On Friday September 17, arts workers in every constituency around the country will meet their local TDs, including An Taoiseach Brian Cowen with his local Offaly-based artists and arts workers, to put the campaign demands before their public representatives, as well as raising additional local arts issues. NCFA members will also host a series of events around the country to further highlight, to the government and the general public, the important role the arts plays in the nation’s economic, social and civic recovery. There are a number of elements to the day, some of which are listed here below. Please be sure to get in touch with your Local Arts Workers Group to make sure you are a part of the action in your constituency.
Meeting Taoiseach Brian Cowen as part of the Campaign’s National Day of Action
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Chair of Birr Arts Centre, Rowena Keaveney, visual artist and arts therapy worker and 83 year old, John Beesley who is attending Clara Day Care Unit and is involved in many arts projects in the unit, are the National Campaign for the Arts workers who’ll be meeting with An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, at the county council building in Tullamore at 12:30pm to discuss with him both local issues and the key demands of the NCFA. In the run-up to the 2011 budget the National Campaign for the Arts is calling for the maintenance of existing levels of arts funding to all agencies for the arts including The Arts Council, the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland, the assurance that local authority arts funding will be protected and that significant new funding be made available to the arts and cultural sector, helping to build on its cultural tourism potential, through the creation of a dedicated cultural tourism fund.
Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport will participate in the National Day of Action by attending an event at the Pavilion Theatre entitled ‘Meet Our Artists: Generations Share’. This event, organized by the National Campaign for the Arts, is a public conversation with three leading artists living or working in the Dun Laoghaire area, interviewed by emerging youth performers and arts enthusiast.
SOME OF THE EVENTS HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY INCLUDING:Dublin: 1pm – The Irish Writers Centre & the Garden of Remembrance
Chairman of the Irish Writers’ Centre, Jack Harte, will walk from the IWC in Parnell Square, accompanied by a piper to lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance in honour and recognition of all the dead generations of writers who contributed to the creation of our state and the formation of our national identity. As part of this ceremony, Liam Mac Uistin will read his poem that is inscribed on the back wall of the Garden and that encapsulates the spirit of this commemorative shrine.All present will then return to the Writers’ Centre, where writers and members of the public will read short pieces from all the writers that are being commemorated.
Dublin South Central: 12:45pm – The Back Loft, Off Thomas Street, ‘The Thing Is’
A celebration of the arts which will include music, readings, short films and various other fun stuff.
The full line-up is as follows: - Ecosystem – a short film by Dublin South Central Arts Workers. Kevin Doherty performing from his latest album “Telegraph”; Eugene O’Brien reading from his award winning play “Eden”; Peter Sirr reading from his new collection of poetry “The Thing Is”; Grace Dyas of THEATREclub talks about her work; Music from Kevin Doherty and Marie Mulholland;
Screening of award winning short film “Henry & Sunny”, shot in and around Thomas Street.Dun Laoghaire: 5-6pm – The Pavilion Theatre, ‘Meet Our Artists: Generations Share’
A public conversation with three leading artists living or working in the Dun Laoghaire area, interviewed by emerging youth performers and arts enthusiasts.
Galway East & West: 2pm – On steps of Townhall Theatre – ‘TDs as Artists for a Day
TDs from each political party in Galway East and West are teaming up with well-known Galway artists to present a short performance of music, poetry, prose and juggling on the steps of the Townhall Theatre. The event starts at 2pm and the full list is - Michael D. Higgins TD & Poet Moya Cannon Poetry Reading, Padraig McCormack TD with Mike Hennelly & Steven McGinley Juggling, Noel Grealish TD & Writer Susan Millar DuMars Poetry Reading, Michael Kitt TD, Mairtin O’connor and Mary McPartlan , Sen. Fidelma Healy Eames & Kevin Higgins, Poetry Reading, Paul Connaughton TD & Little John Nee, prose reading, Minister Eamon O Cuiv & Colette Nic Aodha, with a poetry reading as Gaeilge.
Galway South: Portumna Shorelines Festival
A debate about the value of the arts will run on Friday 17 September as part of Portumna Shorelines Festival
Laois-Offaly: Youth Dance Event
Legitimate Bodies Youth Dance will present a free performance in Tullamore town centre while artist Jessica Foley engages with local school children and the general public to create a special exhibition that will run for the day in Birr Theatre and Arts Centre.
Meath West: 3pm – Solstice Arts Centre, Concer
Music and live arts for all at the Navan arts centre
North Tipperary: 8pm - Source Arts Centre, Open Stage
Local artists (professional or amateur) are invited to do a spot on the Source Arts Centre’s stage as part of a free event celebrating the arts.
South Tipperary: The Magical Moment Tree
Clonmel Junction Festival in conjunction with other cultural providers in South Tipperary will collaborate on building The Magical Moment Tree in The Common Thread Café. Starting on the NCFA Day of Action on 17 September and culminating on Culture Night on 24 September, the CJF team, with South Tipperary Artists Brigid Teehan and Lynn Mather will commence the building of the Magical Moment Tree. Members of the public of all ages and backgrounds are asked to come to The Common Thread and fill out a card and share a magical Arts moment with the community. On Culture Night, TDs, Senators and local representatives will be invited to come to the unveiling of the tree, to celebrate the importance of the arts in the community.
