THE BONNYMEN STEPHEN JAMES SMITH CURATES ‘CREATIVITY’

Winter/Spring OUR FUNDERS FOREWORD From our Principal Funder

The Duncairn is at the heart of what is happening in the arts in north Belfast. It is creating opportunities for people to engage with a whole range of top quality creative experiences, in a shared space that is welcoming to all and which actively encourages people from different backgrounds and circumstances to come together. The Arts Council is proud to be the principal funder of this remarkable creative hub though our National Lottery funds. This year the National Lottery celebrates 25 years of making it possible for arts organisations just like this to be ambitious and innovative and make a big impact on their local communities. With the help of this investment, The Duncairn continues to deliver an excellent programme of inspiring, enriching and inclusive arts and cultural experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern work for our events team, but we are all determined to make this work and we are grateful for the support INTRODUCTION we’ve received for this from you - our audiences and our community. From our Creative Director We are working with Bryson House and other agencies, taking advice It’s 2020 and here’s our new on to the next level, not only as an on how we can become better with programme. To everyone out there, organisation, but as a part of this our recycling and environmental I want to say please have a look at community. practices. It’s early days, and we have what’s happening at The Duncairn. a lot to learn, but we have so much Come and join us, don’t be put off by It’s all change with the catering at to be proud of in north Belfast, and words like ‘arts’, or ‘creativity’. We The Duncairn as well. Café Krem the environment needs to be part of just want people to get involved and moved on to pastures new at the end that. Let’s try hard to get even better, enjoy themselves. Whether it’s to get of last year, and I would like to thank not just at The Duncairn, but on our your head showered, to learn a new them sincerely for the commitment streets as well. skill, catch a show, meet friends, make and time spent with us. But we think new friends, read, sing, paint, or take we’ve found the perfect replacement Lastly, none of this would happen a photo - we want to offer something and we’re delighted to welcome Love without my small but mighty that is hopefully going to suit you, it’s Works who have taken over the café at staff team, our volunteers, artists, as simple as that. If you have Belfast The Duncairn. Love Works is a workers performers, funders, audience in your DNA, please come on down, cooperative based here in north members and the wider community. this place is for you. And if you aren’t Belfast, and we reckon that ethically Thanks for all your continued support from Belfast, we want you to come and in terms of our organisational throughout 2019. We’re looking here and get a taste of what Belfast ethos, they are a perfect fit. This is forward to getting stuck into 2020. has to offer. a cooperative café that values its customers and aims to give its very, Ray Giffen, In many ways 2020 is no different very best to people at affordable Creative Director, The Duncairn from previous years in that we’ll prices. If you’ve attended any Fifty be doing our very best to provide Social Club or 100 Club nights here, superior high-quality arts for you to you will have tasted some of their enjoy and take part in. However, we fare already. Yup! It’s going to be that also hope to start working with some good. different partners over the course of this year, just to make sure we In 2019 we started our single-use keep things fresh. We can’t let the plastics ban, which meant that we grass grow under our feet. You’ll get asked our audiences not to bring bored with us! We’ll get bored with disposable plastic bags or plastic us! We want to continue offering our bottles with them. We began offering community the services they deserve. reusable plastic glasses for people to So, we’ve submitted two new funding use on the night, which they return, applications, and if they’re successful and we wash at the end of the event. they could help move The Duncairn To be honest, that does add more THE ARTS MATTER , Other Voices

The arts matter for at least four sets of reasons: first because creativity, culture and the arts are essential to our wellbeing and valuable in their own right as uniquely irreplaceable human activities; second for the individual and personal benefits that they confer by enabling us to imagine, invent, interpret and communicate diverse ways of seeing the world; third for the communal and societal value and diversity that they create, promote and share; and fourth for the value that they add to our reputation globally and for their potential to strengthen our role in developing bilateral relationships by enriching common ground.

John Tusa, former Director of The Barbican in London puts it like this:

“The arts matter because they embrace, express and define the soul of a civilisation. A nation without arts would be a nation that had stopped talking to itself, stopped dreaming, and had lost interest in the past and lacked curiosity about the future.”

