Arts & Disability News

Ignite Mayo‘Silent Moves’ project at Ballina Arts Centre.

"It's a Dream come true. I always wanted to be an actor". (Ignite project participant)

Ignite is a new platform designed to generate Ireland’s most ambitious showcasing of talent from people with disabilities, led by international and Irish artists and performers with disabilities, with projects taking place in 2014 in Cork, Galway and Mayo. These commissions each represent an investment of up to €60,000. The initiative will conclude with a tour of one of the resulting works to all three counties (and beyond) in Spring, 2015. Ignite is managed by a unique partnership involving the Arts Council, Arts & Disability Ireland (ADI), Cork City Council, Galway City and County Councils and Mayo County Council.

For the Ignite Mayo commission, a short film is being created by Irish Artist Aideen Barry in collaboration with Dance Artist and Choreographer Emma O’Kane and Ballina based disability groups, Ridgepool Training Centre and Scannán Technologies.

The project is taking place at Ballina Arts Centre.

"I'm Very proud to be taking part in the film". ( Ignite project participant)

‘Silent Moves’ is just one of three commissions developed through the Ignite initiative, a new and innovative approach to commissioning and touring work by artists with disabilities. This initiative is supported by Mayo County Council which has always taken a proactive approach to Arts & Disability, engaging in best quality practice since 1998.

"I'm immensely proud to be associated with both the Ignite initiative and the 'Silent Moves' film project. I believe the work of the artists and Ballina Arts Centre will have a huge impact on the development of high quality arts and disability practice both locally and nationally". (Damien O'Connor, Disability Arts Co-ordinator, Mayo County Council)

In 2013, Irish Artist, Aideen Barry, was awarded the Ignite Mayo commission in partnership with Western Care's Ridgepool Training Centre, Scannán Technologies and Ballina Arts Centre who are hosting and managing the project.

"I Love being involved. I'm Very happy in front of the camera". (Ignite project participant)

For over six years, Ballina Arts Centre has made a concerted effort to advance the agenda of arts and disability through programming specific events and developing outreach programmes. Ballina Arts Centre has established an excellent working relationship with both the Ridgepool Training Centre and the Scannán Technologies and had completed very successful, ambitious projects and ‘Silent Moves’ is quite naturally the culmination of all that work.

"The IGNITE project has been going very well, since it started in January. All of the participants from the groups are completely enjoying working with Aideen and Emma. The feeling is extremely positive when they are in the venue working on the project, and I'm sure that that will feed into the finished piece of work. That kind of positivity and enthusiasm is always good around a project. I've seen some of the footage they have shot and it looks really great. We're all very excited about the whole project and we're looking forward to seeing the finished film, when it's screened in November". (Sean Walsh, Director, Ballina Arts Centre)

The ‘Silent Moves’ film is being created using new cutting-edge technologies, including ‘green screen’ and advanced animation techniques to create a short film, bringing together stylized mime, music and movement;  inspired by the silent movies of the 1930s, e.g. the films of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.

"In particular, the confidence of the group has greatly increased. The suggestion of any physical movement or gesture to any member of the group to make in front of the camera is greeted with enthusiasm and without hesitation". (Artist Aideen Barry)

‘Silent Moves’ will be launched at the end of November in Ballina Arts Centre, Barrett Street, Ballina.  096 73593, ballinaartscentre@gmail.com   In addition to the launch in November 2014, the art work will have a longer showing in the gallery space in 2015.

For further information contact mayoarts@mayococo.ie

UPSTART 2014

In celebration of International Day of Persons with disabilities, (Wednesday 3rd December, 2014) Mayo County Council’s Arts Office has developed a programme entitled UPSTART which supports a number of arts events and projects throughout the county.

In 1992, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 3rd December as International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which brings together individuals, businesses, community organisations and governments from every corner of the world to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions, skills and achievements of disabled people. Mayo County Council’s Arts Office has made a considerable commitment to the development of Arts and Disability throughout the county. Once again, the Arts Office is delighted to support International Day of Persons with Disabilities through the UPSTART initiative, a programme of arts projects/events in Mayo which include a variety of groups of disabled people. As part of UPSTART 2014 projects/events will take place in Ballinrobe, Belmullet, Castlebar and Westport. These include:

Western Care Association, (Erris) Áras Inis Gluaire/Belmullet Arts Centre and Gemma Gallagher, Artistic director, Shaddowbox Theatre Company.

A series of theatre workshops with service users to explore theatre practice.

For further information contact Brendan Murray on 097 81079 or b.murray@arasinisgluaire.ie

Carrowbeg Enterprises and the Custom House Studios, Westport.

The creation and performance of a filmed shaddow show based on the Greenway, Westport.For further information, contact John McHugh on 098 28735 or customhouse@eircom.net

Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, New Moon theatre Project, Galway, St Bríds and St Anthony's schools, Castlebar.

A presentation of "Fruit Full", a multi-sensory performance for young people with intellectual disabilities and complex needs by New Moon Theatre Project. Also the development of a range of participative arts events designed to extend and deepen audience engagement with the piece with students from St Bríds and St Anthony's schools in Castlebar.

For further information contact Orla Henihan on 094 902 3733 or linenhall@anu.ie

Luisne Art Group, Ballinrobe, the VTC Art Group, Castlebar and the TACÚ Family Resource Centre, Ballinrobe.

A series of workshops with two Mayo disability arts groups -Luisne Art Project and the VTC Arts Group - facilitated by artists Breda Murphy, Breda Burns and Frank Conway of Castlebar VTC culminating in an exhibition of work at the Linenhall Arts Centre for the month of December 2014.

For further information contact Breda Mayock on 087 785 0344 or bredamayock@gmail.com

All projects/events in the UPSTART 2014 programme will come to fruition on or around 3rd December.

For further information on Mayo County Council’s Arts Service contact: mayoarts@mayococo.ie or visit www.mayococo.ie