WCAC believes that, regardless of our age, it our right to participate in the artistic and cultural life of our country in whatever way we may choose. The form of participation will be different for each individual. For some, it will be an opportunity to engage directly with an art form: to learn techniques, explore ideas and create new work. For others, it will be an opportunity to engage with the work of others: to watch, listen, enjoy and be challenged by new perspectives and modes of expression. For some the honing of artistic skills and the satisfaction that derives from finished work will be the most important elements of the experience, while for others, it will be the personal journey undertaken during the creative process, with no product at all.
Whatever mode of participation is chosen, the arts experience on offer should be meaningful and of highest possible quality.
WCAC believes that we can all benefit from the greater inclusion of older voices and perspectives in the arts, and that the benefits for participants include personal fulfilment, the creation of meaning, an opportunity for life-long learning, social linkages, celebration, communication, dignity and self-esteem, empowerment and maintaining and improving health.
The Programme for Older People includes the West Cork Day Care Centres’ Strand; the West Cork Mental Health Project, Arts and Music for an Active Mind and the Bealtaine Festival in association with Age & Opportunity in May each year.
AUTUMN PROGRAMME
Arts for an Active Mind
20 September – 14 December 2010
Monday’s 10.30pm – 12.30pm
Tuesday’s 7.00am – 9.00pm
Fee € 50
This course takes a relaxed and social approach and invites participants of all abilities over 55 years interested in exploring Visual Arts. The facilitator takes a combined approach, of demonstration and practical application to explore painting techniques and contemporary practices. Participants are encouraged to take on a different theme to investigate each term and are guided in ways to look for inspiration. This term explores scale and composition using the old Wolfe's Bakery as a reference point. Wolfe's Bakery currently sits on the site where the new WCAC is to be built. The Bakery holds much history and the inspiration for painting will be based around this change and transformation, paying particular attention to recognising the buildings significance to the community and observing the beauty in its decay.
The group are also invited to take part in other programmes the West Cork Arts Centre offers such as events, tours and one off workshops as part of their investigations into what motivates contemporary visual arts practice.
Saturday 11 September is the field trip for both groups at 2.00pm at the bridge by O’Sullivans. Bring a Camera and notepad/sketch pad. The visit to the Bakery will be to promote discussion in relation to the buildings relevance and to record visual inspiration.
Some basic materials are provided and however participants are encouraged to purchase most of their own materials. Tea/coffee facilities are available.
This course is facilitated by painter, Paul Cialis
Applicants should be over the age of 55 years old and need no experience to participate. There is a fee of € 50 for the course
Supported by West Cork VEC & HSE.
Bealtaine
WCAC Bealtaine programme is part of a unique national event organised by Age & Opportunity who aim to challenge negative attitudes towards ageing and older people and promoting greater participation by older people in society. Bealtaine events in West Cork are co-ordinated through a consultative process, to engage, involve and create ownership. West Cork Arts Centre works with a number of partners including West Cork Older Peoples Network, Community Work Department HSE South, West Cork Adult Education Services, Cork County Library and Arts Services. For more information on Bealtaine events see Age and Opportunity's Bealtaine website for further information.
Bealtaine Art Trail: Poems in Pictures
A Bealtaine Art Trail, a tea dance, an animation workshop alongside a free film screening are just some of the activities on offer to older people in West Cork as part of the West Cork Bealtaine 2010 festivities.
The Bealtaine Art Trail: Poems in Pictures was launched on Thursday 6 May, at the West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen by poets Alyn Fenn and James Harpur.
This unique series of art exhibitions features more than 50 individual artworks created by members of older people’s groups from the West Cork region in celebration of creativity in older age.
Participants in the art project were invited to respond visually to two contemporary poems each reflecting on different aspects of the rural landscape; Here the Sea Meets the Land by Alyn Fenn, Roscommon Rain by James Harpur and an older poem, Trees by Joyce Kilmer from1914.
The artworks include a wide range of imaginative interpretations of the nominated poems and materials used include oils, watercolours and inspired use of mixed media resulting in a colourful and impressive body of work. The exhibition ran at a number of locations in Skibbereen including Field’s SuperValu, Drinagh Coffee Shop, West Cork Hotel and the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery in May.
Artists who worked with the participants included Paul Cialis who worked with the Arts for an Active Mind groups at West Cork Arts Centre and Sally Cush who worked with Cara House and Rosscarbery Active Retirement Association. The project was devised through a partnership with West Cork Arts Centre, West Cork Older People’s Network, Cork County Libraries and Arts Services, West Cork VEC and the HSE. The event was in association with Age and Opportunity national event Bealtaine.
A Bealtaine Tea Dance took place at the West Lodge Hotel, Bantry. All proceeds went to the West Cork Day Care Centre Arts programme.
West Cork Arts Centre held a stop-motion Animation Workshop where artist Jane Lee led participants in creating short films exploring attitudes to ageing.
Finally, there was a free film screening open to audiences of all ages at West Cork Arts Centre on Thursday 27 May. The film, Dean Spanley, was a charming and eccentric comedy touring Ireland as part of the national Bealtaine programme co-ordinated by Access Cinema and Irish Film Institute.
Day Care Connections
Connections has been running for a number of years and aims to develop the arts in West Cork day care centres. The artist creates a project which forms an imaginative link or connection between the staff and participants who attend the five day care centres in West Cork. The connection takes a geographical, symbolic or cultural form using an artform that reflect the participant’s abilities.
