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You are Here: Home > Services > Arts Office > Arts News Archive

Excel 09 – Youth Arts Programme draws to a close

Mayo County Council’s EXCEL 09, is a developmental programme of arts events for teenagers and young adults across the county. The programme focuses on supporting and developing the skills of young people with specific arts interests, while also providing opportunities for young Mayo people to get involved in quality arts events during the month of November through a number of open workshops.

Following the previous six year’s very successful programmes, EXCEL 09 worked directly with a number of groups, including Mayo Youth Orchestra, Mayo Youth Theatre, Achill Pipe Bands, Swinford Variety Group, Cór Croí Naofa, Parke Youth Arts and Drama Group, Kiltimagh No Name Club, Colaiste Chomain, Rosdumhach and Mayo Writer’s Block providing specialist workshops and masterclasses to support the work of these groups.

The programme also included theatre performances and workshops with TEAM Educational Theatre Company in Mount St Micheal Secondary School, Claremorris, St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina, and St. Josephs Secondary School, Castlebar. 

‘Following the Whitethorn’ a Michael Fortune film, made in Ballinrobe and the surrounding areas was screened in St. Brendan’s College, Belmullet, McHale College, Achill and Ballinrobe Community School. 

As well as the direct Masterclasses with existing groups, the theatre performances and workshops and screenings there were a number of ‘open’ events.   This year open events focused on Traditional Music Technique and Portfolio Preparation.  These events were open to anybody between the ages of 13 and 19 and were again extremely popular.  

The programme aims annually to offer challenging opportunities and fun in equal measure.  If your youth group would like to get involved in future excel programmes you need to call the Mayo Arts Office.  The number to call for more information is 094 90 24444 ext 7560 & 7558, or alternatively you can e-mail: mayoarts@mayococo.ie.  Mayo Arts Office would like to thank all who facilitated and participated in the programme and who worked ant making excel 2009 one of the most successful to date. 

EXCEL 09 – EXCELlent line-up for Youth Arts Programme

Mayo County Council’s EXCEL 09, is a developmental programme of arts events for teenagers and young adults across the county. The programme focuses on supporting and developing the skills of young people with specific arts interests, while also providing opportunities for young Mayo people to get involved in quality arts events during the month of November through a number of open workshops in traditional music and portfolio preparation talk, much more. 

Following the previous six year’s very successful programmes, EXCEL 09 will work directly with a number of groups, including Mayo Youth Orchestra, Mayo Youth Theatre and Achill Pipe Bands, Swinford Variety Group, Cór Croí Naofa and Mayo Writer’s Block providing specialist workshops and masterclasses to support the work of these groups.

As well as the direct Masterclasses with existing groups, there will be a number of ‘open’ events.   These events are open to anybody between the ages of 13 and 19 and are really popular.  It is hoped this year’s programme will offer challenging opportunities and fun in equal measure.  The number of participants in each workshop is limited and to get involved you need to call the arts office and book your place to avoid disappointment.  The number to call for more information and bookings is 094 90 24444 ext 7560 & 7558, or alternatively you can e-mail: mayoarts@mayococo.ie.

OPEN EVENTS INCLUDE:

ADMISSION TO ALL EVENTS IS FREE. BOOKING IS ADVISED FOR ALL EVENTS.

For a programme of events and further information please contact the Arts Office, tel: 094 90 24444 ext 7560 & 7558, e-mail: mayoarts@mayococo.ie

Traditional Music Workshop for young musicians in Ballina

Saturday 7th November 11.00am – 2.30pm

Ballina Arts Centre, Arran Place, Ballina

Tommy Doherty and John McHugh will conduct an open workshop.

This is an open session and open invitation to all young musicians to come and join a professional accordian player and professional Fiddle player for a fun open workshop aimed at improving skills and techniques in playing traditional music.

Portfolio Preparation

Thursday 26th November

2 sessions 9.30am and 11.30am

Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina Civic Offices, Arran Place, Ballina

An expert panel will provide information on portfolio preparation for young people wishing to go to Art College. This will be an interactive talk with opportunities to ask questions to the panel.

Frank Bissette from National College of Art and Design, poet and visual artist Alice Lyons and Lizzie Kinsella from Sligo IT will make up the panel on the morning.

excel 2009 word

excel 09 pdf

Unique International Theatre Company to visit Castlebar.

Mayo County Council Arts Office is delighted to present The Lawnmower’s Independent Theatre Company at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Thursday 12th November at 8pm.

The Lawnmowers are brought to Mayo by the Arts & Disability Networking Pilot, a partnership initiative of the Arts Council, Arts & Disability Ireland and Mayo County Council Arts Office.

Since 1986 The Lawnmowers has been a vibrant company run by and for people with learning difficulties. The Lawnmowers employ people with learning difficulties and use performance based shows and workshops to lay the foundations for learning disabled people to participate fully in their own society, shape their lives and achieve their aspirations.

This is a unique opportunity to see an internationally recognized theatre company shine in County Mayo – challenging pre-conceptions of what learning disabled theatre can be – an event not to missed.

The Lawnmowers ‘Cabaret of fools’ is a series of beautifully-crafted comic and tragic sketches exploring universal themes such as love, death and memory, using full character mask, commedia dell’arte and clown. Cabaret of fools takes the audience on a wonderful journey into their comical observations of the world.  Their influences include Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Jacques Tati, who were the greatest comic performers of their generation. All the sketches are wordless and very physical, accompanied by an array of wonderful music and beautiful imagery.

