Ballina's youth to benefit from new studio

On the top floor of Ballina Arts Centre is a space where young people and adults alike can learn to DJ, produce music, create podcasts, edit videos, and explore their passion for digital creativity while meeting others who share similar interests.

Organic Flow Studio is a creative technology hub that offers workshops and tutoring sessions in everything from music production, podcasting, and DJing, to video editing, animation, graphic design and content creation.

Digital wellbeing, online safety and AI literacy are also woven into its teaching, helping members understand not just how to use new technologies, but how to use them responsibly.

The studio itself is equipped with industry-standard technology, including DJ decks, vinyl turntables, digital controllers, a recording studio, a vocal recording booth and creative spaces for iPad illustration and digital design.

Ballina native Ryan Cawley is the founder and lead tutor of the studio.

Before setting up the studio, he spent five years bringing mobile creative technology workshops to communities with little or no access to professional equipment.

Over the past year, Ryan and the studio’s team of tutors have worked with schools, youth clubs, disability organisations and community groups throughout Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon.

Alongside the studio, they deliver outreach programmes, bringing workshops directly into schools and organisations.

Although the studio has been working with organisations since opening its doors last year, it officially launched to the wider public last month.

Members of the community can now join the studio to either develop their pre-existing creative skills or learn a completely new one.

Ryan said keeping the studio affordable was a priority. Alongside low-cost membership options, the studio also offers a no-questions-asked scholarship scheme for anyone who cannot afford the monthly fee, ensuring money isn't a barrier to learning new skills.

“Access is a big part of why this studio exists. It's important to give the chance to learn a new skill set to younger people,” Ryan said.

The idea for the studio space grew from a conversation with Ballina Arts Centre director Paul Cunningham.

"There was a spare room, and it was sitting idle," Ryan explained. "We said, 'Why not make it into a music room for music technology?' That then developed into an audio and visual studio.” 

While the equipment is industry-standard, Ryan says the studio was designed to feel approachable, describing the space as a mix of a home setup and a professional studio.

"We have lots of young people coming in, and a studio can feel quite intimidating. We intentionally tried to make it a fun space so people feel comfortable in here," he said. "It's a nice space. It's small, it's functional."

He hopes the space will become a place where people feel they belong, where they can pursue their creative interests and meet others who share the same passion.

"Not everyone is into sports or climbing a mountain," he said. "It's nice to meet people from different walks of life that you might not have met otherwise, and find out you have this shared common interest.

"The studio offers that chance to meet up with other people who are doing something similar rather than doing it by yourself at home,” he added.

That sense of community is central to everything Organic Flow Studio does.

Following the official opening, Organic Flow Studio launched its newest initiative, 'Crews’, giving members the opportunity to connect with others who share their creative interests.

Whether they are complete beginners or have some experience in a particular area, members can join a Crew to develop their skills alongside like-minded people.

Crews are split into under-18s and over-18s, and are then grouped according to their interests, whether that's DJing, podcasting, music production or another creative discipline.

Every two weeks, the Crews come together to share ideas, develop their skills, and collaborate on projects.

Although much of the studio's work focuses on young people between the ages of 12 and 17, its doors are open to anyone in the community interested in creative technology.

Children as young as eight have taken part in programmes, while adults of all ages are becoming members.

Ryan's background in youth work and social care has shaped the philosophy behind Organic Flow Studio.

Rather than simply teaching technical skills, he wants to encourage young people to think differently about the digital world they interact with every day.

"When I walk into organisations, I see lots of young people on their phones, and I first ask them what they're consuming," he said. "I then ask them, 'How would you create that?

"Maybe they're watching their favourite streamer on YouTube, and you ask them how that video was put together. You help make them think about it in a different way. Usually, they haven't thought about that themselves before."

Helping young people become creators rather than consumers is one of the studio's core aims, and Ryan believes those creative skills are becoming increasingly valuable.

"These are really current skills," he said. "For employability, this can help to open doors. Businesses are now looking for people with these digital skill sets."

Ryan is equally passionate about ensuring these opportunities to learn new skill sets are available regardless of location.

"There aren't many other spaces like this in the west," he said. "I think there's a problem with social isolation and getting access to good resources. Cities, understandably, often have more opportunities. This studio is about giving people here those same opportunities."

The impact of Organic Flow Studios is already beginning to show.

Those who have used the studio have gone on to perform at community events, including the Flow Community Project Disco, which takes place during the Salmon Festival, and also at Culture Night in Ballina.

Looking ahead, Ryan hopes today's members will become tomorrow's tutors.

"What I would love to see is the young people take the space over," he said. "We want to create opportunities where those who show a particular interest can become tutors themselves and teach workshops. 

"They're building their own CV, their own confidence, but they're also helping shape what the studio becomes in the future."

As Organic Flow Studio continues to grow, Ryan hopes more people across Mayo will walk through its doors, whether they're curious about music production, podcasting, filmmaking, graphic design, or simply looking for a welcoming place to meet others with similar interests.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of Organic Flow Studio can get in touch with Ryan and the team at info@organicflow.ie.

To find out more about the studio, visit www.organicflow.ie or follow them on Instagram at @organicflow.studio.

The team is currently welcoming new members and would also love to hear from anyone interested in joining as a tutor.