ARTS
In early 2016, Carlow County Council launched its vision for local arts development over the coming six years through its Local Arts Development Plan 2016 - 2021. Launched by The Arts Council of Ireland, Director, Orla McBride, the plan highlights the strategic priorities for local arts development over the coming six years. The plan clarifies Carlow County Council's priorities for its investment in the arts and it sets out clear and decisive strategies under three key objectives to lead, nurture and sustain the arts across County Carlow. Central to the plan is the articulation of the distinct and leading role the County Council has in local arts development through its Arts Service, now a mature service of 15years.
Throughout 2016 workshops were held in order to outline the key objectives and actions outlined in the plan, further information about the key objectives for 2016 can be found in the Local Arts Development Plan 2016 - 2021 which is available by contacting the Arts Service or downloading from www.carlow.ie.
Launch of Local Arts Development Plan February 2016
Arts Funding 2016
Arts Council Funding for local arts provision in 2016: The Arts Council of Ireland awarded €67,300 to Carlow County Council through its Annual Revenue Funding. In 2016 Carlow County Council's investment in the arts was €852,269.
Carlow County Council continues to invest significantly across a number of key strategic areas that include venues such as VISUAL, we invest in our artists and communities through professional development, bursaries, grants, advice and support and through key strategic youth arts initiatives such as Music Generation Carlow and County Carlow Youth Theatre. Additionally the Arts Office supported a number of highlight initiatives such as leading and coordinating Culture Night and were also centrally involved in the important centenary celebrations as part of Carlow County Councils programme of art commissions during 2016.
Alongside the Local Enterprise Office Carlow County Council Arts Office continues to invest in Festivals such as Carlow Arts Festival, Pan Celtic International Festival, The Festival of Writing and Ideas at Borris, County Carlow and a number of other countywide cultural festivals who continue to showcase the very best in Irish and International artists and attract significant cultural tourists to the county.
1916 - 2016 Commemorations and Celebrations
Bagenalstown Commission
In April 2016 the unveiling in Bagenalstown through the Muinebheag Municipal District 1916 memorial to commemorate Fr. Bibby and Nurse Kehoe took place. The event was well attended and included a procession from Market Square, Bagenalstown led by Carlow Pipe Band and an unveiling ceremony at the memorial site with guest speaker Dr. Maurice Manning. The Arts Office managed the process of commissioning Carlow Stone, Ballon.
Stained Glass Commission
Carlow County Council Arts Office managed the commissioning process of a stained glass mural for the 1916 commemorations that was installed in early May 2016 in the County Museum Carlow town by artist Peadar Lamb. This commission will act as a legacy piece that marks our history while looking to future generations to remember and reflect. The commission depicts the key Carlow figures: Michael O'Hanrahan executed in 1916, a figure of national significance in the uprising. O'Hanrahan is set against the Proclamation which extends over an image of Nurse Margaret Kehoe who lost her life at Easter 1916 while tending the wounded in the Dublin Union (the first civilian killed). To her right is Father Albert Bibby OFM CAP, Bagenalstown who ministered to rebel prisoners and their families and Thomas Traynor from Tullow executed in 1921 is surrounded by his 10 children. In front of Traynor are 15 bullets each representing the 15 executed by firing squad in 1916.
This commission was shortlisted for a Chambers Ireland's Excellence in Local Government Awards 2016 under the category Centenaries and Commemorations and during Heritage Week of August 1916 Peadar Lamb was in conversation at a public event in Carlow with Irelan'’s leading Art Historian and Curator Catherine Marshall organised through the Carlow County Council Arts Office.
Unveiling of the stained glass commission in County Carlow Museum May 2016,by artist Peadar Lamb (Central figure bottom of stairs), along with Cathaoirleach Cllr John Murphy, Mayor of Carlow Municipal District Cllr Fintan Phelan staff of Carlow County Council, Board and staff of County Carlow Museum and curator and leading Irish art historian Catherine Marshall.