The Duncairn’s is a significant venue for the performing arts, and as a venue that values artists and treats them with the dignity and respect that they deserve. The Duncairn is building connections locally and more widely across the Belfast region. Our work with The Duncairn is driven by the belief that culture and the arts build the bridges that we need, and they empower people to navigate the borders and boundaries that get in the way of full, active participation in community and society.

Philip King, Director of Other Voices Love Works Café delicious wheat loaves. new project called the 100 Club. So, because of this, everything increases, “new year new venture” The first six weeks or so will be a indeed the amount of Tapas and wine settling in period, but they are open doubles. With that in mind we’ve had We’re really, really, excited about and ready for business. Operating to increase the admission fee, yet it the new caterers who have taken up Monday-Saturday they want to keep still somehow manages to be the best residence at The Duncairn, and we things simple, delicious, fresh, and value (and sometimes the hottest can’t wait to hear what you think. good quality. Come down and check ticket) in town. Our brand-new café is part of Love out the new Love Works Cooperative Works, a workers cooperative based café at The Duncairn, you’ll love it! in north Belfast, and their operations 100 Arts & Social Club include an artisan bakery, gardening We’re upping the ante. The last series and landscaping service, and a Prices bike repair workshop. “We want to of 100 Clubs reached a clear peak regarding talent and musicianship, generate dignity and well-being for Making arts accessible for as many stagecraft and innovation and people, for our workers, and for the people as possible is at the heart of tradition. But we didn’t challenge community we are part of by giving what we do, so if anybody out there you enough. We didn’t send you workers the right to decide the best feels that you can’t afford to attend home with questions in your head, way forward and by supporting a a class, if our pricing inhibits you, if or points to be examined further. vibrant family-based community,” you qualify for a subsidised fee, or Our new season though, that’s they explained, referring us to their you reach our criteria for a free place, different. From Young-Turk-spoken- website for more info. “We want to please just call. This discussion is word-upstart Stephen James Smith, create a welcoming and inclusive private, if you speak to a member of to globally recognised musician- working environment which sustains our team about this it is treated with filmmaker-broadcaster-Other livelihoods, healthy relationships and utmost confidentiality. Tell us your Voices-founder Philip King, we provides a place of belonging.” We circumstances, and if the person is intend to get you pondering know this is a meeting of minds with eligible we’ll have no hesitation in and pausing and double-taking. us here at The Duncairn. providing a number of free places. We have the contemporary and “Our new café at The Duncairn will With regards to music events, in traditional Irish music singer and be serving freshly made food, with general tickets prices have stayed Fair Plé campaigner Pauline Scanlon as many locally sourced ingredients still or even decreased. The only curating the International Women’s as possible,” they explained. The price increase has been a move Day event. While the last 100 Club menu will be based around the from our first year of extremely of this programme will gather the products that the Love Works bakery successful events at the Club Fifty Creative Collective of singer and produces including cakes, pastries, Arts and Social Club, to the 100 multi-instrumentalist John Francis and bread - but not just any bread! Club. Anyone who attended a Club Flynn, whose bone-ancient connection It is handcrafted from start to finish, Fifty event knows that as part of the with the tradition allows him to steer and they don’t cut any corners. ticket attendees are provided with off-road, beating new paths, opening Using organic ingredients, the dough complimentary wine and tapas style new doors. This curation of curators is ferments overnight using their home- food on the night. The demand for noteworthy, miss our 100 Club nights grown sourdough starter, which makes these events was so high that we have at your peril. a range of highly nutritious and decided to move from Club Fifty to a There is a slight change in our programming whereby we have taken a step back and decided this is going to be the year we support the emerging and new creative tidal wave that is rushing across the island at the minute. We have had the pleasure of working with so many young, positive, optimistic, forward-thinking artists whose music is creatively top class, but not the most commercially driven. So, what can we do about that? We have put in place some beautiful collaborations and opportunities, inviting them to come up with some new innovative programming ideas that will materialize over the course of the year. In some cases we offered a bucket list and they were given the chance to work with some of their musical peers and heroes.

Initially the name for this scheme was ‘Joining The Dots’. The thought behind it was that, with all of these talents coming to Belfast to play with us, some of them had emerged out of their own local creative collectives. We started imagining a collective that would join the dots between Limerick, Maynooth, Galway, Dublin, Derry, Belfast and beyond. So we identified artists we thought would contribute and benefit through this Creative Collective. They could appear together in Dublin one night, in Belfast another. People in Belfast could team up with people from Limerick. The possibilities are endless and would develop a healthy support network among the artists involved.

