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Community Arts : Mostly about Ranelagh Arts centre..


So much exciting arty stuff happening ...a shame to not record some of it... a blog seemed to be one way to attempt  to record it. Arty stuff in Ranelagh, other arty stuff, and lots of events related stuff in Ranelagh Arts Centre.



As regards the centre-


This is our logo


The centre which really only came into being, earlier this year, is going from strength to strength, and it is almost impossible to keep up with all the events and people , which have been passing through the increasingly  forward moving place .
Its also looking super cool these days , thanks to the great efforts of two Sara(h)s,
Sarah Bracken, artistic director and
Sara Murphy, artistic administrator.

The centre has a bang up to date facebook and twitter page       ranalaghartsfestival     which makes for a really interesting peruse with a cuppa. Mostly all events are of local and creative interest !!
Now , we would love a bang up to date, state of the art website...but as we have long known that good things come to those who wait , we know that we will soon be able to afford one or the Universe might intercede!!

The following vision statement sums up the ideals of what we are all about in the centre..the important thing being that

You are as welcome as the flowers in May ..to come in and visit us, and have a look around.



Dear Friend of Ranelagh Arts,

Ranelagh Arts has been very busy for the past few months. It's full steam ahead at the Arts Centre, which ran a very busy Month of Culture in September, and it's also time to start planning for next September's Arts Festival. But before launching into 2012, we wanted to pause for breath, and recap on who we are and where we're going, especially for those of you who are new to our mailing list. All feedback is very welcome!


Ranelagh Arts is:

·         A permanent community art space for Ranelagh Village;
·         An annual festival for all age-groups, to be enjoyed by everyone living and working in Ranelagh and surrounding areas;
·         A celebration of community in Ranelagh, past and present;
·         Committed to promoting the arts in people's lives;
·         Run on a purely voluntary basis.


Purpose


A group of Ranelagh residents came together in 2005 to deliver an innovative and inclusive Arts Festival for the local community. Since then the festival has featured local artists and musicians, performances by children from the area, poetry, plays, film, history and photography.  Internationally recognised artists that have been part of Ranelagh Arts include Paul Brady, Maura O’Connell, John Banville, Anne Enright, Anthony Cronin, Ken Doherty, Donal O’Sullivan and our very own Maureen O’Hara. 

Ranelagh Arts works in partnership with many creative individuals and we would like to acknowledge and thank everyone for their invaluable contribution.

All of this would not be possible without the generous support of many local businesses, organisations and the dedication of all volunteers who run the centre and the festival each year.

Ranelagh Arts would like to thank Shelbourne Development for their continued generous support in providing our premises.


Ranelagh Arts Centre

The Centre at 26 Ranelagh is now operating on a full-time basis seven days a week. Its primary aim is to provide support for local groups and individuals in the arts and arts education.  We do this in three ways:

 - programming events on a month-by month basis under the direction of Sarah Bracken, our Artistic Director. In the last few  months, these have included folk and poetry nights, our first annual Emerging Artists exhibition and Award, a Zine Fair and ongoing sale of independent publications

- providing space at reasonable rates in our gallery and event/rehearsal/meeting space. 26 Ranelagh has been host to book launches, exhibitions, the Village Cine Club,  Ranelagh Irish Music Academy classes, crochet and art classes, and gig nights.

- providing long-term studio space to artists in our 4 individual studios.

            We are well on the way to putting Ranelagh Arts Centre on the map in line with other national arts organisations, not just as the headquarters of the annual Arts Festival but as one of Ireland's very few non-grant-aided multidisciplinary community-based arts centres.


Your role in Ranelagh Arts

The Ranelagh Arts Festival and Centre has always had an open submissions policy. We are very interested in hearing your ideas and input at any time. Likewise, if you have a few hours to spare we would love to take you on as a volunteer, in any capacity. Plans are now being drafted for the 2012 Ranelagh Arts Festival, so please contact us!

Phone (085 743 7212)
Email (info@ranelagharts.org)
Facebook page(http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/ranelaghartsfestival)



June 9th, 2012

A snapshot of our new centre: 

The centre hasn't been quiet . Almost every day and evening , we have people coming in to chat, organise /view art exhibitions, do readings, hold classes, perform musical gigs and a host of other things. 

The other evening, there were traditional Irish and folk melodies dripping out of the walls in the small and intimate venue room ( holds about 25 people) . A rare treat indeed to have Ciaran Tourish, John Faulkner and Dermot Byrne all coming together in a gig in the centre.

And next  Saturday is Bloomsday in Dublin. James Joyce will be celebrated in style, - and here in Ranelagh we will be going all out . We have a host of fun events organised .








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