Community Residencies

West Wicklow Music Development Programme

West Wicklow Music Website

Dunlavin Youth Orchestra/West Wicklow Area

Context

Wicklow County Arts Office is seeking to enhance the provision of string tuition and performance in the West Wicklow Area, specifically Dunlavin. Research into the stability and practice of the Dunlavin Youth Orchestra has indicated that the voluntary framework that has existed in the last 20 years is no longer currently feasible, and with that there is now a dearth of string tutors in the area. In the short term, this residency shall aim to build on the legacy of the Dunlavin Youth Orchestra, slowly building back up a culture of chamber music playing and tuition, as an initial turn towards supporting the redevelopment of the Youth Orchestra in the long-term.

Supports

There is still a generous voluntary capacity to support this residency in the local area, as well as support through the Music Development Project Manager, Stella Könik and the Arts Office. The Arts Office has appointed Stella Könik to specifically foster a number of initiatives which will eventually lead to a co-ordinated, more intensive music development programme for youth in the County.

Goals for Residency

• To provide at a minimum 7 hours tuition per week in the Dunlavin area
• To support practice in a chamber context initially
• To work alongside Wicklow County Arts Office supported by Stella Könik to assist a move toward rebuilding and supporting the once thriving Dunlavin Youth Orchestra
• To support the Arts Office in recruiting new young players
• To take into consideration this residency as an initial turn towards the wider development of the Dunlavin initiative in a chamber or orchestral context to a West Wicklow Music development framework
• To take into account the additional considerations below in further animating the residency programme in West Wicklow as deemed appropriate by the applicants

To launch the programme, the Arts Office appointed string musicians Cliodhna Ryan and Anita Vedres to provide workshops in the local schools, in the hope that it would spark off an interest in young people and encourage them to learn to play string instruments.

And spark an interest, it certainly did! Following up on the workshops, the Arts Office sponsored free music lessons in Dunlavin. Cello and violin teachers were over whelmed by the response, they are currently providing lessons to over 50 children each Saturday in Dunlavin!

Eventually some of these young budding musicians will join the Dunlavin Youth Orchestra, thus boosting its numbers, while the Arts Office will sponsor master classes and guest tutors for the Orchestra.

Currently the West Wicklow Music Programme is expanding to introduce the use of wind instruments to young students and has developed a series of school visits in early September 2009 to encourage the use of the flute and recorder.

Traditional Music
Music Under the Mountains - Hollywood/West Wicklow

Context

Wicklow County Arts Office is seeking to enhance the provision of traditional music tuition and performance in the West Wicklow Area, specifically Hollywood. The Music Under the Mountains Traditional music programme of tuition and concerts has been established in Hollywood for fifteen years now. Each Saturday, young players are tutored in all variety of instruments by older more established players who return from all over the country at weekends to support the development of traditional music in the area. At this time they are in need of support to re-energise the programme and to provide an indication of future possibilities in playing and performance that might be open to the young and emerging traditional players there of high standard.

Goals for Residency

• To provide tuition/master classes per week or fortnightly in the Hollywood area
• To support practice in a collective instrumental context
• To work alongside Wicklow County Arts Office supported by Stella Könik to assist a move toward sustaining the Music Under the Mountains Initiative in the long-term
• To support the Arts Office in recruiting new young players
• To take into consideration this residency as an initial turn towards the wider development of traditional music into a West Wicklow Music development framework
• To take into account the additional considerations below in further animating the residency programme in West Wicklow as deemed appropriate by the applicants

Young players in Hollywood are enjoying a programme of visiting tutors, facilitated by the WWMDP in order to supplement and enhance existing training at the Hollywood centre.

The tutors are all well known in professional and international circles, and with their input and support, the local musicians have made tremendous progress. Tutors to date have included Josephine Marsh (accordion), Sean O'Broin (flute) and Mícheál O' Raghallaigh (concertina), while rising star Michelle O'Brien (fiddle) has given regular workshops in both fiddle and session-playing.

Carnew Community Care Residency

A residency facilitated by artist Maree Hensey and collaboration between the Wicklow County Arts Office and County Wicklow VEC Community Education

Aim:

To explore in depth identity, personal and cultural history, personal narrative, to explore themes of family and memory, with older people. The concept was explored through dialogue, visual reference, working with clay, press moulding, and plaster casting. The dynamic visual and literary information gathered from the above, was used to develop the final cast pieces, which formed the basis for a final exhibition.

Mick Hamer, ‘The Art of Healing’, New Scientist, Vol 174, issue 2348, 22 June 2002,

‘Expression through an art form is a powerful way of communicating experience; it has the potential to expand and challenge our understanding of our collective past, present and future when it includes a diversity of stories and viewpoints’.

Methodology:

The explorative work relied on social interaction and dialogue. Participants also need time to become familiar with the art form and to trust the process involved, especially if they have doubts or fears about their lack of ability. Time is especially important if individuals are planning to tap into their personal experiences as a source for creative work. There was a gathering/collection of personal items and memorabilia. Participants presented their experiences and insights through a variety of creative means including dialogue, visual reference, working with clay, press clay moulding, and plaster casting, documenting a deeper understanding of the social, historical and cultural forces that have shaped their lives.

The project being showcased was a wonderful example of community spirit and collaboration, developing creativity and resulted in many unique pieces cast in plaster, representing some personal aspect of the participant’s life. They also wrote short fragments of text to reveal benchmarks in their lives, while not always revealing the subtlety of their personal meaning. The work was officially launched by well-known naturalist and television personality Éamonn de Buitléar.

Members of the local community care group and some members from Sunbeam House took part in this initiative, they were not only assisted by the artist Maree Hensey, but by two wonderful Transition Years students Claire and Caitriona from local Coláiste Bhríde.