In many ways this idea is already happening, and a brilliant example was our Duncairn Songbook night in December, curated by our very own Conor Caldwell. Conor brought together an amazing line-up of musicians from a wide range of bands we had worked with during 2019 to put together new 9-piece band collaboration. The result was spectacular, and proved to us that the initial idea can pay rich dividends and has the potential to create new, innovative and exciting work. There is strength in uniting the arts and music communities, and you have a role in this too – come out to a show, bring your kids to a Super Sunday, break some bread at the next 100 Club. None of this will work if the community is not involved. “The Duncairn Arts Centre is an amazing place. As a venue it’s about as good as they come aesthetically, but what really makes the place so MORE special is the sense of community you feel every time you’re there. The centre THAN AN provides a safe space for so many around Belfast and beyond to come and enjoy themselves, knowing that everyone is looking out for each other. That’s the mentality The Duncairn has always had as far as I’ve seen.

JOSH HEALEY ARTS ” CENTRE LIVE MUSIC

All live music evening events are B.Y.O.B. except where stated.

As part of our environmental policy, single-use plastic is prohibited.

Strict terms and conditions apply. See website for policy. 17 ALTAN (This Event is Sold Out)

Saturday 18th January

£16.50

Altan’s award-winning recordings sweep from poignant old Irish all the way to hard hitting reels and jigs. From Donegal to Seattle to Tokyo they have demonstrated resolute dedication to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences in a way that brings out all its qualities and diminishes none. “The appeal of Altan centres on the fact that they see no differences or divisions in music,” says Dublin’s Sunday Tribune. “As such, rs 7.30 oo pm they have managed to cross the all-important cultural D barriers between folk and world and rock music.” Sold out.

S h p m ow 8.00 18 a night for DANIEL JOHNSTON Presented by Sizeable Bear Promotions in aid of PIPS

Wednesday 22nd January

£8.50

On what would have been Daniel’s 59th birthday, SIZEABLE tonight celebrates the life of cult singer BEAR Daniel Johnston on “Hi How are You” Day. * PROMOTIONS

Features performances from: Junk Drawer, Adrian Crowley, Buí and more!

All proceeds for PIPS Suicide and Self Harm Prevention, who provide invaluable services for the wider Belfast community. rs 7.30 oo pm D *On January 22, 2018, Daniel’s 59th birthday, Austin, Texas united in the first “Hi, How Are You” Day. Austinites were encouraged to check in on a neighbour, friend, co-worker, family member or loved one and ask, “Hi, How Are You?” and to really mean it! The mission is to remove the stigma and shame around mental health, so people will feel open to S m ho p communicate. * w 8.00 21 AN EVENING WITH

PHILIP KING & FRIENDS

Saturday 25th January

£14

At this first 100 Club of 2020, Philip King sits in conversation with The Duncairn’s creative Director Ray Giffen and musician Conor Caldwell. Discussing tradition, translation, transmission, and the growing humanising value of the arts as the world becomes more virtual, augmented and artificial. The questions raised by the rise of surveillance capitalism, the ubiquity of the algorithm, and its attendant threat to liberal democracy are concerning to us all. However, this evening of songs, conversation, poetry and music will be an antidote rs 7.30 oo pm to our never-ending digital engagement as we savour D the talents of piper Mick O’Brien, The Gloaming fiddle afficianado Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and enjoy Philip’s musical companions and Robbie Overson S (performing as ). h p m ow 8.00 22

