2012 News Archive
Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts publishes a monthly news e-bulletin with recent news items, project reports and details of all upcoming programming. To be the first to find out about all things Sticky Fingers subscribe to our mailing list for monthly emails by emailing us on info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk or by adding your details to our mailing list widget on the left-hand column of our home page. If there's anything you would like to see included in our news section, do get in touch, we would love to hear your ideas.
January News
What can you imagine for Newry?
Photo Courtesy Solarite IrelandLast
year Sticky Fingers launched The Tower of Imagination sculpture on the
A1 road at Newry. Created by artist Maurice Harron, the sculpture stands
as a beacon of and for the children of Newry but also as a beacon for
hope, opportunity, forward thinking and imagination for us, the
grown-ups, who may have lost that little bit of magic we so easily
believed in as children. This year, Sticky Fingers is commissioning a
public art trail for Hill Street in Newry and is now seeking imaginative
applications from suitably qualified artists and crafts workers.
In
association with Newry and Mourne District Council, Sticky Fingers is
looking for four artists of differing disciplines to collaborate with
primary school children on an integrated public art scheme for Hill
Street, Newry. Each artist will deliver a series of workshops in Newry
to work with local children on creating a permanent art installation in
one of four sites along Hill Street. In keeping with Sticky Fingers'
programme ethos, the workshops will be child-centred, with the themes of
the final work arising from the children's imagination. Each art
installation will be finished to a high quality and should combine the
children's work with that of the artist. It is envisaged that the
workshop time spent with the children will be used as a research period
for each artist to create their element of the final work, both elements
working in tandem with one another.
To download the Artist Brief, click here.
The deadline for all applications is 10am January 16th 2012. Late submissions will not be considered.
For further details contact the Programme Manager at elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
This project is kindly funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund and Newry and Mourne District Council.
2012 St Patrick's Festival, Newry: Call for Carnival Artists
Over
the coming months Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts will have several
great opportunities for artists experienced in working with community
groups on high-quality carnival projects.
We
are now looking for expressions of interest from suitably qualified
candidates to devise and deliver community carnival spectacles with
various youth and children's groups across the Newry and Mourne area. It
is anticipated that these projects will commence at the beginning of
February, running until mid March. The successful candidates will each
collaborate with a local group, delivering a series of workshops to
devise and produce a carnival project for the 2012 St Patrick's
Festival, Newry.
Download the application here (Pdf version only) or request one by emailing the Programme Manager at elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk (Pdf and Word versions).
Deadline: 10am January 16th 2012. Late submissions will not be considered.
Chance to Win Tickets to Festival 2012
Everyone here in
Sticky Fingers central is gearing up for another year of organised chaos
in 2012 and we would like to hear what YOU want for the year ahead. We
have prepared a really short survey and would really love if you could
take a few minutes of your time to tell us how we did this year and what
ideas you have for our 2012 programme. Everyone who completes the
survey and emails their details to elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk will be entered into a draw for a family ticket for Festival 2012.
To complete our survey click here. Thank you!
Music update
We've
clapped and bounced and sung and played and now we've come to the end
of our music workshops for 2011. We finished up in December with a
Christmas party for children from the National Deaf Children's Society
in Belfast with a certain special someone popping in with a few
presents.
We
would like to say a big thanks to all the children, parents and staff
who've joined in the singing so enthusiastically this year - at
Homestart Newry, Cullyhanna Community Creche, Homestart Kilkeel, Orana
SureStart, the parents and children of Mullaghbann, Barcroft and Dorsey,
St Colman's Abbey Primary School and Nursery and Little Ones Toddler
Group - and a huge thank you to our funders BBC Children in Need, the
Irish Youth Foundation and the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation.
For futher details on our music programme contact our Music Coordinator at claire@stickyfingersarts.co.uk. Looking forward to hearing lots more Little Voices in 2012.
Challenging Creativity
Here
in Sticky Fingers we are passionate about early years creativity and we
want you to feel the same way. A new addition to our website About Early Years Arts explores all things early years. Recent content includes an essay from Roisin Cotter on challenging creativity. Roisin
is a parent and creative practitioner working in early years settings
through environmental and visual arts. In 2011 Roisin completed the
Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts 'Developing Creativity in the Early
Years' module course, certified by Stranmillis University College. If you have any suggestions for future content for our About Early Years Arts page, please do get in touch with us on elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk, we would love to hear your ideas.
The Allianz Arts and Business NI Awards 2012
Arts and Business Northern Ireland has announced the shortlist for the Allianz Arts and Business NI Awards 2012.
Seven judges from across the spectrum of commerce and culture
shortlisted best examples of excellence in partnerships from a record
number of entries.
The
awards pay tribute to a total of twenty-one short listed partnerships
jostling for first prize in five of the eight awards categories. Five
local arts persons have also been nominated for the prestigious Arts Individual of the Year Award,
with a further four individuals shortlisted for the Professional
Development Award and thirteen arts organisations shortlisted for the
Arts Award.
Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts are delighted to have been considered for two awards this year, including the Sustained Partnership Award, for our partnership with Milligan Reside Larkin Architects, and Arts Individual of the Year, for our Artistic Director Grainne Powell's
contribution to the arts sector over the last ten years and for her
commitment to advocate and promote the arts for children in Newry as
well as nationally and internationally.
Winners will be unveiled at The Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards ceremony on Thursday 26th January 2012. The ceremony will take place at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast. Congratulations and best wishes to all the nominees.
