Creative Counties - Six Arts Centres, Four Counties, One Network
A National Creative Ireland project, Creative Counties is a network of six venues, in four counties who have developed three exchange projects. The project is led by Dock and includes Hawks Well Theatre, Backstage Theatre, Roscommon Arts Centre, The Glens Centre and Leitrim Sculpture Centre which across counties Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and Longford. Together these six arts centres share resources, skills and opportunities that reach beyond county lines to enhance the creative lives of their communities in the areas of education, urban/rural development, health and well-being and young people through the arts. Details at www.creativecounties.ie
Performing North Leitrim is cross-disciplinary project and collaboration between Leitrim Sculpture Centre & The Glens Centre in Manorhamilton. Performing North Leitrim is an umbrella title for a range of projects Led by artists Little John Nee and Sandra Corrigan Breathnach including many communities in North County Leitrim. The project establishes new performance opportunities jointly at the two Centres through the sharing of resources and expertise.
Both Sides Of The Lough The Dock and Hawk’s Well Theatre jointly commissioned and produced a large scale music project across Sligo and Leitrim. Harnessing the wealth of musical talent the project supports tradition in the Counties in conjunction with a number of highly skilled creative leaders including: Michael Rooney, Niamh Crowley, Kellie Hughes and Stephan Doherty. Through a series of workshops in Sligo and Leitrim, two groups of young traditional musicians meet with master musicians; attaining skills and broadening their musical horizons, expanding the next generations understanding of traditional music.
Luminaria and Playmaking This partnership between Roscommon Arts Centre and Backstage Theatre Longford worked with the creative leadership of artists Maisie Lee and Fionnuala Gygax. ‘Lúminaria’ facilitated a series of children’s workshops in creative writing, puppet making and theatre making in three schools in both Longford and Roscommon. A second phase of the residency, ‘Playmaking’ invited young people aged 9 to 12 to learn about playwriting. The participants wrote their own short play and working with a team of professional actors and designers to have their work professional produced for stage in both venues. www.thedock.ie www.theglenscentre.com www.backstage.ie www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie www.roscommonartscentre.ie www.hawkswell.com
Final Report on the Creative Counties: Four Counties, Six Venues, One Network project