NO MORE JANUARY BLUESrs 7.30p oo m D DAVIDPOP UP PHARMACY S h pm KEENAN ow 8:00

SaturdaySaturday 5th 1st January & Sunday 2nd Feb

Live Music “ £12.50Free Admission If you’re always trying to be normal you’ll never know how amazing you can be It’sNo been More a while, January an impatient Blues FREE wait, funfest but he’s weekend coming for the back.whole As Davidfamily, Keenan’s lifting us star out continuesof the January to ascend, doldrums we’re catchingand bouncing him live usagain into atSpring The Duncairn. 2020. He’s the young IrishSaturday… songwriter Ourwho popular uses his Pop lyrics Up to Pharmacy paint pictures with wordsshowcases on canvases local servicesof silence, to curatingsupport aa happy,body of healthy work steepednorth Belfast.in the poetic Free traditionholistic therapies, of old but our delivered resident in suchDJ aPaddy way that spinning is entirely the decks, his own. face His painters, recent vinyl balloon EP, MAYA ANGELOU Evidencemakers, Of drop Living, in arts and crafts activities. Also, free quicklychildren’s sold out,lunch he pack boasts for athe number first 100 of videoskids! by Myles ” O’Reilly,Sunday… and hisCome live and shows explore are described how creativity as visceral, can s 11 oor am spiritualpush out and the communal stress. There’s events. a Rememberrange of arts — andyou craftsheard it D hereactivities, first. morning and afternoon workshops, weird and wonderful company Wee Critters visiting with It’sthe a whole kids. Limitednew experience creche places. with 3 MustDavid be Keenan’s booked for in 1.

You’lladvance understand - email when [email protected] you get here! to register. U ntil 3p m 25

the RAPPAREES

Saturday 8th February

£12

Hailing from Co. Antrim, The Rapparees have been putting their own spin on folk and traditional Celtic music for the last 15 years. Known for their original compositions and their skill in entwining traditional songs with contemporary arrangements, this a tight- knit collection of talents who have been surrounded and infused with a rich cultural heritage from their youth. Four studio down the road, they’ve risen to become one of the finest exponents of traditional Irish music throughout Europe and beyond, rs 7.30 oo pm appreciated for their ability to shift effortlessly from D breakneck speed to haunting ballads. So, we’re delighted to welcome this local squad of players, and humbly suggest you don’t miss this. S h p m ow 8.00 26

26 THEBONNYMEN LAUNCH

Friday 14th February

£16 (includes CD)

In 2011, The Bonny Men established themselves as the hottest ticket in the Irish trad/ scene after debuting their celebrated self-titled album. There are seven in the band, each one a master of their own instrument. Indeed, band members’ accolades include multiple All-Ireland Champions, World Bodhrán Champion, and the prestigious TG4 “Young Musician of the Year”. a mixture of original and contemporary folk songs, theirs is a sound soaked in the essence of traditional music. At this St. Valentine’s rs 7.30 oo pm Day album launch you’ll hear creative harmonies and D clever, intriguing arrangements presenting sets of tunes, old and new, ready to detonate The Duncairn stage. S h p m ow 8.00 29 28 STEPHEN JAMES SMITH CURATES ‘CREATIVITY’

Saturday 22nd February

Live Music £14

Stephen James Smith is a Dublin poet and chancer! He’s performed globally and still can’t believe he’s getting away with it. However, on a more serious note, he loves what he does, especially working with community groups helping people to ‘find their voice’. With a theme of ‘Creativity’, at this 100 Club he’ll be running a workshop to create a group poem to be performed at the end of the gig. Responding to themes voiced during the event, Stephen will be joined on the night by the incredible artist Steve Simpson, and multi-instrumentalist Aidan Murphy, rs 7.30 oo pm as well as a host of other poets, musicians and messers. D FYI -he’s performing at tomorrow’s Super Sunday too…

S h p m ow 8.00 I 30 IMAR

Saturday 29th February

£15

“Genuinely jaw-dropping collective virtuosity” is how The Scotsman described Ímar, whose line-up features members of Mànran, RURA, Talisk and Barrule. Their heavyweight collective haul of top prizes includes 2018’s BBC Radio 2 Musician Of The Year, 2016 BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year, BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award, Young Folk Award, nine All-Ireland and eight All-Britain titles. Through bodhrán, bouzouki, concertina, uilleann pipes and fiddle, Ímar are bringing to The Duncairn a distinctive collaboration rs 7.30 oo pm centred on the overlapping cultural heritage between D Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. All three places having once shared the same Gaelic language, and between whom a similar kinship continues between S their musical traditions today. h p m ow 8.00

35

MICK FLANNERY

Friday 6th March

£14

While County singer-songwriter Mick Flannery is outwardly reserved, his songs fluently express layered aspects of the human condition, its flaws, triumphs, and general uncertainty. That’s why we love it when the award-winning, double platinum selling artist plays The Duncairn - his mastery of the art of song writing, his understated stagecraft. On the brink of releasing his self- titled sixth album, the naïve, passionate 20-something ‘Mick Flannery’ is gone. What comes next, he contends, is much more interesting and experienced. “You have a rs 7.30 oo pm larger worldview and are more learned, each of which D combine to create something new.” See him at The Duncairn, thank us later.