The Hill Street Public Art Project 2012: Call for Artists
In association with Newry and Mourne District Council, Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts is looking for four experienced artists of differing disciplines to collaborate with primary school children on an integrated public art scheme for Hill Street, Newry. Each artist will deliver a series of workshops in Newry to work with local children on creating a permanent art installation in one of four sites along Hill Street. In keeping with Sticky Fingers' programme ethos, the workshops will be child-centred, with the themes of the final work arising from the children's imagination. Each art installation will be finished to a high quality and should combine the children's work and that of the artist. It is envisaged that the workshop time spent with the children will be used as a research period for each artist to create their element of the final work, both elements working in tandem with one another.
Applicants will need to be available during February, March and April, have proven experience in producing mid to large-scale public art projects and have an interest in working creatively and collaboratively with young children.
For further details see our Artist Brief.
The deadline for all applications is 10am January 16th 2012. Late submissions will not be considered.
For further details contact the Programme Manager at elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
This project is kindly supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund and Newry and Mourne District Council.
2012 St Patrick's Festival, Newry: Call for Carnival Artists
Over
the coming months Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts will have several
great opportunities for artists experienced in working with community
groups on high-quality carnival projects.
We
are now looking for expressions of interest from suitably qualified
candidates to devise and deliver community carnival spectacles with
various youth and children's groups across the Newry and Mourne area. It
is anticipated that these projects will commence at the beginning of
February, running until mid March. The successful candidates will each
collaborate with a local group, delivering a series of workshops to
devise and produce a carnival project for the 2012 St Patrick's
Festival, Newry.
Budget:
Artists will be paid £35 per workshop hour (VAT inclusive), plus
preparation time and mileage. There is a small additional budget for
materials.
Application Process
Interested parties are invited to submit an expression of interest comprising the below details by 10am January 16th 2012, to elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk
or to Elaine Cronin, Programme Manager, Sticky Fingers Early Years
Arts, Granite House, 31-35 St Mary's Street, Newry, BT34 2AA.
1. A
completed application form highlighting relevant qualifications and
experience for a project of this scale and nature, including any work
completed with children and young people.
2. Visuals of appropriate recent work. Please submit a maximum of 10 clear images in a PowerPoint style format.
3. A
cover letter of maximum 500 words outlining your approach to projects
of this nature and describing your initial ideas for workshops and
design development.
Download the application here (Pdf version only) or request one by emailing the Programme Manager at elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk (Pdf and Word versions).
Deadline: 10am January 16th 2012. Late submissions will not be considered.
2011 News Archive
December News
Another Year Over...
Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts would like to thank our audiences, colleagues, partners, funders, volunteers and friends in the sector for their continued support throughout 2011 - we really couldn't have done it without you.
We would like to particularly thank everyone who helped to make this year's festival such a success. Festival 2011 would not have been possible without the support of our partner Newry and Mourne District Council, our funders The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Newry and Mourne District Council; our supporting local businesses The Newry Reporter, The Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Alderside Farm, Newry and Mourne Museum, Grounded Espresso Bars and Libraries NI; our artistic partners Small Size, Polka Theatre and Babaro; our wonderful volunteers Mandi, Catherine, Edel, Ronan, Gary, Peter, Raquel, Christopher, Mostyn, Ceala, Daniel, Celine and Anna; all the artists, theatre companies and crew (too many to mention!) and, most importantly, YOU - the families who came along to the Festival performances, workshops and events that took place all this month - THANK YOU!
If
you have any feedback on Festival 2011 you would like to share you can
get in touch with us on 028 3025 7885, email us on
info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk or just post your comments on Facebook
or Twitter. There is also an opportunity to win a family ticket to
Festival 2012 if you complete our audience survey (see below for
details). We've
already begun to programme Festival 2012, so if you have any ideas we
would really love to hear them!
Chance to Win Tickets to Festival 2012
Everyone here in Sticky Fingers central is gearing up for another year of organised chaos in 2012 and we would like to hear what YOU want for the year ahead. We have prepared a really short survey and would really love if you could take a few minutes of your time to tell us how we did this year and what ideas you have for our 2012 programme. Everyone who completes the survey and emails their details to elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk will be entered into a draw for a family ticket for Festival 2012.
To complete our survey click here. Thank you!
Partner Offer from the Lyric Theatre
The Little Prince Image © The Lyric Theatre
We are pleased to offer our audiences a special discount on tickets for The Little Prince on at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. The Little Prince is a new family musical by Nicholas Lloyd Webber and James D. Reid and audiences of Sticky Fingers can avail of 20% off tickets for Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17th December at 7.30pm using the promotion code PRINCE. Phone 028 9038 1081 or book online at www.lyrictheatre.co.uk.
"Once upon a time there was a little prince who lived on a planet that was scarcely any bigger than himself, and who was in need of a friend. Once upon a time there was a pilot who was forced to land in the Sahara Desert. Both set out on journeys of discovery finding friendship and wisdom along the way. The Little Prince is an enchanting children's story by Antoine De Saint-Exupery that has been loved by children all over the world. Be one of the first audiences to see a truly magical, musical production by the new generation of musical theatre with original songs and lyrics by Nicholas Lloyd Webber and James D. Reid, and starring Niamh Perry as The Little Prince."
November News
Another Year Over...
Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped to make Festival 2011 such a success.
None of it would have been possible without the support of our partner Newry and Mourne District Council, our funders The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Newry and Mourne District Council; our supporting local businesses The Newry Reporter, The Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Alderside Farm, Newry and Mourne Museum, Grounded Espresso Bars and Libraries NI; our artistic partners Small Size, Polka Theatre and Babaro; our wonderful volunteers Mandi, Catherine, Edel, Ronan, Gary, Peter, Raquel, Christopher, Mostyn, Ceala, Daniel, Celine and Anna; all the artists, theatre companies and crew (too many to mention!) and, most importantly, YOU - the families who came along to the Festival performances, workshops and events that took place all this month - THANK YOU!
