An Tain Arts took the arts outside
The programming for arts centres is often done months if not years ahead. It’s a delicate balancing act of staging events which appeal to audiences, fitting in with the schedule of touring acts and companies, and accommodating the needs of local drama groups and musical societies.
Back in January, Paul Hayes, Director of An Táin Arts Centre, little thought that all the careful planning which had gone into the Crowe Street venue’s 2020 programme would be ripped apart as the COVID-19 pandemic forced venues around the world to pull down the stage curtains and lock their doors.
And paradoxically, while the lights went out in theatres and venues around the world, people turned to the arts to bring them solace. Music, poetry, literature, drama, and the visual arts brought comfort in the darkest of days.
Paul and the team of An Táin quickly stepped up to the plate and pivoted their programme around, reaching out to audiences via the internet.
‘During lockdown, the ability to produce new work not depending on our building was crucial,’ he explains. ‘ We took art to the streets of Dundalk in a serious of temporary public art exhibitions in shop windows and online virtual galleries.’
An Tin also commissioned and published writing which was published in The Argus during the first lockdown,. They held live streamed music events, online book clubs, radio plays, and streamed films - initiatives which have continued in this third lockdown.
During the easing of restrictions in the summer, they hosted their annual promenade family theatre in Anaverna, with a sell-out production of Beauty and the Beast and welcomed four artists-in-residence to work in the arts centre. Ceramic artist Etaoin Reilly’s exhibition ‘ The Broken Flower’ was one of the few actual exhibitions which went ahead in The Basement Gallery while the artists from Bridge Street Studio were able to display work alongside their 25th anniversary exhibition ‘Silver’ which was shown in vacant town centre premises.
They even managed to squeeze in some socially distanced theatre and welcomed movie lovers back to the film club before another lockdown forced them to close the doors once again.
There have been virtual events beamed into classrooms and paintings by Rozzi Kennedy, who did a residency in An Tain in 2019, are being distributed to nursing homes and care homes in Dundalk and north Louth.
In the run up to Christmas, An Tain combined real and virtual programming as local actor Paudie Breen told stories on line which then tied in with the Ghost Light visual arts project which can still be enjoyed by looking at the windows of the Town Hall. Families were invited to discover more about the history of Dundalk by going on a treasure hunt which ended with a story telling session by Paudie.
‘We have been busier than ever,’ says Paul. ‘Normally in December for example, the theatre would have been booked out by local groups and Christmas shows but this year we had to programme everything ourselves.’
From working at home most of the time and connecting through Zoom, Paul and the team at An Táin have produce, facilitated, supported and showcased the work of over 100 artists since March. This work has reached a national and international audience and has provided much needed income for artists whose livelihoods has been threatened by the closure of live venues.
Paul believes that digital programming will be a big part of An Táin’s offering until such times as venues can reopen their doors again so checkout An Tain’s website, www.antain.ie, for events which you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.