Midland Arts and Culture Magazine - Register.ie
Midland Arts and Culture Magazine - Register.ie
Midland Arts and Culture Magazine - Register.ie
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<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | WINTER 2010/2011OFFline Film Festivalproves a BLOCKBUSTERPORTARLINGTON, County Offaly,woman Carla Mooney <strong>and</strong> herteam with their film TheS<strong>and</strong>eman Man have beenannounced as the winners of theinaugural Offaly Film Festival,OFFline.The first OFFline, which took place fromNovember 18 to 21 in Birr, offered thefilm lover a special <strong>and</strong> var<strong>ie</strong>dexper<strong>ie</strong>nce in the form of three excitingstr<strong>and</strong>s – Screenings, Workshops <strong>and</strong>a Filmmaking Competition.The Short Film Making Competition,which is the first of its kind for the<strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s, attracted more than a dozenapplications for the coveted prize of€1,000 <strong>and</strong> a guaranteed slot at the2011 Galway Film Fleadh.PRESTIGIOUSHONOUR FORPORTARLINGTONPOETPORTARLINGTON poet JeanO’Br<strong>ie</strong>n has won of the mostrespected international literaryawards for poetry. Theprestigious Arvon InternationalPoetry Competition in Londonattracted thous<strong>and</strong>s of entr<strong>ie</strong>sfrom more than 43 countr<strong>ie</strong>sincluding the Philippines, NewZeal<strong>and</strong>, Zimbabwe <strong>and</strong> theUnited States of America.But, the judging panel chairedFour applications came from Offalybasedteams while other teamstravelled from as far af<strong>ie</strong>ld as Sligo,Clonmel, Dublin <strong>and</strong> Galway.Local residents looked on with greatinterest as the various teams madetheir way around the heritage town <strong>and</strong>surrounding countryside in search ofthat perfect shot.Some residents – not content withmerely watching from the sidelines –mucked in <strong>and</strong> filled various cast <strong>and</strong>crew roles for some of the visitingteams. Local businesses also ensuredthe festival's success by allowing theirpremises to be used as film sets forsome of the productions.A wide array of International <strong>and</strong>Irish films was also screened over theweekend. One of the highlights of theweekend was the visit of directorMarian Quinn to the festival. Marian –by Poet Laureate, Carol AnnDuffy, <strong>and</strong> included leadingpoets Elaine Feinstein <strong>and</strong>Sudeep Sen decided that itwas the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>’s Jean whoshould scoop the accoladewith her poem Merman.Jean was thrilled with herwin. “I am proud <strong>and</strong> delightedto be bringing such an awardback to Irel<strong>and</strong>. It is an honourto have your poem st<strong>and</strong> outfrom so many thous<strong>and</strong>s ofyour peers <strong>and</strong> to receive histype of recognition.”Budding writers will bepleased to hear that Jean is totake creative writing classes inPortarlington in January 2011which are being hosted byPortarlington CommunityDevelopment Association -<strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> Heritage Group.ABOUT JEAN O’BRIENJEAN O'Br<strong>ie</strong>n is a Dubliner nowliving in Portarlington. Her workis widely published in magazines<strong>and</strong> journals. She has publishedthree collections of poetry, TheShadow Keeper (Salmon, 1997)Dangerous Dresses (BradshawBooks, 2005) <strong>and</strong> Lovely Legs(Salmon, 2009). She read for aM.Phil in Creative Writing fromTrinity College <strong>and</strong> facilitatesIN FRONT OF THE CAMERA:Carla Mooney (left) <strong>and</strong> her team,winners of the first Offaly Film Festivalaward for The S<strong>and</strong>eman Manwith members of OFFline.whose brother is actor Aidan Quinn -still has relations living in Birr <strong>and</strong> wasthrilled when asked to attend aQuestion <strong>and</strong> Answer session followingthe screening of her coming-of-agedrama 32A. The screening was verywell attended by locals <strong>and</strong> studentsfrom visiting schools alike – thanks tothe presence of the film on this year'sLeaving Certificate English syllabus.Four different workshops were alsoheld during the festival. Industryprofessionals facilitated the sessionswith editing, scriptwriting, directing <strong>and</strong>DSLR mov<strong>ie</strong> making being the subjectsup for discussion.Given the success of this year'sfestival, OFFline is here to stay.For more information visitwww.offlinefilmfestival.com or join thefestival on facebook.com/offlinefilmcreative writing classes forvenues as diverse as the IrishWriters' Centre, Dublin CityCouncil, various County Councils<strong>and</strong> in Mountjoy, Limerick <strong>and</strong>the <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s Prisons. She wasWriter-in-Residence for CountyLaois in 2005. She was lastyear's recip<strong>ie</strong>nt of the FishInternational Poetry Award. Alsoin 2008 she was commissionedto write a poem for the OxfamCalendar. Fiona Sampson writingin the Irish Times described herpoetry as: "…effortless writing,graceful <strong>and</strong> exact as anypirouette in its insight".Br<strong>ie</strong>fsLAOIS HITS THERIGHT NOTEAPPLICATIONS for MusicNetwork/U2/Irel<strong>and</strong> Funds formusic education are to beinvited at the start of year.In the meantime anyone interestedin applying is free to contact LaoisCounty Council <strong>Arts</strong> Office to findout more <strong>and</strong> receive guidance.Led by The <strong>Arts</strong> Office in LaoisCounty Council, a partnership hasbeen formed with Laois VEC <strong>and</strong>Laois Partnership Ltd, which will actas a Local Music Education Partner(LMEP) for Laois. The call forapplications for funding will be inJanuary 2011 <strong>and</strong> there arestringent guidelines in place as tohow an LMEP can access funds.Some rules: Funding will only begranted for long-term sustainablemusic education programmes - oneoffprojects will not be considered.Individuals/ schools/music groupscannot apply independently – allapplications must go through theLMEP. Fifty per cent matching fundingis required – some of which may be‘in kind’. The funding is primarily tobe used for music tuition but capitalspending for instruments will beconsidered. Funding will not begiven for existing provision.If you have any ideas for developinga long-term music programme foryour group/school or have anyquer<strong>ie</strong>s please contact Music CoordinatorNuala Kelly, Laois CountyCouncil on 057 867 4345 or emailartsoff@laoiscoco.<strong>ie</strong>MASTERCLASSMIDLAND Masterclasses, aninitiative run by the <strong>Arts</strong> Services inLaois, Longford, Offaly <strong>and</strong> Westmeathis now in its third year. The schemewas developed in response to theprofessional needs of visual artists,musical enthusiasts, dancers,writers <strong>and</strong> performers right acrossthe <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s. Running from Augustto October, the programme includesmasterclasses in Sculpture,Portraiture, Dance, Music,Performance, Photography <strong>and</strong> Webdesign. Contact the <strong>Arts</strong> Office on057 8674342/44.WESTMEATHPLAN FOR ARTSWESTMEATH County Councillaunched its second artsplan earl<strong>ie</strong>r this year – Westmeath<strong>Arts</strong> Plan 2010-2016. The plan setsout Westmeath’s policy forpromoting <strong>and</strong> developing the artsin the county over the next sixyears. The development processhighlighted the significant processmade to date <strong>and</strong> provides aframework within which WestmeathCounty Council will continue todevelop an integrated, effective <strong>and</strong>responsive arts programme.The local authority recognises thepositive contribution of the arts tothe ongoing economic, social <strong>and</strong>cultural development of the County.To download a copy of the plan visitwww.westmeathcoco.<strong>ie</strong>/arts7