If you have any feedback on Festival 2011 you would like to share you can get in touch with us on 028 3025 7885, email us on info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk or just post your comments here. We've already begun to programme Festival 2012, so if you have any ideas we would love to hear them!
Best wishes, the Sticky Fingers Festival Team.
Festival 2011 Programme Downloads:
Full Festival Brochure and Timetable - Colour
Festival Timetable - Colour
Festival Timetable - Easy Print
October News
Festival 2011
[1-31 October]
This
year's Festival runs right through the month of October and coincides
with Newry City's inaugural Children's Month, so our programme is jam
packed full of fantastic things to do, see and experience.
We're almost three weeks into the Festival month and lots of you have experienced some of the great theatre performances and arts workshops on offer so far - but there's lots more to come! For details on what's on offer, you can download the full Festival brochure here. You can also read through our programme of performances, workshops and other events on our Festival 2011 page.
Many
events have already sold out, but there are still some fantastic events
with tickets available, including Egg, The Horse and Castle, Mise and
One Little Word. Extra tickets have also just been released for the
previously sold out Arts and Crafts at the Castle workshops on Saturday
22nd at 10.30am and 1.30pm. To check availability on all our events see
our online shop or check out our Facebook page or Twitter feed for all the latest news and offers.
As with
previous Festivals we have kept prices affordable, with tickets for
workshops and performances ranging from £1.50 to £5.00. There are some
great offers for schools and play groups, plus opportunities for Mums,
Dads, Grannies and Grandpas to attend some shows for free.
Booking is available online here or by calling into the Sticky Fingers office at Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry, BT34 2AA.
For any other information call us on +44 (0)28 3025 7885.
Enjoy exploring all that is on offer!
Coming Soon...
Wednesday 19th at 2pm and 7pm - 'Egg' Image © Cahoots NI
Award
winning children's theatre company Cahoots NI presents Egg, a
delightful new theatre production for young children with magic, live
music, plenty of action and an egg! What really happens when you put all
your eggs in one basket? Not always what you would expect it seems if
this particular show is to be believed. Witness the mapcap adventures of
our unexpected heroes as they explore the humble egg and try to resolve
age old problems, such as which came first, the chicken or the egg? Was
Humpty Dumpty pushed? And is having egg on your face such a bad thing?
(Suitable for children aged 4 plus)
Monday 24th at 2pm and 7pm - 'Mise' Image © Branar
Sometimes
small things happen, and they are just small things, but in our head
they grow into huge problems. This is the story of a little girl who
can't sleep because a small thing happened earlier that day. With
beautiful puppetry, live music and animation, Branar tell this simple
and moving story of the night the girl couldn't sleep and the adventure she had trying. (Suitable for children aged 7 plus)
Tuesday 25th at 2pm and 7pm & Wednesday 26th at 11am and 2pm
- 'One Little Word' Image © M6 Theatre Company
A
beautiful and gentle story of friendship, power struggles and the rich
world of creative play. We meet two characters who play together -
exploring a new space, new objects, dressing up and taking turns - but
struggles arise when one of them wants to be the only captain of the
ship! Devised by internationally renowned M6 Theatre Company, One Little
Word captivates
children's imagination with a moving story told with original music and
just one spoken word. (Suitable for children aged 3 plus)
Friday 28th at 11am and 2pm - 'Clann Lir / The Children of Lir' Image © Branar
A
father's love for his children is at the heart of this beautiful
retelling of the ancient tale of Clann Lir. In this vivid production
Branar focusses on the fairytale elements of the story, a father's
search for his children; magical transformations; three chances to break
a spell, and much more. This mythical tale is told with puppetry, vivid
imagery and enchanting newly-composed live traditional music. (Suitable
for the entire family)
Booking for all of these events is available online here or by calling into the Sticky Fingers office at Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry, BT34 2AA.
September News
Festival 2011
[1-31 October]
The Sticky Fingers Festival is back!
Booking now available here!
This
year's Festival runs right through the month of October and coincides
with Newry City's inaugural Children's Month, so our programme is jam
packed full of fantastic things to do, see and experience.
As
with previous Festivals we have kept prices affordable, with tickets
for workshops and performances ranging from £1.50 to £5.00. There are
some great offers for schools and play groups, plus opportunities for
Mums, Dads, Grannies and Grandpas to attend some shows for free.
You can now download the full Festival brochure here. You can also read through our programme of performances, workshops and other events on our Festival 2011 page.
Booking is now available online here or by calling into the Sticky Fingers office at Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry, BT34 2AA.
For any other information call us on +44 (0)28 3025 7885.
Enjoy exploring all that is on offer!
Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts Training Day with Bruno Cappagli of La Baracca, Italy
[October 14]
Telling through Body and Objects
Location: Bagenal's Castle and Sean Hollywood Arts Centre
Friday 14th 10.30am (sharp - performance of The Little Elephant begins at 10.30am) to 3.45pm
Price: £30 (Including light lunch and entry to The Little Elephant and On - Off performances) Book online or call the Sticky Fingers office on +44 (0)28 3025 7885.
Sticky
Fingers is hosting a special training day for early years teachers,
artists and other professionals on Friday 14th October in Newry, Co.
Down. Delivered by La Baracca's Artistic Co-director Bruno Cappagli,
this theatrical and general arts training will explore the body and
found objects as a springboard for the creation of stories and
characters.
'Telling'
is a theatrical and general arts workshop for teachers and educators
which will develop participants' artistic skills for the early years.
