Residency Programme

The Artist in Residence Scheme enables artists, writers, musicians, dancers and drama workers to work directly with people in schools, hospitals (and other healthcare settings ) and local communities. This offers an opportunity for interaction outside of the usual artistic setting, facilitating integration and learning.

Visual Arts

In addition to providing support for exhibitions, the Arts Office organises a number of exhibitions annually, usually to promote work originating from residencies and specific initiatives.

Touring Theatre

The Arts Office works to provide greater access to theatre, especially for children, particularly in remote areas. Where possible, the Arts Office also supports other productions which work directly in schools.

Mayo Youth Theatre

Established in 1999, Mayo Youth Theatre has grown considerably and is now based in four locations: Castlebar, Ballina, Belmullet and Foxford. Through the promotion and support of quality youth theatre, emphasising personal and social development, MYT provides access to drama for those aged 14 - 22. There are now over ninety young members countywide. In order to develop the skills-pool within the county, MYT has a policy of providing training for trainers. Opportunities for learning are maximised by linking with other youth theatres, through travel and annual productions.

Arts in Libraries

The Arts Service collaborates with the Library service to provide county wide exhibitions. Workshops and readings are also regularly jointly scheduled.

Ealaiona tri Ghaeilge

The Arts Service targets strategic support for arts initiatives and events in Irish through the Ealaiona tri Ghaeilge programme and provides an arts service in Irish (or bilingually) where requested.

Art in Education Programme

The Arts Office conducted extensive research in 2001 to identify issues related to the provision of arts in schools and among teachers. A series of workshops, for over 47 schools was delivered in 2001. In 2002, the Arts Office co-funded six week programmes of arts workshops with 10 schools as a further development of its work with schools. In partnership with the Mayo Education Centre, this provision was augmented by a series of experiential arts workshops for teachers, in which over 40 teachers participated.

Music Instruments for Primary Schools

A highly innovative scheme was launched in 2002 by Mayo County Council Arts Office in association with the Mayo Education Centre. Seven sets of percussion instruments were secured through the hard work of the Mayo Music Development Association, initiated by Mary Curran as part of her residency with Mayo County Council. The instruments, suitable for children of any age up to 13, were acquired through funding provided by the Arts Council. The Mayo Education Centre is the key lending agency for the instruments, retaining five sets for direct use in primary schools throughout the county, enabling the schools to borrow the instruments for a school term. The remaining two sets are available through the County Arts Office and the Linenhall Arts Centre for use in community and outreach workshops.

Percussion Instruments for Post Primary Schools

The Mayo Education Centre, Castlebar, in partnership with Mayo County Council's Arts Office, launched Music Instruments for Post Primary Schools on Thursday 14th October 2004, in the Mayo Education Centre.

The instruments were purchased by Mayo County Council Arts Office in order to augment the music resources available to young people within the County. Each set comprises of 32 percussion instruments, including drums, shakers, tambourines, snares and bells. Three sets were purchased in total.

The Mayo Education Centre will be the key lending agency for the instruments and will retain two percussion sets for direct use in post-primary schools throughout the county, enabling schools to borrow the instruments for up to four months.

The remaining set is available through Mayo County Council Arts for use in community and outreach workshops.

Mayo County Council Collection

Mayo County Council augments its Collection with new acquisitions on an annual basis. In 2001, the collection was fully catalogued.

Annual Programme

A number of annual events / festivals have been developed and organised by the Arts Office :

Force 12 Writers Weekend

Force 12, is held in Belmullet in June, and attended by over 80 writers from groups throughout the country. The weekend features workshops and readings by both published and unpublished writers, local tours and music.
A writer in residence programme has been developed for Force 12 where a bilingual writer works in the region for five weeks before the festival, giving workshops and readings in schools, libraries and care settings.
For information on Force 12 2005 please log on to the website http://www.force12writers.com/

Internationally renowned poet is Force 12 Writer in Residence 2005

Poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh will be Mayo County Council's Force 12 Writer in Residence 2005. A native of Gortahork, Co. Donegal, Cathal Ó Searcaigh is one of the pre-eminent poets in Ireland today. Writing mainly in Irish, his work has been translated into English by many of his contemporaries including Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney. Cathal's collections include An Bealach 'na Bhaile, / Homecoming (Cló-Iar Chonnachta, 1993), Out in the Open (Cló-Iar Chonnachta, 1997) and Ag Tnúth leis an tSolas (Cló-Iar Chonnachta, 2001), which was awarded the Irish Times Literature Prize for Irish Language Books. Currently working on a memoir, his work has been translated into numerous languages and he has read all over the world.

Cathal's residency will comprise a hectic programme of readings, talks and workshops, and will see him working with over twenty writing groups and schools throughout the county. The residency will conclude with the annual Force 12 Writers Weekend in Belmullet. Since 2001, Mayo County Council has been developing a Writer in Residence programme leading up to the Force 12 Writers Weekend. Previous writers residents include Ré Ó Laighléis, Sean Lysaght and Máire Holmes.

Bealtaine

For Bealtaine, the annual nationwide festival is celebrating creativity in older age. Mayo County Council runs an extensive, interactive programme. The programme is county wide with up to 800 older people participating in workshops and events in libraries, community centres, arts centres and care settings. The arts office works with Active Retirement Association groups and other organisations for older people. All art forms are covered: dance, drama, story telling, creative writing and music. For our Bealtaine Programme please view our News Section.

