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Sligo Arts Service

Sligo County Council provides for the investment and development of the cultural and artistic life of the City and County through implementation of its strategySpace for Art Sligo Arts Plan 2007-2012. In 2010, Sligo County Council Arts Service continued to work in partnership with the Arts Council of Ireland and key stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally to deliver a high quality arts service enabling the local authority to:

• Support artists of all disciplines to make work of excellence.
• Promote public access, participation and engagement in the arts.
• Demonstrate and facilitate the important contribution the arts make to the social and economic well-being of the region.

Sligo Music

Following a mapping and scoping exercise, Sligo Arts Service entered a developmental and planning phase with the music sector - educators, musicians, promoters, venues, commissioners, festivals and events - to advance the key needs of marketing, networking and education. Sligo Music will work closely with the County Development Board under the Creative Sligo Initiative to elevate Sligo’s position as a county with a distinctive musical offer.

Music in Drumcliffe 2010

The 11th Annual May Bank Holiday weekend chamber music festival successfully made the transition from Vogler Spring Festival, its original title from 2000-2009. The festival was anchored in Sligo by re-naming it ‘Music in Drumcliffe’ and the use of the image Shoreline Bog by the artist Seán McSweeney, who lives in the area. As festival ensemble-in-residence, the Vogler Quartet performed alongside highly acclaimed Irish and international musicians. Recognising the festival name change and Drumcliffe’s long association with WB Yeats, Saturday and Sunday’s late night concerts took on a Yeatsian theme.

Sligo Arts Service’s music programme continued to support three local and voluntary run music promotion organisations which present professional events:

• Con Brio to run the high calibre Sligo Music Series.
• Sligo Jazz Project to run the annual Jazz summer school and festival.
• Sligo Festival of Baroque Music in October.

Children and Young People

The provision of high quality arts experiences, in and out of school, is a priority for Sligo Arts Service. Live Music in the Classroom and Primary Coloursare two programmes which aim to enrich the primary school music and visual art curriculums through the involvement of practicing artists and musicians. In 2010, Sligo Arts Service, together with Sligo Education Centre and the wider Sligo Music Education Partnership delivered Live Music in the Classroom with 21 musicians and 21 primary schools.

In addition to school visits by participating musicians across the genre of traditional, classical and jazz, the programme also provides professional development opportunities for teachers and participating musicians.

The Primary Colours exhibition and workshop programme January-March 2010 was curated by Sligo Art Gallery in partnership with artists from the Graphic Studio, Dublin, who created works in response to poems by WB Yeats. A panel of local artists delivered the second of a two-year programme cycle to 6 schools. Sligo Arts Service and the arts community were saddened in 2010 to learn of the closure of Sligo Art Gallery due to national funding cuts, prompting Sligo Arts Service to redevelop the Primary Colours programme with Catherine Fanning Programme Co-ordinator and Sligo Education Centre who came on board as a new partner for Social Inclusion Week 2010.

This partnership has refocused professional development supports for teachers through the introduction of a newly developed teachers pack and website www.primarycolourssligo.ie incorporating paintings, drawings, prints and photographs from the Sligo Art Gallery Collection, a fitting legacy of the developmental partnership with the Gallery 2004-2010.

This collection was also exhibited at Sligo Education Centre for Social Inclusion Week where 12 primary schools took part in an artist led exhibition tour and workshop.

In 2010, County Sligo Youth Theatre catered for 73 members in the age ranges 10-11; 12-14; 15-18 and a new grouping 18-25. Working under Director Marie de La Guéronnière the activities of County Sligo Youth Theatre in 2010 were as follows:

• Weekly workshops
• Main production ‘Under a Naked Light’ (an adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire) to an audience of 300 over 4 nights in The Factory Performance Space in May
• Street Theatre at So Sligo Food Festival in March
• Cairde Festival in July
• Youth In Action programme in the town of Troia in Italy in July/August
• The Model’s ‘Inside Out Outside In’ Workshop Programme under the Peace III Yeatsian Legacy Project
• ‘Sligo Gaol’ during Heritage Week in September
• Culture Night Sligo ‘Mysteries and Fairies, the Gods of Pagan Ireland’
• Sligo Live ‘Leggit’.