This engaging workshop is an opportunity for early years practitioners
to approach complex languages, gradually exploring the possibilities
and limits of one's expressiveness. Offering fractions and images of
experience, this training will allow participants to share their own
experiences and knowledge that everyone can then later reprocess and
use in their personal and professional path.
The objects: This
workshop will focus on the object: the object as a creative
suggestion, as a means for the creation of a character or a story; the
object as an element that can influence improvisation and narration.
The body: A
workshop on moving bodies, bodies exploring the world of fantasy and
imagination: a physical theatre experience encouraging the discovery of
the places where 'stories appear'.
Requirements:
Comfortable clothes (please note we will work barefoot).
Please bring a small object with you (a mirror, a spoon, a comb...)
Cost: This unique training day is available at a special rate of £30 (inclusive of lunch). Book online or call the Sticky Fingers office on +44 (0)28 3025 7885.
Special delegates tickets are also available for the Sticky Fingers Festival. For booking and any other information call the Sticky Fingers office on +44 (0)28 3025 7885.
Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts and the Sticky Fingers Festival 2011 is kindly supported by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The National Lottery and Newry and Mourne District Council.
August News
Summer Camp
Children from the 3-5 age group during the July Outdoor Arts Camp
Our final week of this year's outdoor arts camp takes place from August 15th to 19th in the beautiful surroundings of Slieve Gullion Forest. This is the second year of the Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts' outdoor arts camp, and like last year, we have been having a wonderful time being creative in the open air, using lots of natural materials and generally getting up to all kinds of mischief.
We recently uploaded some great photographs from last month's camp to our Facebook page, so check out our Photo Album to see some of the things we got up to this year. And remember, you will find details about all Sticky Fingers' programmes here on our website first so do stay in touch! You can also sign up to our mailing list by adding your details to our mailing list widget to the left of this page, or by emailing us on info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
July News
Newry Canal Festival 2011
This year's Bath Tub Race? Have a better idea? There's just about time left to enter!
Sticky Fingers are delighted to be involved in this year's Newry Canal Festival in association with the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, Newry City Management and Newry and Mourne District Council. There is a great range of events taking place the week of Monday 18th July, culminating in a Bath Tub Race along Newry Canal and a family fun day in McClelland Park on Saturday 23rd July.
Sticky Fingers will be hosting a Festival Day on Saturday 23rd July in McClelland Park from 16.00 until 18.00, providing free arts and crafts activities for children and their families plus some fantastic performers to entertain for the whole afternoon.
For the full Newry Canal Festival Programme download their brochure here.
Summer Camp August 2011
This month we have been having a ball out in the wilds of south Armagh at the Sticky Fingers Outdoor Arts Camp. For photos of some of the things we have been up to, see our facebook page. There are still some places left in our younger group (Ages 3 to 5) on our camp taking place from the 15th to the 19th August. Places are £55 per child, with discounts available for siblings as well as for those who are unemployed or in full time education. For further details call us on +44 (0)28 3025 7885 or secure your places by using our Online Shop.
Tower of Imagination
Photo courtesy of Mostyn Powell, Solarite Ireland
Notice anything interesting along the A1 Dual Carraigeway recently? On July 7th Sticky Fingers launched our latest public art project, the Tower of Imagination.
This magical tower, created by artist Maurice Harron, is the result of a Sticky Fingers' public art commission, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund and supported by the Department for Regional Development Roads Services, Newry and Mourne District Council, Kingspan and Solarite.
Let us know what you think! If you're travelling northbound on the A1 Dual Carraigeway at Newry, it's just north of the Cloughoge junction - you can't miss it!
More photos to be uploaded soon...
June News
The Sticky Fingers Festival Presents... Block Party! (July 7th)
The Dance Theatre of Ireland will soon be coming to Newry with their mesmerising performance of Block Party. Dazzling dancers, explosive percussion & giant-sized toy blocks. This outdoor spectacle is full of zest, colour, imagination and fun for the whole family. A vibrant world and feast for the senses with designs more clever than a Rubik's Cube on pointe!
When: Thursday July 7th at 12.45 and 14.00
Where: Marcus Square, Hill Street, Newry
This FREE EVENT for the whole family is part of our year long Festival programme culminating in our Festival Month this October. The Sticky Fingers Festival is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Newry and Mourne District Council.
Summer Camp 2011 (July & August)
Sticky Fingers recently launched the programme for our summer arts camps taking place this July and August in the beautiful surroundings of Slieve Gullion. The camps are especially programmed for adventurous children aged 3 to 8 years and all activities will take place in the forest park itself, come rain or shine!
Organised and run by experienced Sticky Fingers staff, each camp will feature a wide range of enjoyable arts activities. Children will spend their time painting, exploring, modelling with clay, singing, enjoying stories and generally being creative in the open air.
Sticky Fingers is well known for its innovative work with children in schools, playgroups and the community and, of course, for hosting the Sticky Fingers Festival, which this year takes place during October. Drawing on this expertise the summer camps have been developed following continual requests from parents to provide holiday activities.
Places are limited and are only assigned on full payment, on a first come basis.
How to book:
Please complete this form and return, along with a cheque payable to Sticky Fingers, to: Summer Camp, Sticky Fingers, Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry BT342AA.
You can also book online using PayPal and our Online Shop. If you are booking online you must also download and complete the application form and return with your payment reference number to: Summer Camp, Sticky Fingers, Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry BT342AA. [Please note that concession rates are not available online.]
For further details on any aspect of the programme contact us on +44(0)28 3025 7885.
Location: Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Co. Armagh
Dates:
18-22 July 2011, 10.00-13.00 (Ages 3-5 and 6-8)
15-19 August 2011, 10.00-13.00 (Ages 3-5 and 6-8)
Cost (per child per week):
£55 (Standard rate)
£45 (Concession rate for full-time students/unemployed - proof required)
£45 (Concession rate for additional siblings - £55 for first child, £100 for two siblings, £145 for three siblings etc.)