S h p m ow 8.00 36 PAULINE

SCANLON & FRIENDS

International Women’s Day

Saturday 7th March

£14

It’s International Women’s Day 2020, and who better to host our 100 Club celebration than vocalist and songwriter Pauline Scanlon. As featured vocalist with the Sharon Shannon Band for three years, as a solo artist, and as a member of vocal duo LUMIERE, Scanlon has entranced audiences internationally with her distinctly delicate intensity. However, her role as an activist and advocate for women in the music industry, and founding member of FairPlé, best places her tonight to address issues facing women in the creative rs 7.30 oo pm workplace, discussing her new project ‘Mise ‘gus D Tusa’ - a series of recordings examining the agency of women in traditional song and how the material relates to modern women from a feminist perspective. She is

joined by a star-studded lineup in Barry Kerr, Sean Óg Sh m ow 0p Graham, Niamh Dunne, SÍle Denvir and Eamon Murray. 8.0 39 EQUAL

The arts are not a frill. The arts are a NOTES “response to our individuality and our nature, and help to shape our identity. Thursday 19th March What is there that can transcend deep difference and stubborn divisions? The arts. They have a wonderful Free; Donations Welcome universality. Art has the potential to

unify. It can speak in many languages The Equal Notes choir for adults with learning disabilities from across the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust area without a translator. The arts do not are delighted to be back with us for another concert. The vision for this innovative choir is a place where discriminate. The arts can lift us up. everyone can use their innate creative skills and show what people with disabilities are capable of. They have been working on recording their first CD and have chosen the songs which reflect the importance of supporting one another and letting your voice be heard. If you want to hear what the songs are you will just have to get a ticket rs 7.00 oo pm BARBARA JORDAN and come along to their CD launch! Their performances D are full of energy, fun and enthusiasm so come along and ” have your spirits lifted! Admission is free but donations to NI Hospice are warmly S appreciated. h m ow 7.30p 40 JOHN FRANCIS FLYNN

Saturday 21st March

£14

If you’ve seen singer and multi-instrumentalist John Francis Flynn perform you will know we have an instinctual, encompassing talent curating this 100 Club. His work centres around Irish and international traditional and folk material. As a founding member of the band Skipper’s Alley he has toured Europe and America. An active session musician around Dublin, he hosts the now famous Walsh’s session in Stoneybatter. He has recorded with artists including Lankum and Ye Vagabonds, opened for Lankum’s recent UK tour, and rs 7.30 oo pm Lisa O’Neill’s Irish tour. He’s featuring in the upcoming D series of This Ain’t No Disco and was chosen as one of the Ones To Watch at 2018’s All Together Now festival. John’s star is in the ascendancy. Don’t miss this. S h p m ow 8.00 43 CLARE SANDS

Saturday 28th March

£12

Clare Sands is a passionate and alluring table dancing, fiddle shredding, multi-instrumentalist, creating eclectic and energetic trad infused popular music. Backed by a top-class funky band, the sultry Sands meanders in and out of musical genres using instruments including electric violin and guitar, harmonica and saxophone, intertwined with melodious gravely vocals. Her latest two singles were in the Irish charts’ Top 3 for many months and she’s been wowing audiences around the world with her unique and ground-breaking style, rs 7.30p performance, and infinite energy. A session musician oo m D with artists including The Hothouse Flowers, Mick Flannery, and Luka Bloom, while also selling out dates around Europe as an artist in her own right. We’re looking forward to this one. S h p m ow 8.00 44 BREAKFAST

