Bringing art to life in Wexford schools
THE artistic work of pupils in four County Wexford schools who were given a chance to work with professional artists, is featured in a Living Arts Project exhibition which opened last weekend in Wexford Arts Centre.
The following artists and schools were selected to take part in this year’s programme - Mary Claire Kehoe with St. Patrick’s national school, Craanford, Gorey; David Begley and Cushinstown school, Foulksmills; Tara McGinn and Kennedy Park school, Wexford town and Oonagh Latchford with Our lady of Fatima national school, Wexford town.
The goal of the project founded in 2013 is to provide children with an understanding and appreciation of contemporary art and to support the primary school curriculum by introducting teachers to new techniques and teaching methods.
The exhibition features a selection of work produced by the participating schools and artists and gives pupils and their families a chance to see their work presented in a professional gallery.
During the 14-week project, the schools explored creative thought processes and inspirations, experimented with new techniques, examined the themes of transformation, discovery and construction and created art using material in familiar and unfamiliar ways.
A mentor programme ran alongside each residency with each artist nominating an independent artist or curator they felt was relevant to their professional practice. The following mentors were involved -Damien Flood, Michael Fortune, Joanna Kidney and Patrick Redmond.
The project is organised in association with the Arts Department of Wexford County Council and the Arts Council.
The exhibition will run in the upper and lower galleries of Wexford Arts Centre until Saturday, May 6.
If your school is interested in the Living Arts Project for next year, contact Catherine Bowe, Visual Arts manager on 053 9123764 or email catherine@wexfordartscentre.ie. For more information on Wexford County Council’s arts programme visit www.wexford.ie/arts or call 053-9196441 / email arts@wexfordcoco.ie.