Stories of 1916. "The Seeds Were Well Planted"
Commissioned through the County Council Arts Office this 1916 project was by artist Michael Fortune and was researched locally during the Centenary year and culminated in the final event that take place as a Concert, Seminar, Tour and Screening in Rathanna Hall, Rathanna, Co. Carlow on 31st of December 2016. The New Years Eve event explored the lead up to and post 1916 Rising from a Carlow perspective and set about commemorating and celebrating the people, stories and songs from that period. The day long event featured public talks, readings, tours and screenings, followed by a concert of traditional music and song featuring singers from The 1916 Song Project and Children of the Revolution.
To view the detailed programme and research please visit www.storiesof1916.com or facebook.com/1916StoriesfromCarlow
County Carlow Youth Theatre "How To Live" Commission as part of the centenary celebrations
A highlight of the County Carlow Youth Theatre calendar was the production of How To Live a play developed from conversations and workshops with the young people of Carlow, led by their own ideas and thoughts about trying to figure it all out in contemporary Ireland today. The play was written by Eimear Cheasty (youth theatre leader/tutor) and directed by Liam Halligan respected actor and director. The project was supported by Carlow County Council and The Arts Council of Ireland through the Young Ensembles Scheme and in partnership with VISUAL. The play premiered in September, 2016 and attracted an audience of over 300 people.
Artists and Community Grants
In 2016, The Arts Offices of Carlow County Council awarded a number of artists and community groups The 2003 Arts Act permits a local authority to provide financial assistance for the purposes of stimulating public interest in the arts, promoting the knowledge, appreciation and practices of the arts, or improving standards in the arts. In this act, the expression "the arts" means creative or interpretative expression (traditional or contemporary) in whatever form and includes in particular visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture. These grants are set in two competitions, one for individual artists living in Carlow or who are from Carlow to enable them to pursue their practice and to develop within their chosen discipline.
Total Budget 2016 Artist Grant allocation was €14,000. 17 applications were received with a total fund of €27,862.05 sought. Following assessment by an external panel 12 individual grant applications were awarded to artists from across the County.
The second available grant scheme is under organisations/community groups who wish to undertake an art related activity or project, 16 community organisations and groups received funding in 2016 that included: Aspiro; Barrow Valley Group of Painters; Blackstairs Film Society; Blueprint Artists Network, Borris Vocational School; Carlow College of Music; Carlow Little Theatre Society; Carlow Photographic Society; Carlow Pipe Band; Carlow Writers Co-operative; County Carlow Women's Network; CRYS, Skits Group; Irish Wheelchair Association; Myshall Muintintir na Tire; Striking Productions; and Presentation School Band. A total of €40,827.50 was sought and a total budget of €22,000 in 2016 was available and awarded.
Carlow Pipe Band, one of the recipients of Arts Acts Grants, 2016
County Carlow Youth Theatre annual programme
County Carlow Youth Theatre is an initiative and managed through Carlow County Council Arts Office since 2000. During 2016 CCYT officially became resident in VISUAL so that young people in the county can access the youth theatre, with full access to the theatre, an office and the artistic programme.
CCYT is a long term youth arts development initiative and affiliated with Carlow Regional Youth Service.
Carlow Youth Theatre started the new year with a full schedule. Workshops took place which included a programme for 11-14 year-olds, and 15-19 year-olds. CCYT is open to all young people throughout the county and welcomes all young people regardless of background and/or experience. Sile Penkert and Eimear Cheaty are the facilitators.
Some members of Carlow Youth Theatre
Music Generation Carlow
The Music Generation Carlow continues to transform music education in Carlow and supports over 5,500 young people who are actively involved in the schools and communities music programme throughout the county weekly and they contract 32 musicians to work across the county. This represents the largest music education partnership in the country.
Led by Music Generation Carlow Co-ordinator Paula Phelan based in the Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board, the lead partner of Music Generation Carlow and funded and supported by Carlow County Council.