 
- Under a Naked Light - County Sligo Youth Theatre 2010 

The ongoing annual programme of Arts and Health workshops continued in partnership with the HSE West, schools and community groups. The 2010 programme completed a two year cycle with two intergenerational projects, as well as providing arts projects in a number of Day Care and Residential settings and with Active Age Groups. Two further intergenerational projects commenced their two year cycle, based in Carraroe and Killavil Primary Schools.

Bealtaine Festival – Celebrating Creativity in Older Age

Sligo Arts Service in partnership with the HSE West locally and Age and Opportunity nationally, presented Bealtaine Festival Sligo to promote all art forms made by, for and with older people and the wider community. The festival commission this year was the making of five film shorts “Seeing the Hidden” with artists, community groups and individuals from Ballinafad, Killavil, Sligo Harbour, Gleniff Horseshoe and Skreen. Seeing the Hidden explores the cultural wealth of our communities using film to uncover the culture of Sligo by celebrating the creativity of the people and the power of the landscape. Other highlights included a special animation film about Countess Markievicz entitled “The Legacy of Belief”, an intergenerational art exhibition in Nazareth House together with concerts, dancing, singing, exhibitions, theatre, tours, lectures and literary events.

A DVD of Seeing the Hidden is available from Sligo Arts Service.

At the launch of the second annual Culture Night, the Mayor of Sligo Councillor Matt Lyons stated that “Culture Night Sligo offers an opportunity to reflect on the nature of culture, to consider what it means to our community, and to explore ways of making it more relevant to our daily lives.” The theme of this year’s Culture Night was ‘What Will You See?’ and there were over 50 cultural activities on offer, offering visitors and locals alike a taste of the vast and varied cultural offering available in Sligo all throughout the year. Culture Night is a national initiative co-ordinated by Temple Bar Cultural Trust and supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport in partnership with the Arts Service of Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council and the participating cultural organisations and individuals.

 
- ‘Butterfly Magic’ by Artist Sherrie Scott

 
- ‘The Pied Piper’ by Artist Cillian Rogers on Culture Night 2010

Peace III

The Sligo Peace Action Plan, through individual actions such as two projects delivered by Sligo Arts Service and partners - the Legacy of Belief and the Yeatsian Legacy - aims to address the issues that are relevant to people in County Sligo (in the context of peace) and to tackle the impact of the Northern Ireland conflict within the County.

Through each project action, Sligo Arts Service and partners explored the legacy of the past together to build positive relations through actions and interventions in the areas of arts, culture, heritage and history.

The Yeatsian Legacy Project responded to the Arts and Culture Action of the Sligo Peace Plan and explored the work of the Yeats brothers and the legacy of the past through a series of workshops, talks, readings, exhibitions and events with partners Sligo County Council Arts Service, The Model, Institute of Technology Sligo and Omagh District Council.

A series of 7 talks in IT Sligo used the arts as a means to promote an understanding of cultural difference and to share experiences and expressions of divergent cultures, beliefs and ways of living. Lecturers were Declan McGonagle, Dr. Caoimhín Mac Giolla Leith, Katerina Gregos, Joseph Wolin, Phil Collins, Dr Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes and Annie Fletcher.

A Literary Workshop Programme encouraged participants to actively explore the drama and poetry of WB Yeats in engaging, accessible ways by looking at Yeats’ work and his reputation in the context of local history and contemporary Irish writing from the Republic and Northern Ireland. The programme was complimented by a series of free public readings in Sligo and Omagh by Barry McGovern, Sinead Morrissey, Catherine Morris and Paul Muldoon.

A major Jack Yeats Exhibition and Symposium curated by The Model (Home of the Niland Collection) explored socio-political themes. Yeats himself was an outsider of sorts, both to the people he chose to paint and, as an Anglo-Irish Republican, to the society in which he was raised. Jack B Yeats: The Living Ginger, co-curated by Emer McGarry and internationally renowned art critic Brian O’Doherty, ran from July to September at The Model Sligo and from October to January 2011 at Millennium Arts Centre Portadown. The Symposium: Sectarianism and Identity in Ireland Today gathered a diverse panel of speakers to respond to the challenges posed by sectarianism and identity in post conflict Ireland. Speakers include Brian O’Doherty, Francis McKee, Dr. Mike Cronin, Susan McKay and Duncan Campbell.

