South Tipperary International Festival of Rural Arts and Culture

PRESS RELEASE

9/6/13

Rural Arts Group host Festival of Rural Arts and Culture in South Tipperary

Including seminar in Burncourt to explore ways of creating vibrant rural communities through the power of arts and culture and local involvement

June 27th & 28th, 2013

Seminar. Exhibition. Community Arts. Crossroads Gathering.

Hosted by South Tipperary Rural Arts Group

South Tipperary Rural Arts Group are hosting their first International Festival of Rural Arts and Culture on Thursday, June 27th and Friday, June 28th, 2013. Key events will take place in the intimate setting of Burncourt Community Centre and The Farmhouse Pub, Graigue, near Clogheen over two days and will celebrate inspiring examples of arts and cultural initiatives in rural areas from home and abroad.

The festival programme starts with the opening of ‘The River Culture Pop Up Space’, on the evening of Thursday, June 27th in Burncourt Community Centre.

This installation and exhibition is a collective effort by the artist Deirdre, O’Mahony, the South Tipperary Rural Arts Group, local fisher folk, hunters and the county museum to assemble a collection of museum objects and local collections of tools, flies, rods, traps and hunting and fishing related materials that speak to the specific culture of river life on the Suir and its surroundings. The artist has interviewed local fisher folk and hunters and these will provide the soundtrack to a DVD projection in the shed behind the community center. It’s all organised by artist Deirdre O’Mahony from Clare who will give a talk at 7.30p.m. on the X-PO Project, which she initiated in a former rural post office in Kilnaboy in 2007 and shows the potential of arts and culture to revive rural areas

‘Inspiring Rural Creativity’, a public seminar and exchange event, takes place in the community centre on the following day, Friday, June 28th from 9.30am-4p.m. and will feature guest speakers from across the UK and Ireland present innovative examples of initiatives which tackle the issues of arts and cultural promotion and provision in rural areas and it’s role in regenerating our society.

For example, hear how in Wales the Night Out Scheme brings over 600 shows to local communities every year! And how does the Ballymena Arts Partnership work? Voluntary Arts Ireland will explain how they promote active participation in the arts in local communities, whilst Fragments Ensemble and South Tipperary Rural Arts Group will discuss the experience and outcomes of developing a community film project with young people in the local area and show the film.

Plus it will also explore the role of the community and rural development sectors, the impact of arts networks and volunteer promoters, and the relationship between artists and local communities. Seminar places are limited and cost €10 including lunch. Bookings toSouthTipperaryCountyMuseum at 052 6134552 orEmail:.

The events will conclude on Friday night with a ‘Crossroads Gathering’ event celebrating the best of rural culture in the region and beyond taking place in the Farmhouse Pub, Graigue, near Clogheen from 9p.m. till late.

The Festival is part of a larger project called ‘Inspiring Rural Creativity’ which is made possible through funding support from the Arts Council Local Partnership Scheme and the INTERREG funded, Green & Blue Futures Project and is led by the Arts Office of South Tipperary County Council and co-ordinated by Conor O'Leary of Artlands.

For further information contact project co-ordinator Conor O’Leary, Artlands 087-9048095 and check out

ENDS

For further National information please contact, Conor O’Leary at (087) 9048095 or

South Tipperary Rural Arts Group contact Breeda Fitzgerald, South Tipperary Rural Arts Group at 087-6967661

Conor O’ Leary

Conor is a Level 2 Awardee with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland which supports people with innovative ideas for social change to turn them into a reality. Conor was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Trust ‘Rural Sparks’ Recognition Programme 2009 as one of 15 projects across the UK and Ireland for innovation in sustainable rural development. And most recently in 2011, Artlands was recognised by Irish Rural link for it’s valuable contribution to Rural Community Development.