BIG SESSIONS

Free Admission - All Welcome “The Duncairn is driven by a love “and passion of Irish music, language Sunday 26th January and culture and steered by a bunch of Sunday 23rd February people who have created a beautiful community buzz. It is all encompassing Sunday 22nd March great sound, unique venue and great people. Without a shadow of a doubt, it We know our Super Sundays are the mainspring of our arts is one of my favourite places to play - a programme, so we’ve put a lot into making them work, doing all we can to turn our plans and ideas into reality. I think home from home.” our last one of 2019 finally got there. Our lovely old building was jammers with people grabbing coffee or a breakfast roll from the friendly cafe staff. Relaxing as their kids made crafts in the next room. Having a laugh with chilled music in the background from our resident DJ Paddy Cash. And this atmosphere spilled over into the performance as well. 10 Joshua Burnside, Brian Connolly and Gerry Jones gave us ors .30 DAMIEN O’KANE o am a morning of music, song, and stories that created a perfect D ” balance between performance and shared space. Leaving the way open and comfortable enough for young people from the audience to participate and play along as well. U Where else would you get it? We’ve set the bar high with our n m til 1.30p Super Sundays now, there’s no turning back. CLASSES

AND WORKSHOPS

All workshops and classes can be booked at www.theduncairn.com. Please call us on (028) 90 747 114 to avail of concession rate. 48 49

AN INTRODUCTION 6.30pm - 8.30pm TO CERAMICS £80 / Concession £70 MONDAY EVENING 8 week course CLASSES Teacher: Megan Clingman This introduction class is designed solely for beginners, helping Beginning 3rd February them to learn and gain experience in hand building ceramics. Through the course of the eight weeks, participants will develop (all materials & equipment provided) their making skills and learn different hand building techniques from pinch pots to slab building a vase. Finishing off with glazing techniques, participants can develop further creative ways to FASHION DESIGN 6.30pm - 8.30pm complete their work. This is a course for beginners, so come along OCCASIONWEAR: £60 and have some fun! TOPS 6 week course Teacher: Chloe Dougan

This six week fashion course is ideal for beginners or avid sewers. AN INTRODUCTION 6.30pm - 8.30pm Each week we will learn sewing skills, pattern skills and will make TO PRINTMAKING £80 / Concession £70 and design a top and/or a blouse perfect for a night out or a 8 week course special occasion. Previous sewing skills are not essential, but will be Teacher: Lucy Turner helpful.

Topics covered in the course: Artist Lucy Turner will run a series of stimulating and creative • How to thread your machine workshops to introduce you to a variety of printmaking techniques • Wind a bobbin including mono printing using a Gelli Plate, which is a simple and • Selection of basic stitches fun introduction to print without the need for a printing press. • Inserting a zip This will be followed by old school traditional lino cut, the linear • Fabric knowledge approach of drypoint and additions with collagraph. Each process • How to use and understand a pattern is stand alone, or you can add texture and depth to your work • Making a toile with mixed media. • End production, your own top/blouse perfect for any special occasion. This 8-week workshop programme will help you explore your ideas with confidence. It will help you to experiment freely and it This class is fun and informal and open to all skills levels - being focuses on bringing home a suite of hand printed imagery for you respectful of first time stitchers! Sewing machines will be provided to frame or gift. but please feel free to bring your own if you prefer to work on a familiar machine. 50 51

INTRODUCTION 6.30pm - 8.30pm GAEILGE / IRISH 7.00pm - 9.00pm TO PAINTING & £80 / Concession £70 LANGUAGE Free - Donations Appreciated DRAWING 8 week course 8 week course Teacher: Trisha Campbell UWS

Participants will be taught and guided in a relaxed, creative BUN RANG ÍOCHTAR / and fun environment by Ulster Watercolour Society Artist, Trisha LOWER BEGINNERS CLASS Campbell. This course is ideal for beginners wishing to learn new drawing and painting skills, as well as those who would like a If you have never had previous contact or have only had very refresher course for their skills. minimal contact with the , then this is the class As the course progresses we will experiment with a range of artistic for you. Each September, the bunrang íochtar starts afresh media whilst covering different subjects and techniques, giving with a new cohort of learners and we assume that you have participants the opportunity to explore a variety of media including had no previous knowledge of Irish. pencil, charcoal, watercolour, acrylic, inks and pastels. Teacher: Tarlach Ó Branagáin #ACHTANOIS

MEÁN RANG UACHTAR / UPPER IMPROVERS CLASS

For Gaeilge enthusiasts who are keen to extend their oral, reading and basic grammar skills in a relaxed, informal and enjoyable environment. The focus is on the importance and relevance of this rich language and culture on our everyday lives. Place names, social occasions, sport, song and the history of the language are discussed in a light-hearted and informative manner to set this beautiful language in context.