Artists Mentoring & Networking Programme

This programme was initiated by Mayo County Council in partnership with Age & Opportunity and is supported by the Arts Council and The Health Service Executive Western Area ( formerly The Western Health Board). The mentoring programme provides supported opportunities for artists to experience working with older people in health-care settings. It also provides a network for these artists so they can share ideas, experiences and learning.

Since February 2004, artists Margaret Morrison, Irma Van Baalen, Bernie Garvey O'Mara, Tom Meskell and Tania Nally, have been working in Achill, Westport, Ballina, Swinford and Claremorris, in a range of settings, including long-term care and day care.

Artist coordinator, Deirdre Walsh has been the mentor in the programme, providing artistic and practical supports arising from her extensive experience in this area.

Bealtaine Billboard Exhibition

During the month of May, an exhibition will be mounted on Billboards in Mayo, which celebrates the work produced by older people through the mentoring and long-term arts in health-care programmes in the County. The exhibition programme will be available through Mayo County Council Arts Office, local libraries and details will be in the local press.

Summer Music Series

A series of county wide music events is organised in July / August which includes all kinds of music : folk, rock, traditional, classical. Hundreds of local people attend events which to date have been held in Westport, Castlebar, Kiltimagh, Foxford, Louisburgh, Ballina, Belmullet, Tourmakeady, Killala, Ballyhaunis and Charlestown.

Our programme for our Summer Music Series 2005 is currently being finalised. Please contact us if you would like a copy.

Dance Programme

A Chance to Dance, a major dance residency by the professional dance company, Fluxusdance, led by choreographer Cathy O'Kennedy was organised in 2002. This extensive week of dance workshops and performance enabled over 600 people to have a quality dance experience. Workshops were given at primary and secondary school level, and over the weekend there were opportunities to engage intensively in different forms of dance.

After a very positive response to the dance event in 2002, Mayo County Council organised a dance week in Ballina in 2003. Fluxusdance visited primary and secondary schools and worked with people with special needs. The highlight of the week was the performance of "Between the Lines". In September 2004 Mayo County Council organised it's third successful dance weekend which took place in Castlebar. This comprised workshops and a performance by Fluxusdance Company of "Delicious Death". The performance was based around the theme of murder mystery, and was an interactive performance.

Youth Arts

Mayo County Council Youth Arts Festival 2003

The Youth Arts Festival took place from Monday 27th October to Sunday 2nd November 2003. It was aimed at teenagers and young adults and intended to broaden and extend arts provision throughout the county. This new development complements the work of Mayo Youth Theatre and the Arts Office's dance and music programmes, which always includes teenagers.

The festival featured various events from all art forms in venues all over the county: Achill Sound, Ballina, Belmullet, Castlebar, Charlestown, Clare Island, Claremorris and Westport.

Events included: Screenings of films Whale Rider, Romeo & Juliet and Donnie Darko in the Cinemobile (Achill and Claremorris); a Drum workshop and Clinic with the Irish Drum Academy (Ballina); Clued-In Music Workshops with DJ Alan Nous (Ballina, Belmullet, Castlebar, Charlestown); Circus Skills workshops with Streetwise Theatre Company (Ballina, Castlebar); and a special Film-Making Project on Clare Island with the Galway Film Centre. There were Print Workshops in the Custom House Studios, Samba workshops and a Visual Arts Exhibition of 2003 graduates of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology from Mayo, who will also give Visual Art Talks in schools. Mayo County Council's Artsquad conducted workshops with the Neighbourhood Youth Project in Castlebar, and author Colmán ó Raghallaigh gave a talk about his graphic novels in Claremorris Library.

EXCEL 04 - Mayo County Council's Youth Arts Programme

Mayo County Council's Arts Service is organised a youth arts programme in November 2004. EXCEL 04, was a developmental programme of arts events for teenagers and young adults across the county. With a focus on supporting and developing skills of young people with specific arts interests, the programme included events covering dance, music, visual arts, film, and much more. Following the success of Mayo County Council's first ever Youth Arts Festival in 2003, EXCEL 04 worked directly with a number of groups, including Mayo Youth Orchestra, Cantórí Umhaill, Mayo Youth Theatre and Achill Pipe Bands among others, providing specialist workshops and masterclasses to support the work of these groups. EXCEL 04 linked with existing groups in the county who cater for young people, including CDSPs and various community groups. As well as the direct Masterclasses with existing groups, there were a number of 'open' events. These included an Electric Guitar workshop - aimed at intermediate-level players keen on improving their technique - and a Hip-Hop Dance workshop.

Festivals

The Arts Service supports several festivals throughout Mayo. Examples include: Feile Iorrais, Ballina Street Festival, Sonas Childrens Festival, Westport Arts Festival, Scoil Acla and Feile Chois Cuain.

Arts & Culture: Arts Programming

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Contact:

The Arts Office
Mayo County Council
Aras an Chontae
Castlebar

Phone: (094)902 44 44 ext. 7558, 7560
Email:artsstaf@mayococo.ie
Opening Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Arts & Culture: Arts Programming