In early 2016 Ballinabrannagh National School became the first "Music Rich" School in Carlow with the unveiling of the Music Generations "Music Rich" School's plaque in the school foyer followed by a rousing performance by the schools choir headed by Music Generations Aideen Byrne.
The Mount Leinster Traditional Music Festival in Borris Vocational School was held in February 2016. Groups travelled from all over Ireland, including Carlow, Laois, Wicklow, Sligo, May and Dublin. The festival included two main concerts, workshops and session for young musicians from around the country. Music Generation Carlow organised it's first children's music festival- CURIOSO that took place in March and was sold out. CURIOSO featured 3 events aimed at Early Years age groups (3-5 years) and childcare settings and will took place in Tinryland GAA, Tinryland Parish Hall and Scoil Mhuire gan Smal NS.
Borris Vocational School pupils were involved in the largest Nations Voice commissioned choral works that took place at Colins Barracks Dublin as part of the centenary celebrations on Easter Sunday.
Music Generation has also launched a new initiative entitled Rock School for young people aged between 13-18 years and interested in learning more about song-writing, recording producing, band development and the music industry. This brilliant opportunity with MG Carlow at the Rock School @ The Vault, Burrin Street, Carlow in association with CRYS
During the summer months Music Generation Carlow hosted the Carlow Young Creatives project here in Carlow, facilitated by Wall2Wall Music, and it has certainly been an exciting program. Not only did one of the 5 bands perform their track live on local radio but an official release of all tracks and videos happened online and on social media forums.
Young ambassadors from Carlow perform with U2's The Edge at the Sistine Chapel
A choir of seven Music Generation Young Ambassadors, including four young singers from Carlow, joined U2 guitarist The Edge in making history as they performed live at the Sistine Chapel, Rome, on Saturday, 30 April as part of a conference on regenerative medicine, Cellular Horizons. Abbie Kelly (age 13, Straboe), Cillian Dooley (age 16, Carlow), Katie Brennan (age 14, Pollerton) and Joe Jennings (age 16, Nurney) were joined by young singers from Mayo and Cork City for this momentous occasion - the first ever performance by a contemporary artist at the Vatican. Other Music Generation Carlow events included Recorder Week, Reelig Auditions, and 7 Vocal Concerts and also the Gala Concert which took place in May along with the Gala Concerts that allowed participants to showcase their talents over two magical nights of performance from young musical ambassadors throughout County Carlow.
Sing Carlow - Encore Vocal Performances!
A week long event for schools involved in the Music Generation Carlow Vocal programme. 1200 children from around Co. Carlow participated in this event that ran in May 2016.
Culture Night Carlow
Culture Night Carlow took place in September 2016. Led by Carlow County Council Arts Office, Culture Night Carlow hosted a Cultural Trail of highly accessible, free of charge, family friendly events devised by local artists, music and cultural groups, communities, public spaces, and clubs. The premise behind Culture Night is to offer people the opportunity to sample forms of culture they may not normally make time for. It is also a reminder of what we have all around us, often on our doorsteps, every day and night of the year.
Fourteen events were programmed for Culture Night Carlow 2016, which attracted 860 visitors to the eight venues involved including Carlow Library and County Museum, St. Patrick's College Carlow, Carlow Arts Festival, VISUAL, IT Carlow, Carlow Gymnastics Club and the Old Town Hall.
Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the Arts. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access to the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge.
The Dresser Project by artist Michael Fortune
As part of the Bealtaine Festival in May 2016, this project managed through the arts office, clearly captured the interest of the community. Initially, the work involved the counties of Carlow, Mayo, Waterford and Tipperary. Michael travelled each county documenting Irish Dressers through a combination of photography, film and story. A public call was put out in 2016 across the county. The artist visited a series of homes around the Tullow area of the county and discovered a style of dresser which seems to have been made in the town during the late 1920's. One particular dresser, from Carmel Brennan, was made by her late father in 1929 and features a blessing which reads, God Bless Our Home. Carmel told Michael "how the dresser is a family heirloom and how it plays a central role in the lives of her relatives and friends". The dresser, which was brought "home by ass and cart from Tullow", a distance of 4 miles, has remained in the house since. (see below). Over 10 dressers from county Carlow were presented as an event and exhibition in County Library Headquarters, Carlow.
