News
A1 Newry Public Art Commission
(November 2009)
Sticky Fingers is delighted to announce the launch of stage one of the public art commissioning process for the A1 motorway at Newry. In association with the Department for Regional Development and the Arts Council Northern Ireland Lottery fund, Sticky Fingers is currently inviting expressions of interest from visual artists working in the public realm for this innovative and exciting public art project.
The aim of the commission is to create a high quality, large-scale, permanent, innovative and original artwork, inspired by the ideas, imagination and aspirations of the young children living in Newry city today.
Following a series of consultative workshops with children from across Newry the successful artist will incorporate children's ideas into elements of the final design. The finished artwork will be a visual statement acknowledging the role of children in a cultural society, providing a new dimension in Sticky Fingers' work advancing the arts for children. It will also become a permanent declaration of the importance of recognising children's right to high quality arts and cultural enjoyment and will act as an example of good practice across Ireland and beyond.
The resulting public artwork will be situated on the Dublin to Belfast A1 motorway at Newry, becoming the focal point of a new major junction and enhancing the creative and cultural climate of a modern day city. It is hoped that the commission will become a recognised symbol of Newry and that it will create a sense of place and arrival at a major gateway site, achieving international recognition.
For further details, including the artists' brief, please click here.
Halloween Projects in Newry
(October 2009)
Sticky Fingers recently held 'BOO!!!' a SPOOKtacular programme of free children's arts activities over the Halloween weekend. Saturday 31 October featured three sessions of creepy crafts for children aged 3 years and up with the Sticky Fingers staff and local artist Jim Russell, while Sunday 1 November saw readings of terrible tales for all ages with storyteller Joe Brennan.
The Quays kindly donated a part of Drumalane Mill for the programme and with the help of artists Jim Russell, Michael McConville and the Creative Development Team from Newry and Mourne District Council, the GCSE art students from St Mary's High School created the most amazing spooky backdrop for this weird and wonderful weekend.
The Creative Development Team from Newry and Mourne District Council additionally worked with Sticky Fingers to design and install a spectacularly spooky scene along the Buttercrane Quay canal bank, bringing ghouls, goblins, witches and all kinds of creepy creatures to Newry for the Halloween season.
Northern Ireland Manifesto for Children's Arts
(June 2009)
Children's Arts - Alive is the Northern Ireland action group that has been successfully campaigning to raise awareness and support for the Children's Arts - Children's Lives Manifesto launched by Action for Children's Arts in London in July 2008.
Sticky Fingers heads the Northern Ireland campaign and, along with arts organisations Cahoots NI, Replay and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, has created a version of the ACA manifesto that is unique and relevant to children living in Northern Ireland today. The Manifesto addresses the issues surrounding children's rights to access quality arts activities regardless of religion, race or geographical location.
The Northern Ireland Manifesto launched on 13 May 2009 during the Sticky Fingers Festival and has already received a great deal of support from political parties and Northern Ireland government departments. The key aim is to proceed to full policy within three years.
A unique aspect of this Manifesto is that we are working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive to demonstrate how the aims of the Manifesto can be successfully implemented through joint thinking and a partnership approach. A working model has been established with Newry and Mourne District Council, local schools and the business community and is already proving to be a success.
Read the Manifesto here and Sign Up to support by contacting info@stickyfingersarts.co.uk.
Children's Theatre and Arts Centre
(June 2009)
We are currently developing plans for a dedicated children's theatre and arts centre for Northern Ireland to be located in Newry. This will be a centre of excellence and a new home for performances and workshops developed especially for early years.
New Touring Production
(June 2009)
A new production for 2 to 4 year olds will be touring in 2010. This completely original, visually stunning piece will be suitable for performances in schools and more traditional venues. If you would like to be included in our tour schedule please contact us.
