Programme
Sticky Fingers offers a range of high quality programmes for young children and their families, spanning the visual arts, music, movement and theatre. As well as the Sticky Fingers Summer Camp and Sticky Fingers Festival, there are regular events and workshops throughout the year in locations across Newry and Northern Ireland. We also offer tailored one-off workshops and full residency programmes in visual arts, music, theatre and movement for preschools, schools, after-school clubs and other children's organisations.
Visual Arts
The history of Sticky Fingers begins with the visual arts. We have always placed great emphasis on the importance of allowing children to be creative through play and to develop their own individual ideas using every kind of arts resource. Throughout the year we offer a range of hands-on workshops led by experienced Sticky Fingers artists allowing children to explore a wide spectrum of materials and themes. Recent visual arts workshops have included a collaborative junk sculpture workshop for Children's Art Day, Christmas and Spring-themed arts and crafts sessions in Newry Market and the very popular Sticky Fingers Summer Camp, held outdoors in the beautiful Slieve Gullion Forest.
The Sticky Fingers Summer Camp 2012 will take place from the 16th to the 20th of July and the 23rd to the 27th of July for children aged three to eight years old. Booking details to be announced soon.
We continue to place established early years artists in schools and playgroups. We provide imaginative workshops for children and have a limited number of arts residencies for schools and educational settings available throughout the year. To find out more about what we can offer your group, please contact us.
Festival
In 2007 Sticky Fingers launched the first international early years arts festival for the UK and Ireland in Newry city. The Sticky Fingers festival is now established as an annual event attracting support and interest from eight countries across Europe, firmly establishing Newry on the international map for young children and the arts.
Since 2011, Sticky Fingers' Festival takes place throughout the month of October. From the 1st to the 31st of October we have a fantastic line up of the very best of national and international early years performers and artists - there really is something for everyone's taste and pocket.
Festival 2013 is scheduled to take place during October 2013, with a selection of festival days and weekends also taking place throughout the year. Programming for 2013 is currently taking place. If you are an arts company or artist and you would like hear more about taking part, please contact us.
Sponsorship opportunities are now available to local businesses wishing to offer their support to the Festival, see our Support Festival 2013 page for further details. As a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status, Sticky Fingers relies on support from the local community to help develop and run our Festival, so a big thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Public Art
The development of Sticky Fingers' Public Art Programme has been a natural progression of the organisation's long-standing history and experience in the early years visual arts sector. The right for young children to access high quality creative processes has always been at the forefront of Sticky Fingers' project development. The organisation believes that by allowing children's creative process to become centre stage through public art young people's thoughts, opinions and voices are uniquely shared within the wider community, acknowledging children's valuable role in a cultural society.
The great success of the Art in the Townlands permanent sculpture trail in 2006 saw Sticky Fingers broadening their scope in bringing early years collaborative arts into the public realm. Recent commissions include Maurice Harron's Tower of Imagination sculpture, Sally Maidment's Perspectives project and our current project for Hill Street: Our City. Organisations or businesses interested in commissioning early years public art projects in collaboration with Sticky Fingers can contact Grainne Powell for further details.
Music
Music is essential for all babies and children. As parents and carers we sing to our children to soothe them, play with them and introduce them to sounds, language and emotions. It is our most natural artistic resource.
Through singing and musical play children can influence all areas of their development: speech and language, listening, coordination, balance, motor skills, spatial awareness and social skills. It's also a wonderful way to encourage close emotional contact and communication between parent and child. Teachers often comment on the improved concentration levels of children actively participating in music.
Our music sessions focus on simple songs, action rhymes and musical games and combine music with movement. The emphasis is on enjoyment and play, with sessions featuring instruments, puppets, soft toys and other age appropriate tactile equipment. We gently encourage participation from children and parents and the act of singing reduces stress and generates a sense of well-being.
We offer specialised music programmes for babies and young children in all types of settings. Our workshops are based on the Kodaly approach to music education and delivered by trained and very experienced early years musicians. Music programmes are suitable for all children, including those with special educational needs. We also work closely with organisations such as Home-Start and Sure Start. To find out more about our music programme, please contact us.