Adults
West Cork Arts Centre is a resource for adults who are interested in the arts. There are opportunities for adults, art students and artists to further their education and experience of the arts and to network through projects like Life Drawing, Creative Writing, Painting and Drawing Courses, Masterclasses, Artists’ Talks, Seminars and Events. Many of which are available through our Artists in Residence public engagment Programmes, see residencies here.
There are a number of opportunities to explore Contemporary Dance through our Dance Programme
Creative Carers at Uillinn
Monday 4.30pm to 6.30pm
2 October to 13 November (excluding 30 October)
€5 booking fee for 6 sessions
Book your place: 028 22090 / info@westcorkartscentre.com
CREATIVE CARERS at Uillinn is back for a third series in 2023. Artist Sarah Ruttle delivers six creative workshops for at home family carers on Monday evenings from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. The new term begins on 2 October and runs to 13 November. Previous attendees can come along for another term or you can start as new. No previous art experience is necessary.
COURSE CONTENT
The workshops will take an informal and relaxed approach to exploring creativity for anyone who cares for someone at home. This is a supported and creative space where each participant can explore their own ideas. Workshops are an opportunity to take a moment for yourself, share in a cuppa while making and connecting with others providing care at home.
The Creative Carers Programme provides enjoyable social and creative engagement opportunities for family carers in West Cork. Managed by Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre as part of Arts for Health Partnership, the service is delivered by a team of expert artists and musicians welcoming all people who provide care for a family member in the home across West Cork.
Want to know more about our Creative Carer Programme – go to https://artsforhealthwestcork.com/creative-carers-information/
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Tyrone born visual artist Sarah is a graduate of Textiles from DJCAD Dundee, Scotland. Working across disciplines she uses textiles, print and illustration. She has been working on the Arts for Health partnership programme since 2008. Sarah builds creative connections through a combination of making and storytelling, while using a multi-sensory approach.
Sarah is the recipient of several Awards including from Cork County Council, Creative Ireland and the Arts Council.
Mark Making & Mixed media with Catherine Weld: Abstracting from Life
Wednesday 27 September to 25 October 2023, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
Maximum 8 participants.
Booking directly with Catherine on 0858308918 or catherineweld@gmail.com
With the introduction of many new exercises, these sessions will be suitable for those who have attended my courses before, as well as first time participants of all levels of experience.
In addition to individual and group mark-making and drawing exercises that will enable you to explore and develop your individual visual language, we will work from life to find the key elements – shapes, line and tone - that are the building blocks of composition, structure, rhythm and, through these, expression. As always, the emphasis will be on process - it will be an opportunity to practice letting go of ideas about outcomes or finished work and to enjoy using the materials and being in the moment. At the same time you will be learning skills that can be applied to your work outside of the class, regardless of medium or style.
The size of the group (6 - 8 people) will ensure mutual support and trust. The short coffee breaks each week will be an opportunity for discussion around art themes, sometimes using a short art film as a starting point, and chatting about shared ideas and experiences related to art and life, which is always inspiring and enriching. The aim is that the course overall provides time away from everyday life and concerns, to dedicate to creativity and enjoyment with like-minded people.
About the facilitator
Catherine Weld’s creative career began in the UK as a social documentary photographer, followed by seven years as facilitator of a hospice-based project making books and films with people at the end of life. A graphic design degree followed but finding commercial work restrictive, she moved to West Cork in 2012 and committed fully to life as a painter, which offers the solitude, risk and freedom to which she is temperamentally best suited.
Alongside painting, she loves life drawing and teaching adults mark-making at West Cork Arts Centre and from her studio. She also enjoy the challenges of exhibition curation and has been involved in several environmental campaigns through the arts.
She has exhibited widely including at the RA Summer Show in London, the RUA in Belfast, and the Vue Art Fair, RHA, Dublin. Paintings are in the OPW and Cork County Council art collections as well as in private homes in Germany, Switzerland, the U.S.A., the U.K. and Ireland.
Skibbereen Community Choir – Liz Clark
Thursdays 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Starting weekly on Thursday's from 6 October
Pay as you go €6 per session or pay for a block of 6 sessions for €30
No booking required
Weekly social choir sessions for everyone who would like to sing - even those that think they can’t!
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Liz Clark is an Ireland-based singer, songwriter, performer, and musician. Liz has recorded 5 full length studio albums of original songs. She has performed and collaborated throughout the US and Europe working solo engagements as well as collaboratively in a group and leading full bands. She has performed alongside the likes of Sarah Maclachlan, Emmylou Harris, The Counting Crows and others. Over the past ten years she has been working extensively in the Arts and Health context in which she developed a collaborative approach to the songwriting process in healthcare settings across West Cork. As part of the Arts For Health Partnership Programme, she developed The Starling Song Project which preserves stories and heritage from older participants in the form of song. From this work, she developed The Starling Band, involving 3 other singers and instrumentalists to showcase this music in a wider context outside of the hospitals. They have been featured at the Skibbereen Arts Festival twice and performed in pubs and concert venues throughout West Cork. Liz is the leader of a community choir and 2 HSE choirs for the wellbeing of staff. She is the host of a new podcast, produced by Arts For Health, discussing ways of working, inspiration, pitfalls and challenges in the arts and health sector."
National Drawing Day
National Drawing Day began at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2005. Now in its eighteenth year, the initiative has blossomed, with thousands of people taking part each year all over Ireland. National Drawing Day is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Events, whether onsite, offsite or online, encourage and support access to the arts for all, regardless of age, ability or social circumstances.
Slow Art Day
Founded in 2010, Slow Art Day is a global event (more than 1,500 museums and galleries have participated) with a simple mission: help more people discover for themselves the joy of looking at and loving art.
Why slow?
When people look slowly at a piece of art they make discoveries. The most important discovery they make is that they can see and experience art without an expert (or expertise).
And that’s an exciting discovery. It unlocks passion and creativity and helps to create more art lovers.
Continuing Professional Development and Training
WCAC creates opportunities for artists and other professionals for training, networking, employment, creating new work, exhibiting work, dissemination of experience and ideas and creative exchange through Pre-School Arts Training; Arts and Disability training; Learning Days for Artists; Critical Discussion and Professional Development for Artists.
Professional Development for Artists
This part of the programme is about the individual artist and devising appropriate methods to increase their knowledge, awareness and skills. This may take the form of mentoring, bringing in professionals with specialised crew of knowledge and experience to mentor and work alongside artists of WCAC. We also support artists with less experience to work alongside our more experienced artists in a assisting, or learning role. Another key element involves sourcing ongoing appropriate and relevant training for artists and supporting artists to attend courses, conferences and seminars nationally and internationally.
Image: BAVA Film Course May 2017.Photograph Kevin O'Farrell