We hope to motivate and encourage you over the eight weeks to build on your proficiency, confidence and grá for our teanga.

Teacher: Fionntán Mac Oitir 52 53

SHARED READING 1 2.00pm - 3.00pm MONDAY DAYTIME Donations Appreciated CLASSES Every Monday – free drop-in session, no need to register, donations appreciated Beginning 3rd February Shared Reading brings people together through great literature to talk, laugh and share.

Just drop in and enjoy listening to a story or poem – no pressure to THE STITCH CAFE 10.30am - 1.30pm talk or read. Donations Appreciated Every Monday “Shared Reading means being part of a community… it is a peaceful place to reflect.” Teacher: Aroona Murphy “It slows you down and reminds you to listen.”

Stitch Café is our drop-in creative session held every Monday “It’s a chance to share and savour the delights of the short story and (except bank holidays) beginning at 10.30am to 1.30pm, full of an opportunity to connect in a meaningful way with others.” stitching crafts, crochet, knitting and plenty of craic. Come for all of it, or come for an hour, whatever suits your day. We also have Tuesday evening sessions! Led by our fantastic volunteer facilitator Aroona Murphy, a familiar face around the centre. Aroona and the group love to welcome first timers, beginners, dabblers and of course the experienced knitting and crocheting artisans that are sitting at home looking for company and craic to share their skills.

Meet us in Cafe Krem; there is no charge for this activity, set up materials can be provided, we share everything we have, so please don’t let cost keep you away. Come give us a try! 54 55

FOLLOW ON 6.30pm - 8.30pm CERAMICS £90 / Concession £80 TUESDAY EVENING 8 week course CLASSES Teacher: Eimear O’Caoilte Have you completed the beginner’s ceramic course? Well come Beginning 4th February along to the follow-on class! During these eight weeks participants will take the knowledge they have gained during their beginner’s (all materials & equipment provided) sessions and develop their skill and creativity further. Introducing new clays and making techniques, participants will expand on their designs and finished products to a higher and more professional UPCYCLING & 6.30pm - 8.30pm finish. TEXTILE ART £80 / Concession £70 8 week course Teacher: Bernadette Carlin

CREATE. DE-STRESS. BE SOCIAL. INTERMEDIATE 6.30pm - 8.30pm Upcycling is all the rage right now. It’s an eco-trend all about PAINTING & £90 / Concession £80 creating your own unique style from cast-offs and while you’re at it DRAWING 8 week course you can have fun and be inspired by the myriad ways of re-using Teacher: Trisha Campbell UWS unwanted stuff. During this course we will:

• Turn your unloved denim trousers or skirt into a stylish bag. This exciting course is ideal for those who have completed an • Learn how to personalise a baby grow or an item of choice introductory painting and drawing course and would like to further with a beautiful applique design - Appliqué is a decorative develop their practice. Participants will build upon their core skills ornamental needlework in which fabric shapes are stitched and confidence by further exploring and linking artistic techniques together. and subject matter. Throughout the course, we will study a range of • Learn the art of free motion or freehand machine embroidery, interesting past and contemporary artists’ work to inform your own using coloured threads to create stunning textiles and learn personal art practice. The course will cover a range of topics, such some simple hand embroidery stitches to complete a piece of as portrait painting, observational/perspective techniques and Textile Art to be framed or made into a cushion. colour theory - all centred on developing your passion for drawing and painting. All abilities welcome. 56 57

DIGITAL 6.30pm - 8.30pm PHOTOGRAPHY £70 / Concession £60 LEVEL 2 8 week course TUESDAY DAYTIME Teacher: Stan Nikolov CLASSES

This course will provide an introduction to digital photography. You will learn how to control the settings of the camera and how that Rolling classes - All Welcome affects the image. We will cover all the basics including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure, depth of field, as well as composition and different styles of photography such as documentary, portrait, architecture, event photography etc. We will also look at how to sequence images to be able to tell a story. SING FOR FUN 1.00pm - 2.30pm Donations Appreciated Throughout the course you will be encouraged to develop your own Teacher: Karen Diamond portfolio project / photo essay and at the end of the course you will have the chance for your work to be printed in the form of a small book or portfolio. Sing For Fun does exactly what it says on the tin! No auditions, no solos, just a group of people who love to sing everything and anything, good, bad or indifferent this group is all about fun.

