Shannon Town is the recipient of a Creative Places Research and Development Award from the Arts Council of Ireland. Creative Places Shannon is led by the Arts Office of Clare County Council.
The Research and Development Award will help to establish what the particular needs are for Shannon in relation to Arts and Culture. Creative Places is an opportunity for Shannon to build local arts programmes which will benefit the communities living in the town.
The research will build on existing cultural strengths. The programme is engaging with a range of stakeholders so as to enhance public engagement in the arts through partnerships with community and arts organisations, business and diverse communities. The award funding is supporting the community to explore and discuss creative activities that will enhance community wellbeing and inclusion. It is encouraging community collaboration and shared environmental sustainable goals to create vibrant cultural activity in Shannon.
We would love to hear from Shannon Artists and Shannon Community groups who would like to be part of Creative Places Shannon. We currently have a very supportive Creative Team in place representing local communities, organisations and artists. Creative Places Shannon is coordinated by Sheila Quinn who can be contacted at creativeplacesshannon@gmail.com
Activities underway include:
Fidget Feet Family Days
Creative Places Shannon presents a free family day out with Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre.
Experience a circus as a family and try out aerial dancing, learn to juggle or learn fun dance routines.
Come and join us on Sunday May 12th; May 19th or May 26th from 1.30pm to 4.30pm at Shannon Leisure Centre.
Register your interest by contacting: marketing@fidgetfeet.com or 089 4524130.
These events are taking place in advance of the award winning Clare Mela, a multi-cultural mini-festival coming to Shannon on June 8th, 2024.
The Big Busk – Singing Project with Shannon Family Resource Centre
Following an 8 week programme of singing workshops, facilitated by Kathleen Malone, through Creative Places Shannon , the Shannon Singers are delighted to do a Big Busk!
The Shannon Singers are a group of older adults who have been working with Kathleen, in the Family Resource Centre in Shannon.
Kathleen has deep roots in the Kilfenora Céilí band and recently ventured into writing and recording her own music. Kathleen is currently the choirmaster for a local children’s church choir, sings for various events solo and also facilitates a singing group for Sing Ireland.
The proceeds from The Busk will go to the Jack and Jill Foundation for Children.
The group are very excited and looking forward to entertaining everyone with the many songs they have learnt. There will be a mix of styles and genres from Folk, County and Pop.
Please come along and enjoy the music and support this very worthy cause.
Dance Project
Love to Dance? Join Fidget Feet as they prepare a new dance piece for the upcoming Clare Mela in Shannon in June.
Open to all ages from 13 to 100, we are looking for Irish Dancers, Hip Hop Artists, Contemporary Dancers and Gymnasts for an eight week programme to create a dance spectacle to be performed outdoors in Shannon on June 8th.
The dancers will work with Fidget Feet at Shannon Leisure Centre from 5 – 7pm on 22 April, 29 April, 13 May, 20 May and 27 May.
Workshops in the park will take place on 08 May & 05 June.
For further information contact creativeplacesshannon@gmail.com
Shannon Men’s Shed Art Project
Creative Places Shannon are hosting a six week arts course in Spring 2024 with participants from the Men’s Shed Shannon. The course runs for 6 weeks and will be followed by an exhibition in the Shannon Library.
David O’Rourke is the artist in residence. David has exhibited nationally and internationally and has also been involved in almost all aspects of art locally: from setting up Artist’s collectives to working with community groups and as an educator in local schools.
Untitled by Tony Walsh featuring in the Horizons Exhibition by Shannon Men’s Shed
Eir Boxes as Art Canvas
Creative Places Shannon have engaged artist Rachel Macmanus from Negative Space Collective to paint three Eir Boxes in Shannon.
Rachel along with artist Ana Colomer have completed two Eir boxes. This goal of the work is to enhance the community of Shannon with uplifting and culturally impactful paintings on the boxes. The theme is children playing, referencing Shannon in the 1960’s/70’s and contemporary Shannon. One side has a colour scene of contemporary Shcnnon and on the other side we have a black and white scene referencing the 1960/70’s, a time of economic and social growth for Shannon town when many of the houses we see there today were built. Look out for these lovely paintings which are located at Tullyvarragha Road, Shannon (opposite garda station) and Bothar Na Rinne, Shannon
We will be painting further Eir Boxes when the weather improves and would like to engage Youth Groups for future projects. Young participants will develop their own concepts and learn how to prepare and paint the boxes. Contact Sheila Quinn for further information at: creativeplacesshannon@gmail.com