For further information is also avawww.thedresserproject.ie
Framework for Collaboration a new partnership initiative between Local Authorities and The Arts Council of Ireland
In 2016 the Arts Council of Ireland invited local authorities to apply for a new scheme Invitation to Collaborate award. Nationally 19 applications were received by Arts Officers and Carlow County Council Arts Office was one of just 6 local authorities to secure €71,000 funding for a specific project centered in the Tullow Road area of Carlow. (Maximum awards available were €75,000 and Carlow received the highest award).
In September 2016, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Cllr John Murphy along staff of the Arts Office and Community Section of Carlow County Council along with staff of Carlow County Development Partnership and Community Reps from the Tullow Road area and the Director of Take a Part UK went to the Arts Council of Ireland, in Dublin for the official announcement of the project idea Take A Part Carlow by Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys TD.
Take a Part Carlow, is a project initiated by the Arts Office to break down barriers of what art is and how it can act as a tool to transform local communities, creating opportunities for social exchanges, participation, access and involvement in decisions relating to their direct locale. Take a Part Carlow will over 18 months engage directly with Young and Older People in the Tullow Road area through agencies working there including Carlow Regional Youth Services and Carlow County Development Partnership.
Through work on the ground in late 2016 a local area Arts Action Group was formed to work specifically on this project made up primarily of community representatives, and local agencies. The aim of this group is to oversee the commissioning process of four key art commissions in this local area that are participatory and socially engaging.
Carlow Writer in Residence Programme
In 2016 Carlow County Council Arts Office in partnership with County Carlow Library Services initiated and supported this new Writer in Residence Programme. Following an open call writer John MacKenna successfully was awarded third multi annual residency. This initiative is free and open to all emerging writers across County Carlow who are interested in writing or interested in the idea of beginning to tell their stories.
In 2016 a series of workshops in Carlow, Bagenalstown, Borris and Tullow libraries took place. Throughout 2016 writers met on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays and three groups of up to 50 local people were established. The writers group in 2016 held public readings as a fringe event during Carlow Arts Festival - in June and participated in Penfest in September in Carlow Library, along with a number of other readings. Throughout 2016 each participating author was closing mentored by John MacKenna.
Artlinks
ArtLinks is a partnership of the four Local Authority Arts Offices in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford . It is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion. ArtLinks provides professional development opportunities and supports for established and emerging artists who are resident in the four partner local authority areas in the South East region. In 2016 14 local artists were supported and mentored across the county that included Enda Bowe, Rennie Beunting, Janice de Broithe, Joe Campbell, Deirdre Parkes, Caroline Cunningham, Gillian Daly, Pure Thinking Group, Municipal District of Carlow and Nuala Dalton, Orla Ryan, Emma Martin, Liam O'Neill, Helen Robbins, Angela Keogh, Municipal District of Bagenalstown.
Carlow Arts Festival in Partnership with Carlow County Council Site Works
In the Local Arts Development Plan a key objective is to increase opportunities for artists and communities to participate in the Arts as well as increasing commissioning opportunities for artists.