Opportunities for Voluntary Childcare Students
This summer we will be running Summer Camps at Slieve Gullion in Killeavy, Co Armagh. Activities will take place outdoors in the forest park and the courtyard gardens.
We are looking for students to volunteer as helpers for the week. They will be involved in all aspects of running the camps, from helping the children to settle, preparing activities, playing games and assisting the staff with the daily administration. The camps are for children aged 3 to 8 years so ideally we need students with experience of working with this age group.
Volunteers must be aged 18 or over.
Dates: 18-22 July and 15-19 August (9.30am-1.30pm)
Expenses: Volunteers will be reimbursed for local travel.
References: Sticky Fingers will provide a reference for students on successful completion of their volunteer work.
If you are up for a challenge and a week of fun activities then please contact Sticky Fingers as soon as possible on 028 3025 7885 or email claire@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
A1 Public Art: The Tower of Imagination
The Tower of Imagination public art sculpture is due to be installed and launched on site along the A1 at Newry during July. This magical tower, created by artist Maurice Harron, is the result of a Sticky Fingers' public art commission, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund and supported by the Department for Regional Development Roads Services, Newry and Mourne District Council, Kingspan and Solarite.
For more information contact Elaine in Sticky Fingers at elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
May News
Summer Camp 2011 *Online Shop Now Open*
Grainne Powell and Corina Chiran from Sticky Fingers with children at last year's Summer Camp
Sticky Fingers has just launched the programme for our summer arts camps taking place this July and August in the beautiful surroundings of Slieve Gullion. The camps are especially programmed for adventurous children aged 3 to 8 years and all activities will take place in the forest park itself, come rain or shine!
Organised and run by experienced Sticky Fingers staff, each camp will feature a wide range of enjoyable arts activities. Children will spend their time painting, exploring, modelling with clay, singing, enjoying stories and generally being creative in the open air.
Sticky Fingers is well known for its innovative work with children in schools, playgroups and the community and, of course, for hosting the Sticky Fingers Festival, which this year takes place during October. Drawing on this expertise the summer camps have been developed following continual requests from parents to provide holiday activities.
Priority booking is available until 27 May for everyone on the Sticky Fingers e-bulletin mailing list and for those following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Places are limited and are only assigned on full payment, on a first come basis.
Please complete this form and return, along with a cheque payable to Sticky Fingers, to: Summer Camp, Sticky Fingers, Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry BT342AA.
You can now also book online using PayPal and our Online Shop. If you are booking online you must also download and complete the application form and return with your payment reference number to: Summer Camp, Sticky Fingers, Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry BT342AA.
For further details on any aspect of the programme contact us on +44(0)28 3025 7885.
Location:
Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Co. Armagh
Dates:
18-22 July 2011, 10.00-13.00 (Ages 3-5 and 6-8)
15-19 August 2011, 10.00-13.00 (Ages 3-5 and 6-8)
Cost (per child per week):
£55 (Standard rate)
£45 (Concession rate for full-time students/unemployed - proof required)
£45 (Concession rate for additional siblings - £55 for first child, £100 for two siblings, £145 for three siblings etc.) ***NEW***
ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival
The 17th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young Audiences is taking place this week in Denmark and Sweden. From the 20th to the 29th of May, ASSITEJ 2011 invites the whole world to Copenhagen and Malmoe to take part in an outstanding celebration of children and young people, performing arts and international collaboration.
ASSITEJ 2011 offers the chance to see 27 international performances from all over the world including Japan, Brazil, Iran and Zambia. The focus point of the festival is to showcase new, original plays. The festival also presents a special performing arts cavalcade with 20 Danish and Swedish performances, ground-breaking seminars and workshops, open-space sessions, playwrights' slams tea-time discussions, readings and much more. Every three years audiences from the whole world come together to celebrate and in 2011, ASSITEJ Denmark and ASSITEJ Sweden have the privilege of hosting and organising this extraordinary event.
The theme "Building Bridges, Crossing Borders" is reflected in the cultural diversity of the performances and in the joint nationality of hosts Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmoe, Sweden.
Sticky Fingers will be attending this fantastic event and will be tweeting live from Copenhagen and Malmoe over the coming days. Follow us on www.twitter.com/earlyyearsart for live updates on events and performances.
The Sticky Fingers Festival 2011
We are delighted to announce that the Sticky Fingers International Early Years Arts Festival returns to Newry city for the entire month of October. We are currently finalising the programme for the festival and will be announcing the full line up later in the summer. (Excited? We are!)
Our mini FESTIVAL last year was a great success and was kindly funded by our partners Newry and Mourne District Council and Small Size and of course by our lovely mini FESTIVAL friends Jonathan McKeown Solicitors, Baba Me, FPM Chartered Accountants and Newry Credit Union. Following on from the success of the Festival Friends scheme last year we will soon be releasing details of the opportunities offered by this year's bigger and bolder international festival. For further information contact us on +44 (0)28 3025 7885.
Recent Sticky Fingers Programmes
The Little Voices music programme for Newry and Mourne has closed after a busy 9 months. We'd like to say a big thank you to the Community Development and Health Network for their support of music for babies and young children and to Sure Start and the Women's Family Health Initiative for their cooperation.
Little Voices has begun a two month programme for Homestart in the Seashell Centre, Kilkeel. We are delighted to be singing in Kilkeel again to packed classes. We are also delighted to announce that our music programme has received new funding from the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation. This much needed funding will help Sticky Fingers to continue these free music programmes across the region.