Inside Out/Outside In was a creative line up of performances and workshops which took place over 8 weekends at The Model. Inspired by the early works of Jack B Yeats, the workshops coincided with the Exhibition and aimed to promote an understanding and awareness of cultural diversity and difference through the experience of art and creativity.

The Legacy of Belief project responded to the Political/Historical Action of the Sligo Peace Plan. It provided opportunities to interrogate historical events and examine the material culture left behind through museum visits and looking at personal and family treasured objects.

It facilitated learning through group discussions, a talks programme, workshops and museum visits in Derry, Belfast and Sligo. The perspectives of local Catholic, Protestant, Presbyterian, traveler and immigrant people informed the process and culminated in the publication of a 144-page colour, illustrated book that represents the views of 21 local participants on their own and Sligo's history.

This publication The Legacy of Belief, A Community’s Response to History is available from Sligo Arts Service.

 
- Mary McAuliffe, Arts Officer, Helen O'Hara Project Administrator and Sligo group with representative for the Mayor of Derry

Public Art

A Public Art commission,  was completed by artist Jackie McKenna and launched by Michael Flatley in a memorable celebration organised by Sligo County Council with the community of Culfadda in June 2010. The garden was created to celebrate Culfadda’s special place in the renowned South Sligo tradition of music and dance from the time of the Country House Dance to the vibrant traditional culture of today. In particular, the exceptional talent of Michael Flatley and his outstanding achievement of bringing Irish music and dance to the world stage is honoured. This specially commissioned artwork is dedicated to Michael Flatley, and to his father, a native of Culfadda.

The Cathaoirleach Councillor Murray says it was obvious from a very early age that Michael Flatley was an exceptional talent and has followed his career closely to this day. ‘I enjoyed very generous hospitality from the Flatley family on various trips to America, and it was a special honour to dedicate the garden of music and memory in Culfadda as a tribute to both Michael and his family as well as the local musicians and dancers of the area.’

In his address the Cathaoirleach said the visit of Michael Flatley ‘was a special day of celebration for the people of Culfadda. For an area steeped in the rich traditions of Irish Music and Culture, there is an enormous sense of pride in welcoming home someone who has made an outstanding contribution to this tradition on the world stage. One of the priorities I set myself as Cathaoirleach was to work with the Culfadda community to find some way to honor Michael Flatley, and I think I speak for the whole community when I say the ‘Garden of Music and Memory’ is a beautiful and fitting testament which will be enjoyed and admired for many generations.’

“...for peace comes dropping slow...” Per Cent for Art Film Commission premiered in the Gaiety Cinema, Sligo in October. During two fine summer days, people from all over Ireland, including participants in the Peace III Yeatsian Legacy Project and a team of young actors and performers, joined Director, Lisa Vandegrift Davala to take part in the film shoot on location at Carrane Hill Bog, Culleenamore Strand and Lough Gill, to inscribe this ‘Land of Heart’s Desire’ with the line and mark of W.B. Yeats’ poetic light.

The Public Art Officer commenced the development of a new Public Art Programme, informed by consultations with the old and new Public Art Steering Groups and each of the Departments administering capital schemes and drawing down Per Cent for Art funding.

Under Arts Grants and Bursaries, Sligo County Council provided significant support to Sligo’s important network of arts organisations who have national and international reach, namely The Model, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, The Hawk’s Well Theatre and Sligo Live. These organisations act as core infrastructural pillars that support artists and arts projects. Furthermore, they provide employment and do important outreach and education work with communities across the city and county. Maintaining support to these organisations is crucial to sustaining Sligo’s reputation as a ‘cultural county’.

The Council also provided essential financial support to a broad range of voluntary and community based festivals and events and to individual artists through contributions and advertised grant/bursary schemes. Sligo Arts Service regards this network as the backbone of arts and cultural activity at local level. Organisations and events in receipt of financial support included County Sligo Fleadh, Feis Shligigh, Sligo Feis Ceoil, Ballintogher Traditional Festival, South Sligo Summer School, Coleman Traditional Festival, James Morrison Weekend, Paddy Killoran Festival, Cinema North West Made in Sligo Festival, Coleman Country Bodhrán School, Cos Cos Dance Group, Sligo Traditional Singers Festival, Western Drama Festival and 4 Bars Later Barbershop Chorus.