Site Works is a new initiative between Carlow Arts Festival and Carlow County Council Arts Office that sees temporary site specific commissions in Carlow during the festival in June. http://carlowartsfestival.com/siteworks
In 2016 three commissions were awarded to artists Steven Maher who presented Follow me up to Carlow at Carlow Castle, a temporary kinetic sculpture with a tractor and bag pipes! Angela Fulcher's "Banner" sited in the grounds of the hidden gardens of Carlow College and Lottering Theatre, who presented a temporary site specific work at the Carlow Browneshill Dolmen Truffauts Code, inspired by the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
VISUAL
In 2016 Carlow County Council invested €585,000 in VISUAL and continues to prioritise VISUAL Carlow as a significant cultural asset to Carlow and the region. VISUAL continues to nurture artistic excellence through its many programmes across both gallery and theatre spaces. VISUAL work in partnership with a wide sector including education, business, tourism and champions its role in place making and shaping. VISUAL is a significant cultural hub within the southeast region. As well as showcasing artists of local, national and international significance. In 2016 VISUAL continued to grow it audience figures, began the process of strategic development with a view to publishing their first strategic plan in 2017 and developed an Engagement Policy which provides a framework for access and participation to VISUAL across a multitude of diverse audiences with the emphasis being on local engagement with communities of interest and place.
In 2016, visitor numbers to VISUAL have continued to rise. Gallery audience figures have increased by 7% on 2015. Corporate rental attendance added an additional 1675 to the 2016 theatre attendance figures, bringing the total theatre attendance to 28237. When added to gallery visitors, this brings the total visitor numbers to 65,757 in 2016.
VISUAL continues to make a significant impact to the local economy, with the majority of funding received from the Local Authority remaining within the local economy via locally-sourced services, supplies and wages. In addition to this, Lennon's Restaurant provides employment for approximately 18 staff, also sourcing many supplies and services locally. Visiting performers, crews, artists, technicians and stage hands required an estimated 350 bed nights in Carlow throughout the year. VISUAL attracted an audience of almost 66,000 people in 2016, resulting in additional spend on goods, services and accommodation in the area.
Within our galleries audience survey, 41% of visitors were from Carlow town and county, 45% were from the rest of Leinster, 3% were from the rest of Ireland and 11% from overseas. Of those gallery visitors surveyed, 20% were staying overnight in Carlow, again generating additional spend.
For further information please see www.visualcarlow.ie
Throughout 2016 workshops were held in order to outline the key objectives and actions outlined in the plan, further information about the key objectives for 2016 can be found in the Local Arts Development Plan 2016 - 2021 which is available by contacting the Arts Service or downloading from www.carlow.ie.
Launch of Local Arts Development Plan February 2016Arts Council Funding for local arts provision in 2016: The Arts Council of Ireland awarded €67,300 to Carlow County Council through its Annual Revenue Funding. In 2016 Carlow County Council's investment in the arts was €852,269.
Carlow County Council continues to invest significantly across a number of key strategic areas that include venues such as VISUAL, we invest in our artists and communities through professional development, bursaries, grants, advice and support and through key strategic youth arts initiatives such as Music Generation Carlow and County Carlow Youth Theatre. Additionally the Arts Office supported a number of highlight initiatives such as leading and coordinating Culture Night and were also centrally involved in the important centenary celebrations as part of Carlow County Councils programme of art commissions during 2016.
Alongside the Local Enterprise Office Carlow County Council Arts Office continues to invest in Festivals such as Carlow Arts Festival, Pan Celtic International Festival, The Festival of Writing and Ideas at Borris, County Carlow and a number of other countywide cultural festivals who continue to showcase the very best in Irish and International artists and attract significant cultural tourists to the county.
1916 - 2016 Commemorations and Celebrations
Bagenalstown Commission
Carlow County Council Arts Office managed the commissioning process of a stained glass mural for the 1916 commemorations that was installed in early May 2016 in the County Museum Carlow town by artist Peadar Lamb. This commission will act as a legacy piece that marks our history while looking to future generations to remember and reflect. The commission depicts the key Carlow figures: Michael O'Hanrahan executed in 1916, a figure of national significance in the uprising. O'Hanrahan is set against the Proclamation which extends over an image of Nurse Margaret Kehoe who lost her life at Easter 1916 while tending the wounded in the Dublin Union (the first civilian killed). To her right is Father Albert Bibby OFM CAP, Bagenalstown who ministered to rebel prisoners and their families and Thomas Traynor from Tullow executed in 1921 is surrounded by his 10 children. In front of Traynor are 15 bullets each representing the 15 executed by firing squad in 1916.
