‘Respect and Empathy’ Exhibition

Today saw the launch of the ‘Respect and Empathy’ Exhibition of student artwork, which was hosted by the renowned Irish artist Maser in his gallery Atelier Now in Dublin in collaboration with the Irish Safer Internet Centre.

The exhibition features 12 individual artworks, selected by Maser, celebrating the theme of respect and empathy online from students in primary and post-primary schools across Ireland. The exhibition runs from today until Saturday, September 30.

The artists took part in an art competition as part of Safer Internet Day (SID), and their entries were required to reflect the theme of this year’s SID, which was “Promoting Respect and Empathy Online”.

The Irish Safer Internet Centre is a partnership between Webwise, ISPCC, National Parents Council Primary and Hotline.ie. It provides a range of complementary online safety services, including an education and awareness centre, child and parent helplines and a hotline.

At the event, the Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett launched the new Webwise Junior Cycle SPHE Unit of Learning: The Respect Effect.

The aim of this educational resource is to empower students to recognise and take action against online bullying, through their own positive actions and behaviours and through helping to create an anti-bullying environment on a school-wide level.