For further information on these and other music programmes contact our Music Co-ordinator Claire on claire@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
We have also recently completed several visual arts programmes at St. Colman's Abbey PS Newry, Mount St. Catherine's PS Armagh with Belong NI, Newry and Mourne District Council, the Seashell Centre Kilkeel with the South Down Family Health Initiative, the Polish School Newry with Belong NI and St. Colman's Abbey Special Needs Unit Newry.
If your school or group would like to book a visual arts workshop or programme contact our Programme Manager Elaine on elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk, we will be more than happy to tailor a programme to your specific needs and budget.
Public Art
The Perspectives temporary public art project with artist Sally Maidment has now come to a close. The project was funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Small Grants Programme and Newry and Mourne District Council and was also supported by the Buttercrane Shopping Centre. A big thank you to everyone who worked so tirelessly on this project and also to everyone who engaged with the installations across the city so positively over the last two months. A selection of text and images from the project will soon be posted online as an archive of the thoughts, opinions, stories and perspectives of Newry children on their lives in the city.
The Tower of Imagination public art sculpture is due to be installed and launched on site along the A1 at Newry during July. This magical tower, created by artist Maurice Harron, is the result of a Sticky Fingers' public art commission, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund and supported by the Department for Regional Development Roads Services, Newry and Mourne District Council, Kingspan and Solarite. Sticky Fingers is now looking for children's stories and poems about this mysterious and magical tower. These stories will become part of the history of the tower, displayed on the Sticky Fingers' website and archived for generations to come to discover, read and enjoy. For more information contact Elaine in Sticky Fingers at elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
Early Years Blogging
Here in Sticky Fingers we are passionate about early years creativity and we want you to feel the same way. A new section of our website 'Early Years Arts' will explore all things early years, ranging in content from essays to organisational profiles to photo galleries. If you have any suggestions for content, please do get in touch with us on elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
The first essay 'Personal Perspectives on Creativity' is written by
Gráinne O'Donnell. Gráinne is a gardener with Newry and Mourne District
Council with experience in developing and delivering environmental arts
projects with young children. In 2010 Gráinne completed the Sticky
Fingers Early Years Arts 'Developing Creativity in the Early Years'
module course, certified by Stranmillis University College.
Recent intern Jackie Maguire has also written about her experience working with Sticky Fingers earlier this year. Jackie is a graduate of the Postgraduate Diploma in Community Arts Education from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. To read her blog go to the Intern Blog section of the site.
April News
Perspectives
March 30th - April 30th 2011
The Perspectives Public Art Project launched on Wednesday 30th March
in the Buttercrane
Shopping Centre with an exhibition of children's artwork which inspired a
series of art installations across Newry. Attended by some of the
participating children from St. Ronan's P.S. and St. Joseph's Convent
P.S., Mayor of Newry and Mourne Mick Murphy, local Councillors and
management of the Buttercrane Shopping Centre, the launch celebrated
local children's perspectives on life in the city.
Based on children's views of life in the city, the project involved an intensive series of research workshops by artist Sally Maidment with over three hundred local children to discover their views on their locality and daily life. By placing the children in roles such as civil engineers/town planners the research aimed to provide a glimpse of a world through children's eyes and reveal how they would deal with tasks and problems solely dealt with by adults in our society. The resulting temporary artworks installed in locations across the city aim to demonstrate the contribution children can make to our society and culture if we are prepared to hear their voices.
The exhibition will be open for a week until Friday 1st April and the art installations across Newry will remain in place for another month. The artworks can be found in the Buttercrane Shopping Centre, McClelland Park, Newry Bus Station, the South Ulster Housing buildings on Canal Street, Newry Market (on market days), Jennings Park, the Town Hall and along the canal bank between the Buttercrane and the Bus Station.
To download a map with the locations of each artwork click here.
Funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund and Newry and Mourne District Council. Supported by the Buttercrane Shopping Centre.
For further details see here.
Free Easter Workshops
Sticky Fingers, in association with Newry and Mourne District Council, will be providing free Spring-themed arts and crafts workshops in Newry Market from 12.00 until 14.00 on Saturdays 2nd, 9th and 16th April. No booking is required but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tower of Imagination: Call for Tales!
The Tower of Imagination will soon be coming to Newry! This magical
tower, created by artist Maurice Harron, is the result of a Sticky
Fingers' public art commission, funded by the Arts Council of Northern
Ireland Lottery Fund and supported by the Department for Regional
Development Roads Services, Newry and Mourne District Council, Kingspan
and Solarite.
Sticky Fingers is now looking for children's stories and poems about
this mysterious and magical tower. These stories will become part of the
history of the tower, displayed on the Sticky Fingers' website and
archived for generations to come to discover, read and enjoy.
For more information contact Elaine in Sticky Fingers at elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
Call for Early Years Workshop Facilitators (Panel)
Sticky Fingers is currently recruiting artists from a range of
disciplines (visual arts, music, poetry, theatre, storytelling,
environmental arts/gardening, movement) to form a panel for potential
future workshop opportunities with the company. Opportunities could
include one-off workshops in both formal and informal educational
settings, residential programmes in primary schools and public
programmes such as the Sticky Fingers Summer Camp and Sticky Fingers
Early Years Arts Festival.
Applicants should have at least two years experience in devising and
delivering workshops for young children and live in or within easy
access of one of the following locations: Newry, Omagh, Armagh, Kilkeel,
Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, Dundalk. The successful artists will ideally
have a full drivers licence and access to a car for travelling to
workshops and will need to submit information for Police background
checking prior to going on the panel. Panellists may also be required to
undergo training with Sticky Fingers.