This commission was shortlisted for a Chambers Ireland's Excellence in Local Government Awards 2016 under the category Centenaries and Commemorations and during Heritage Week of August 1916 Peadar Lamb was in conversation at a public event in Carlow with Irelan'’s leading Art Historian and Curator Catherine Marshall organised through the Carlow County Council Arts Office.
Unveiling of the stained glass commission in County Carlow Museum May 2016,by artist Peadar Lamb (Central figure bottom of stairs), along with Cathaoirleach Cllr John Murphy, Mayor of Carlow Municipal District Cllr Fintan Phelan staff of Carlow County Council, Board and staff of County Carlow Museum and curator and leading Irish art historian Catherine Marshall.Stories of 1916. "The Seeds Were Well Planted"
To view the detailed programme and research please visit www.storiesof1916.com or facebook.com/1916StoriesfromCarlow
Artists and Community Grants
In 2016, The Arts Offices of Carlow County Council awarded a number of artists and community groups The 2003 Arts Act permits a local authority to provide financial assistance for the purposes of stimulating public interest in the arts, promoting the knowledge, appreciation and practices of the arts, or improving standards in the arts. In this act, the expression "the arts" means creative or interpretative expression (traditional or contemporary) in whatever form and includes in particular visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture. These grants are set in two competitions, one for individual artists living in Carlow or who are from Carlow to enable them to pursue their practice and to develop within their chosen discipline.
Total Budget 2016 Artist Grant allocation was €14,000. 17 applications were received with a total fund of €27,862.05 sought. Following assessment by an external panel 12 individual grant applications were awarded to artists from across the County.
The second available grant scheme is under organisations/community groups who wish to undertake an art related activity or project, 16 community organisations and groups received funding in 2016 that included: Aspiro; Barrow Valley Group of Painters; Blackstairs Film Society; Blueprint Artists Network, Borris Vocational School; Carlow College of Music; Carlow Little Theatre Society; Carlow Photographic Society; Carlow Pipe Band; Carlow Writers Co-operative; County Carlow Women's Network; CRYS, Skits Group; Irish Wheelchair Association; Myshall Muintintir na Tire; Striking Productions; and Presentation School Band. A total of €40,827.50 was sought and a total budget of €22,000 in 2016 was available and awarded.
Carlow Pipe Band, one of the recipients of Arts Acts Grants, 2016Some members of Carlow Youth Theatre The Music Generation Carlow continues to transform music education in Carlow and supports over 5,500 young people who are actively involved in the schools and communities music programme throughout the county weekly and they contract 32 musicians to work across the county. This represents the largest music education partnership in the country.
Led by Music Generation Carlow Co-ordinator Paula Phelan based in the Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board, the lead partner of Music Generation Carlow and funded and supported by Carlow County Council.
In early 2016 Ballinabrannagh National School became the first "Music Rich" School in Carlow with the unveiling of the Music Generations "Music Rich" School's plaque in the school foyer followed by a rousing performance by the schools choir headed by Music Generations Aideen Byrne.
The Mount Leinster Traditional Music Festival in Borris Vocational School was held in February 2016. Groups travelled from all over Ireland, including Carlow, Laois, Wicklow, Sligo, May and Dublin. The festival included two main concerts, workshops and session for young musicians from around the country. Music Generation Carlow organised it's first children's music festival- CURIOSO that took place in March and was sold out. CURIOSO featured 3 events aimed at Early Years age groups (3-5 years) and childcare settings and will took place in Tinryland GAA, Tinryland Parish Hall and Scoil Mhuire gan Smal NS.
