Calling youths to create portraits of grandparents
MERMAID County Wicklow Arts Centre is calling on young people living in Wicklow (aged between 2 and 18) to use their imaginations, get creative and draw a picture and write a poem about their grandparents and how much they are loved.
These submissions will form an online gallery exhibition on Mermaid’s website so grandparents can log on and admire the work of the young people.
In the autumn, Mermaid plans to display as many submissions as possible in the gallery in the arts centre where they will exhibit the powerful and creative work of the young people.
‘Whether you are only able to see your grandparents through a window, or on the phone or maybe you are only able to remember and picture them in your imagination, it doesn’t matter, we want to hear from you all. We want your portraits and poems,’ said a spokeswoman for the centre.
Portraits are a picture, made from anything at all, that tells a person’s story.
Along with the portrait, the young people are asked to write a poem telling readers even more about their grandparent and their story and how the writer feels about them.
A poem can make all of us noble observers and can share the essence of a person in only a few lines.
Perhaps they are extremely loving or silly, kind, strong, careful and maybe forgetful. Perhaps they follow the rules or encourage you to break them.
Participants are asked to share just how important and wonderful their grandparents are.
To make a submission, go to mermaidartscentre.ie.
A NEW wellbeing support programme for Ireland’s creative sector has been launched.
Minding Creative Minds (MCM) is a free 24/7 wellbeing support programme delivered by Spectrum Life.
The initial phase will go live to musicians, songwriters, artist managers and event production crew based in the Garden county and across Ireland. It includes access to a number of wellbeing services, including a dedicated phone line, telephone and secure video counselling. The service also offers access to career guidance and life-coaching programmes.
Funding partners for the initiative include First Fortnight, Irish Music Rights Organisation, Universal Music Ireland, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Spectrum Life.
While the programme will initially focus on musicians, songwriters, artist managers and event production crew, it is intended in due course to open up the services of MCM to the whole music sector and shortly after to the wider creative sector in Ireland.