Interested parties are invited to submit an application form available here to be returned to: Programme Manager, Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts, Granite House, 31-35 St Mary Street, Newry, Co. Down BT34 2AA or elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk no later than 12pm on 04 April 2011. A Word document version of the application form is available on request by emailing Claire on claire@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
Sticky Fingers on Twitter
Sticky Fingers has recently joined the Twitter community as @earlyyearsart! All this month we will be tweeting the viewpoints and opinions of young children on their lives in the city. This initiative is part of the Perspectives project with artist Sally Maidment, running until the end of April 2011. You can now find up to date information on www.twitter.com/earlyyearsart about the Sticky Fingers programme, as well as here on our website and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/earlyyearsarts. You can also join our mailing list for monthly e-bulletins by adding your details to the widget on the left hand side of our home page or by emailing us on info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
March News
Call for Early Years Workshop Facilitators (Panel)
Sticky Fingers is currently recruiting artists from a range of disciplines (visual arts, music, poetry, theatre, storytelling, environmental arts/gardening, movement) to form a panel for potential future workshop opportunities with the company. Opportunities could include one-off workshops in both formal and informal educational settings, residential programmes in primary schools and public programmes such as the Sticky Fingers Summer Camp and Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts Festival.
Applicants should have at least two years experience in devising and delivering workshops for young children and live in or within easy access of one of the following locations: Newry, Omagh, Armagh, Kilkeel, Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, Dundalk. The successful artists will ideally have a full drivers licence and access to a car for travelling to workshops and will need to submit information for Police background checking prior to going on the panel. Panellists may also be required to undergo training with Sticky Fingers.
Interested parties are invited to submit an application form available here to be returned to: Programme Manager, Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts, Granite House, 31-35 St Mary Street, Newry, Co. Down BT34 2AA or elaine@stickyfingersarts.co.uk no later than 12pm on 04 April 2011. A Word document version of the application form is available on request.
Free Visual Arts Workshop for Secondary School Students, with Artist Jim Russell
***NOTE CHANGE TO START AND FINISH TIMES***
In preparation for the St. Patrick's Festival, Newry, we are offering a free visual arts workshop for secondary school students on March 12th from 11.30 to 15.30 in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre with artist Jim Russell. During the workshop, participating students will assist in the construction of a large snake for the festivities the following week.
Contact Sticky Fingers on +44(0)28 3025 7885 for further information.
Free St. Patrick's Day Art Workshop, Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry
The Little Snake St Patrick Missed....
Come join the Sticky Fingers artists in the Sean Hollywood Arts
Centre between eleven and three in this enjoyable hands-on creative and
cultural workshop. You see, St Patrick missed one little snake when he
was clearing all the snakes out of Ireland. But this friendly little
snake is no ordinary snake - he has seen the seven wonders of the world,
speaks every language and can magically change colour! In this workshop
children will find out about his great adventures and the different
places and cultures he has experienced on his travels, adding their own
stories and images of their experiences and traditions through fun art
activities.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Location: Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry
Time: Drop in any time between 11.00 and 15.00!
Ages: Suitable for children aged four to twelve, and their families.
Contact Sticky Fingers on +44(0)28 3025 7885 or the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre on +44(0)28 3031 3180 for further information.
Both workshops are part of the Newry St. Patrick's Festival 2011. Download the full programme here.
Upcoming Easter Workshops
Sticky Fingers, in association with Newry and Mourne District
Council, will be providing free Spring-themed arts workshops in Newry
Market from 12.00 until 14.00 on Saturdays 2nd, 9th and 16th. Further
details will be posted on Facebook.
Creative Connections: A Free Course in Creativity for Rural Childcare Professionals
Sticky Fingers is currently running an exciting series of courses
entitles Creative Connections. These are centred in rural areas and
focus on the professional development of anyone directly involved in
childcare. The course is being supported by the Rural Childcare
Programme of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and is
accredited by Stranmillis University College, Belfast.
The course offers people an exciting opportunity to examine and develop
their on creativity with the aim of positively changing their ideas
about how they work and play with the children in their care.
The course is free of charge and offers people in rural communities an
opportunity to participate in a creative play training programme that
will support and enhance their own working environment. Participants
will learn new approaches that enable them to encourage children to play
with creativity and imagination, gaining the confidence to learn and
explore the world around them.
By running this course in rural locations Sticky Fingers and the Rural
Childcare Programme are able to offer a high quality accredited course
to many people who would not otherwise be able to travel to and from a
city to access training.
A final course is due to be rolled out in Attical, Co. Down during March and April. The course will run either as an evening class over six weeks, or as a two day intensive module, depending on participants' availability. To register your interest and for further information contact us on info@stickyfingerarts.co.uk.
Perspectives: A Temporary Public Art Project for Newry
Sticky Fingers commissioned artist Sally Maidment to work on this project with young children in schools and groups across the Newry area during February, building up an important body of work that will document life in the city from a child's perspective. Sally is an established visual artist who specialises in collaborative and community based projects exploring communal narratives, memory and identity. Speaking about Perspectives, Sally commented: "I am really excited about the opportunities this project offers to work with young children in Newry. I am interested in expressing the views and highlighting the unique perspective of groups in society whose views are not respected or listened to in a meaningful way. Through this project I plan to bring my skills and dedication to assisting the children speak to a wider audience on issues important to them."
The artist has just finished working with over three hundred children across Newry in St. Ronan's PS, Bunscoil an Iuir, St. Colman's Abbey PS, St. Josephs PS, Cloughoge PS, Belong NI and St. Colman's Abbey Special Needs Unit. Sally is now working on the creation of a city-wide installation and art exhibition, due to be launched later this month. Further details will be announced on Facebook.
Tower of Imagination: Call for Tales!