Borris Vocational School pupils were involved in the largest Nations Voice commissioned choral works that took place at Colins Barracks Dublin as part of the centenary celebrations on Easter Sunday.
Music Generation has also launched a new initiative entitled Rock School for young people aged between 13-18 years and interested in learning more about song-writing, recording producing, band development and the music industry. This brilliant opportunity with MG Carlow at the Rock School @ The Vault, Burrin Street, Carlow in association with CRYS
During the summer months Music Generation Carlow hosted the Carlow Young Creatives project here in Carlow, facilitated by Wall2Wall Music, and it has certainly been an exciting program. Not only did one of the 5 bands perform their track live on local radio but an official release of all tracks and videos happened online and on social media forums.
Young ambassadors from Carlow perform with U2's The Edge at the Sistine Chapel
A choir of seven Music Generation Young Ambassadors, including four young singers from Carlow, joined U2 guitarist The Edge in making history as they performed live at the Sistine Chapel, Rome, on Saturday, 30 April as part of a conference on regenerative medicine, Cellular Horizons. Abbie Kelly (age 13, Straboe), Cillian Dooley (age 16, Carlow), Katie Brennan (age 14, Pollerton) and Joe Jennings (age 16, Nurney) were joined by young singers from Mayo and Cork City for this momentous occasion - the first ever performance by a contemporary artist at the Vatican. Other Music Generation Carlow events included Recorder Week, Reelig Auditions, and 7 Vocal Concerts and also the Gala Concert which took place in May along with the Gala Concerts that allowed participants to showcase their talents over two magical nights of performance from young musical ambassadors throughout County Carlow.
Sing Carlow - Encore Vocal Performances!
A week long event for schools involved in the Music Generation Carlow Vocal programme. 1200 children from around Co. Carlow participated in this event that ran in May 2016.
Culture Night Carlow took place in September 2016. Led by Carlow County Council Arts Office, Culture Night Carlow hosted a Cultural Trail of highly accessible, free of charge, family friendly events devised by local artists, music and cultural groups, communities, public spaces, and clubs. The premise behind Culture Night is to offer people the opportunity to sample forms of culture they may not normally make time for. It is also a reminder of what we have all around us, often on our doorsteps, every day and night of the year.
Fourteen events were programmed for Culture Night Carlow 2016, which attracted 860 visitors to the eight venues involved including Carlow Library and County Museum, St. Patrick's College Carlow, Carlow Arts Festival, VISUAL, IT Carlow, Carlow Gymnastics Club and the Old Town Hall.
Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the Arts. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access to the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge.
The Dresser Project by artist Michael Fortune
As part of the Bealtaine Festival in May 2016, this project managed through the arts office, clearly captured the interest of the community. Initially, the work involved the counties of Carlow, Mayo, Waterford and Tipperary. Michael travelled each county documenting Irish Dressers through a combination of photography, film and story. A public call was put out in 2016 across the county. The artist visited a series of homes around the Tullow area of the county and discovered a style of dresser which seems to have been made in the town during the late 1920's. One particular dresser, from Carmel Brennan, was made by her late father in 1929 and features a blessing which reads, God Bless Our Home. Carmel told Michael "how the dresser is a family heirloom and how it plays a central role in the lives of her relatives and friends". The dresser, which was brought "home by ass and cart from Tullow", a distance of 4 miles, has remained in the house since. (see below). Over 10 dressers from county Carlow were presented as an event and exhibition in County Library Headquarters, Carlow.
In 2016 the Arts Council of Ireland invited local authorities to apply for a new scheme Invitation to Collaborate award. Nationally 19 applications were received by Arts Officers and Carlow County Council Arts Office was one of just 6 local authorities to secure €71,000 funding for a specific project centered in the Tullow Road area of Carlow. (Maximum awards available were €75,000 and Carlow received the highest award).
