On 13th of June 2025 Eurofound celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of events, including an Open Day at its historic Loughlinstown headquarters.

An exhibition of work by graduating IADT students was showcased throughout the June celebrations, garnering significant attention at the Open Day. The IADT exhibition was initiated by Mark Joyce and led by Dr Siobhán O’Gorman and Dr Jeremiah Ambrose, with support from Eimhin McNamara, Steven Nestor, Ali Kemal Ali and Carmel Mannion. Sarah Foley and Ciara Murnane co-curated the exhibition with the assistance of Sean Kelly, Kassandre Lojek-Garcia and Eva Mahon. Elevate and FilmEU funded the initiative.

Eurofound’s Open Day attendees explored the 17th-century Loughlinstown House, met staff from 21 EU Member States, and enjoyed coffee, cake, and a complimentary barbecue. The day welcomed over 300 visitors, including local residents and schoolchildren, bringing the community into direct contact with Ireland’s only EU agency.

The Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT) showcased the creativity of its students, standing alongside contributions from the European Commission Liaison Office, European Movement Ireland, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

President David Smith’s Reflections

In his speech, IADT President David Smith shared a deeply personal connection with both education and European support. Reflecting on his own path, he described how the European Social Fund created the opportunity that transformed his life:

“Securing the ESF-funded place in Dún Laoghaire College of Art was the key sliding-doors moment for me both personally and professionally, and I acknowledge this with the deepest gratitude and thanks to Eurofound and the Commission.”

Smith praised Eurofound’s enduring contribution to Irish and European society, noting the alignment of values between the agency and IADT:

“Eurofound and IADT share core values: a belief in inclusion, social justice, evidence-led action, and the power of knowledge to shape better futures.”

Looking to the future, he underlined the potential of collaboration between research and creativity:

“Imagine what we could achieve pairing Eurofound’s in-depth analytical research with the storytelling and visual power of our students and staff. It’s a collaboration that truly could shape public understanding of complex issues and support a more inclusive and creative Europe.”

He closed by affirming IADT’s readiness to contribute to the next chapter of Eurofound’s mission:

“As educators, creatives, and researchers, we at IADT are ready to partner with you and to support the next 50 years… here’s to a future built together with evidence, imagination, and purpose.”

A Shared Vision

Other speakers echoed this message of collaboration and impact. Regina Doherty, MEP, highlighted the value of unbiased evidence in policymaking, while Ivailo Kalfin, Eurofound’s Executive Director, described the agency’s unique role in combining European analysis with strong community roots in Dublin.

The Open Day not only celebrated Eurofound’s past but also shone a light on the opportunities ahead – where institutions such as IADT and Eurofound can work side by side to support a more inclusive, creative, and resilient Europe.

Having been selected by a Eurofound panel, we are grateful to the following IADT students for exhibiting their work: Emer Cogan, David Walsh, Katelyn O’Connor, Deva Cervera, Ana Bates, Jessica Doyle, Jody Abernathy, Eimear Carvill, Amber Amelia Kelly, Maria Balan, Charlie O’Shea, Andrea Terry, James Kelly, Miguel Reis, Rachel Ahern, Eabha Ni Lionain, Vanessa Brennan, Adrian Uzzaman, Ellen Carroll, India De Witt, Anastassia Varabiova, Lukas Dwane, Hazel Murray, Keziah Platt, Alexandra Ni Laoghaire, Nicola Byrne, Brigid O’Hare, Áindréas Fallon Verbruggen, Eilis O’Neill, Holly Emerson Byrne, Isabelle MacNeaney, Kate Hamilton, Laura Masterson, Lili Dora, Nicole Morgan Diez, and Saorla Martin.

Click here to watch IADT at Eurofound’s 50th-Anniversary Open Day