The Tower of Imagination will soon be coming to Newry! This magical tower, created by artist Maurice Harron, is the result of a Sticky Fingers' public art commission, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund and supported by the Department for Regional Development Roads Services, Newry and Mourne District Council, Kingspan and Solarite.
Sticky Fingers is now looking for children's stories and poems about this mysterious and magical tower. These stories will become part of the history of the tower, displayed on the Sticky Fingers' website and archived for generations to come to discover, read and enjoy.
For more information contact Elaine in Sticky Fingers on +44(0)28 3025 7885.
New Intern Blogs Uploaded
We were very lucky to have two secondary school work experience
students with us during February. Read Gabriella Tuohy's and Roisin
Clarke's great Intern Blogs in the About section of our website. For
further information about interning with Sticky Fingers, contact our
Programme Manager here.
February News
Creative Connections: A Course in Creativity for Rural Childcare Professionals
***NOTE CHANGE TO START DATES AND CHANGE OF LOCATION IN ATTICAL***
Sticky Fingers is currently running an exciting series of courses entitles Creative Connections. These are centred in rural areas and focus on the professional development of anyone directly involved in childcare. The course is being supported by the Rural Childcare Programme of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and is accredited by Stranmillis University College, Belfast.
The course offers people an exciting opportunity to examine and develop
their on creativity with the aim of positively changing their ideas
about how they work and play with the children in their care.
The course is free of charge and runs for 5-6 weeks. It offers people
in rural communities an opportunity to participate in a creative play
training programme that will support and enhance their own working
environment. Participants will learn new approaches that enable them to
encourage children to play with creativity and imagination, gaining the
confidence to learn and explore the world around them.
The course will next be running in the following venues:
• Attical Community Centre, Attical starting Tuesday 15th February from 2pm - 4pm
• Carcullion House, Hilltown starting Thursday 17th February at 6.30pm - 9pm
By running this course in rural locations Sticky Fingers and the Rural Childcare Programme are able to offer a high quality accredited course to many people who would not otherwise be able to travel to and from a city to access training.
For further information on this programme, contact Sticky Fingers on 028 3025 7885 or email info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
Allianz Arts and Business NI Awards 2011
Sticky Fingers were delighted to have been Highly Commended in the Community Award category of the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2011 with our partners Milligan Reside Larkin Architects. Well done to the overall category winners and to everyone involved in the awards ceremony last month.
Perspectives
And finally, meet the latest Sticky Fingers recruit - the mini-mayor of
Newry, assistant and tour guide extraordinaire to visual artist Sally
Maidment for the duration of the Perspectives public art project!
Newry's mini-mayor has been showing Sally some of sights of Newry in
advance of her workshops with children from across the city this month,
visiting the local arts centre, swimming pool, courthouse and town hall.
Children in Newry are invited to get involved in our Perspectives public art project by sending letters, drawings or photographs of their favourite place in Newry to artist Sally Maidment, along with a short explanation of why they like Newry and what, if anything, they would change about their city.
Children can download the perspectives work sheet here or just use their favourite paper or card to describe their lives in the city - Sally is really looking forward to hearing what you have to say! Completed sheets and drawings can be posted to Sally C/O Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts, Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry, Co. Down or emailed to her at info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
January News
Perspectives - a new public art project for Newry
Sticky Fingers has commissioned artist Sally Maidment to work on this project with young children across the Newry area during February, building up an important body of work that will document life in the city from a child's perspective. Sally is an established visual artist who specialises in collaborative and community based projects exploring communal narratives, memory and identity. Speaking about perspectives, Sally commented: "I am really excited about the opportunities this project offers to work with young children in Newry. I am interested in expressing the views and highlighting the unique perspective of groups in society whose views are not respected or listened to in a meaningful way. Through this project I plan to bring my skills and dedication to assisting the children speak to a wider audience on issues important to them."
All local children are invited to get involved in this exciting project by sending letters, drawings or photographs of their favourite place in Newry to the artist, along with a short explanation of why they like it and what, if anything, they would change about their city.
Children can download the perspectives work sheet here or just use their favourite paper or card to describe their lives in the city - Sally is really looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
Completed sheets and
drawings can be posted to Sally C/O Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts,
Granite House, 31-35 Mary Street, Newry, Co. Down or emailed to her at info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
For more information on this project, contact our Programme Manager.
perspectives is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery fund and by Newry and Mourne District Council.
Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards
Sticky Fingers are delighted to announce that we have been nominated in two categories for the Allianz Arts and Business NI Awards. We have been shortlisted for the Community Award with our partners Milligan Reside Larkin Architects and for the Business Professional Development Award with our Chairperson Conor Haughey. The Awards ceremony takes place on January 20th in Belfast - best of luck to everyone involved!
Newry Market Christmas Workshops - Update
Unfortunately, the visual arts workshops due to take place in Newry market in the lead up to Christmas were cancelled because of dangerous weather conditions. No amount of Cecile's delicious hot chocolate and spiced apple cider could have circumvented the severe cold! Thankfully, the workshops will be rescheduled for late spring when more clement weather arrives. New dates will be posted here as soon as they are confirmed.
Fair Deal for the Arts NI
While the NI Executive has extended the consultation period for the
2011-15 draft budget from the 9th until the 16th February, there are
still just a few weeks left until the end of public consultation of the
NI Executive's Draft Budget for 2011-15. The Arts are facing a proposed
£4.2m budget cut, impacting directly on frontline services. These cuts
are disproportionately high compared with other sectors. For details on
how to help see the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's website.
And Finally...
Sticky Fingers would like to sincerely thank our audiences, colleagues, partners and friends for their continued support in 2010 and to wish you all a very creative new year.
Best wishes, The Sticky Fingers Team.