “Through our time working on the New Children’s Hospital project and immersing ourselves in the community, we have been impressed by the creativity of this area and have witnessed how the Community Benefit Programme has helped and supported community and voluntary projects, through employment, Education Bursaries and Community Benefit Grants. The BAM €500,000 Community Benefit Fund has made a significant difference to many community groups.”