Ticket prices are €12.00 and €8.00 concessions. For bookings contact the Linenhall Arts Centre Castlebar, Co. Mayo, 094 902 3733 or linenhall@anu.ie .

For further information about the Arts and Disability Networking Pilot project contact: The Arts Office, Áras an Contae, The Mall, Castlebar, Co Mayo. 094 90 24444 ext 7558/ 7551. Email mayoarts@mayococo.ie .

 

Finale to Summer Music Series 2009

Mayo County Council Arts Office Summer Music Series drew to a rapturous close in the spectacular setting of the Friary in Ballyhaunis.  Matt Molloy, John Carty and Art McGlynn treated the audience to a feast traditional music. 

This concert was the last of eight that have taken place during July in towns throughout Mayo. The Series started with the Irish Baroque Orchestra who gave a memorable concert at the beautiful setting of Holy Trinity Church Westport.  Combining the famed wildness of spirit of West Mayo music with the jazz and swing rhythms of New York in the 1920’s The David Munnelly Band gave the audience in St. Micheal’s Church Ballina an evening to remember. Emer Mayock, Donal Siggins and Jean Michel Veillon entertained an enthusiastic Louisburgh Parish Hall audience in an intimate concert.  The Sick and Indigent Song Club, a collection of talented musicians who play old time music dipping into a diverse range of styles played The Town Hall Arts centre Charlestown, to a great reception.  Elizabeth Cooney and Redmond O’Toole gave a wonderfully moving concert in the idyllic setting of St Thomas’s Church, Dugort. Ebony Steelband, from London performed an outdoor concert in Market Square bringing the sound of the Caribbean to a sunny Castlebar.  Áras Inis Gluaire, the Arts Centre in Belmullet hosted Meteor award winning Mick Flannery who shared his songs in an understated but powerful manner. The series finale was in Ballyhaunis with three giants of traditional music, Matt Molloy, John Carty and Art McGlynn. 

The Summer Music Series catered for many tastes with a diverse eclectic programme featuring some of the finest local, national and international musicians. The Summer Music Series traversed many musical genres, from folk to classical, from Old Time Country to Traditional, from Jamacian Steelpan to rock.  Venues ranged from parish halls to Churches and each venue drew an eager audience, some following the beat of music to each event.

Mayo County Council Arts Office was delighted with the Summer Music Series and would like to thank all those involved and all that attended the series. If you would like to find out more about the series please contact the Arts Office 094 9024444, exts 7558 & 7560, or e-mail: mayoarts@mayococo.ie. 

Public Art Panel 2009-2011

Mayo County Council wishes to appoint a panel of artists for Public Art Commissions, funded by the Per Cent for Art Scheme. Artists are invited to apply for a place on this panel, from which a wide variety of public art commissions will be awarded in 2009 - 2011 (budgets up to €64,000). The panel is open to a wide range of disciplines, including music, dance, drama, literature, film, visual and performing arts. There will be two categories within the panel, one pertaining to commissions of €10,000 to €64,000 and the second pertaining to commissions of under €10,000.

 

An application form is available on www.mayococo.ie or contact Gaynor Seville on 094 90 47561, email gseville@mayococo.ie. To apply, please send completed application form, CV, documentation of your work, this can be in the form of slides (max 12) or images of your work, DVD or Video, Audio tape or manuscript, plus an artist’s statement to:

 

Gaynor Seville

Public Art Co-Ordinator

Mayo County Council Arts Office,

Áras an Chontae,

Castlebar,

Co. Mayo.

tel: 094 90 47561 e-mail: gseville@mayococo.ie

A place on the panel is not a guarantee of a commission.

Closing date for applications is Thursday 13th August 2009.

Public Art Panel 2009-2011 New

Force 12 Round-up 2008

FORCE 12

Mayo County Council Arts Office, in partnership with Áras Inis Gluaire, held the eighteenth Force 12 Writer’s Festival from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th June in Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Jessie Lendennie directed the weekend, with a host of well-known writers including Maurice Harmon, Frank Golden, Dave Lordan, Anne Le Marquand Hartigan, Lorna Shaugnessy, Kevin Higgins, Susan Millar Du Mars, Joe Woods, Seamus Cashman, Patrick Cotter, Gerald Dawe, Maighread Medbh, Geraldine Mills and Alan Hayes. Readings by published writer’s took place on Friday night, Saturday morning and Sunday morning. Other readings were held on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. All events took place in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet Arts Centre and were very well attended by writers and writer’s groups from Mayo and throughout the country.

Workshops included: Publishing (Jessie Lendennie & Alan Hayes), Poetry (Anne Hartigan) and Prose (Geraldine Mills). There was also be a lively panel discussion - "Do you have to be a self-promoter to get published?" moderated by Maurice Harmon. There were readings throughout the weekend and music on Saturday night in An Chéibh.

This year, tribute was paid to Barbara Ennis Price, a great friend of the festival, regular attender – herself a writer. Barbara died earlier this year and was fondly remembered with readings by Joe Woods, a special tribute by Leo Cullen and a reading by her daughter, Ursula Worlock.

This event is organised by Mayo County Council Arts Service.

If you require further information please contact: Mayo County Council Arts Office at 094 9024444, ext. 7558 & 7560.

Guest Writers, Force 12 2008.

Group Photograph, Force 12 Writers Festival, Belmullet, 6th to 8th June 2008.

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