In September 2016, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Cllr John Murphy along staff of the Arts Office and Community Section of Carlow County Council along with staff of Carlow County Development Partnership and Community Reps from the Tullow Road area and the Director of Take a Part UK went to the Arts Council of Ireland, in Dublin for the official announcement of the project idea Take A Part Carlow by Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys TD.
Through work on the ground in late 2016 a local area Arts Action Group was formed to work specifically on this project made up primarily of community representatives, and local agencies. The aim of this group is to oversee the commissioning process of four key art commissions in this local area that are participatory and socially engaging.
Carlow Writer in Residence Programme
In 2016 a series of workshops in Carlow, Bagenalstown, Borris and Tullow libraries took place. Throughout 2016 writers met on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays and three groups of up to 50 local people were established. The writers group in 2016 held public readings as a fringe event during Carlow Arts Festival - in June and participated in Penfest in September in Carlow Library, along with a number of other readings. Throughout 2016 each participating author was closing mentored by John MacKenna.
Artlinks
ArtLinks is a partnership of the four Local Authority Arts Offices in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford . It is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion. ArtLinks provides professional development opportunities and supports for established and emerging artists who are resident in the four partner local authority areas in the South East region. In 2016 14 local artists were supported and mentored across the county that included Enda Bowe, Rennie Beunting, Janice de Broithe, Joe Campbell, Deirdre Parkes, Caroline Cunningham, Gillian Daly, Pure Thinking Group, Municipal District of Carlow and Nuala Dalton, Orla Ryan, Emma Martin, Liam O'Neill, Helen Robbins, Angela Keogh, Municipal District of Bagenalstown.
Carlow Arts Festival in Partnership with Carlow County Council Site Works
In the Local Arts Development Plan a key objective is to increase opportunities for artists and communities to participate in the Arts as well as increasing commissioning opportunities for artists.
Site Works is a new initiative between Carlow Arts Festival and Carlow County Council Arts Office that sees temporary site specific commissions in Carlow during the festival in June. http://carlowartsfestival.com/siteworks
In 2016 three commissions were awarded to artists Steven Maher who presented Follow me up to Carlow at Carlow Castle, a temporary kinetic sculpture with a tractor and bag pipes! Angela Fulcher's "Banner" sited in the grounds of the hidden gardens of Carlow College and Lottering Theatre, who presented a temporary site specific work at the Carlow Browneshill Dolmen Truffauts Code, inspired by the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
VISUAL
In 2016 Carlow County Council invested €585,000 in VISUAL and continues to prioritise VISUAL Carlow as a significant cultural asset to Carlow and the region. VISUAL continues to nurture artistic excellence through its many programmes across both gallery and theatre spaces. VISUAL work in partnership with a wide sector including education, business, tourism and champions its role in place making and shaping. VISUAL is a significant cultural hub within the southeast region. As well as showcasing artists of local, national and international significance. In 2016 VISUAL continued to grow it audience figures, began the process of strategic development with a view to publishing their first strategic plan in 2017 and developed an Engagement Policy which provides a framework for access and participation to VISUAL across a multitude of diverse audiences with the emphasis being on local engagement with communities of interest and place.
VISUAL continues to make a significant impact to the local economy, with the majority of funding received from the Local Authority remaining within the local economy via locally-sourced services, supplies and wages. In addition to this, Lennon's Restaurant provides employment for approximately 18 staff, also sourcing many supplies and services locally. Visiting performers, crews, artists, technicians and stage hands required an estimated 350 bed nights in Carlow throughout the year. VISUAL attracted an audience of almost 66,000 people in 2016, resulting in additional spend on goods, services and accommodation in the area.
Within our galleries audience survey, 41% of visitors were from Carlow town and county, 45% were from the rest of Leinster, 3% were from the rest of Ireland and 11% from overseas. Of those gallery visitors surveyed, 20% were staying overnight in Carlow, again generating additional spend.
For further information please see www.visualcarlow.ie
|
Carlow County Council, Athy Road, Carlow. R93 E7R7 Tel. +353 59 9170300. |