Karen Diamond, Music Therapist by trade and general all-round SET DANCING 8.30pm - 10.00pm fun-loving singer takes us through our paces with breathing £4 per night exercises, relaxation techniques and a range of musical genres that For all levels Every Week send us away home smiling and humming as we go. Beginners most welcome Teacher: Ronan Eastwood We meet on Tuesdays, 1.00pm to 2.30pm to get our groove on; we will be moving to fortnightly sessions so its advisable to give us a Ronan Eastwood has been teaching set dancing at various venues call to see when our timetable begins. from beginner level right through to the more advanced levels at regular weekly classes throughout Belfast for well over 20 years. This is a donation based class, from a penny to a pound we are grateful for all contributions. Words don’t adequately describe set dancing — you need to get out and try it, whether at a class or a live céili.

Don’t worry if you haven’t danced before, expert tuition at a leisurely pace will be provided; so why not come along and have a bit of craic and a great workout at the same time! 58

SHARED READING 2 7.00pm - 8.00pm Donations Appreciated

Shared Reading brings people together through great literature to talk, laugh and share. Just drop in and enjoy listening to a story or poem – no pressure to talk or read. See Page 71 for full details.

STORY TIME FOR 10am - 11am LITTLE ONES Donations Appreciated

An hour of fun with books. For parents and their babies and toddlers. Art is not the possession of the few Grandparents and other carers welcome too! “ who are recognized writers, painters, musicians; it is the authentic DROP IN YOGA: 5.15pm - 6.15pm expression of any and all individuality. MOVEMENT, Donations Appreciated REFLECTION, Every Week COMMUNITY Teacher: Justine Brown

This will be a gentle class focusing on breath led mindful movements finishing with a nurturing guided relaxation. The class is suitable for anyone over 16 years old. JOHN DEWEY Please bring a cosy blanket for the relaxation and a yoga mat if ” you have one – there will be a limited number available at the class. As this is a drop-in donation-based class, there is no need to book – you just turn up on the night and pay what you can afford.

The class will be taught by Justine Brown, a qualified Hatha/ Vinyasa Yoga & Meditation Teacher. Email [email protected] with any questions.

62 Shop at the Duncairn rs 7.30 oo pm D In November 2018 we opened our brand new shop here at The Duncairn. The idea behind the shop is to support the work of our resident artists and arts facilitators and eventually to include work from as many North Belfast artists and creatives as possible. The shop not only supports the artist’s careers but S also the arts programme here at The Duncairn with 30% of all takings going h pm ow 8:00 directly to the arts budget. So, if you have a few quid still in your pockets after the holidays and need to get that special person a birthday gift or would like a unique piece of art for your home, please drop in for a visit.

Events Team The Duncairn is a stunning venue, but Our Events Team got bigger this year, doubling the regular group on hand to Saturday 5th January help at our gigs and events. It’s the Events Team that does the setting up, the “what really sets it apart is the sense taking down, and makes it all run as smoothly as possible in-between. You can see them at the shows taking tickets, selling merch, helping people to their Live Music of community. The audiences are so seats. But you don’t see them while they’re washing the glasses at the end £12.50 of the night or setting up the tables for the 100 Club before the show begins. welcoming and receptive. A gig in the They are the first to arrive and the last to leave, and none of this would work Duncairn is always a highlight in my without them. We were thrilled at the response to our recent volunteer recruitment drive, and It’sdiary. been a while, an impatient wait, but he’s coming over the past few months you may have noticed quite a few new faces helping back. As David Keenan’s star continues to ascend, we’re at the events, bringing with them a whole host of new skills, stories, and ideas. catching him live again at The Duncairn. He’s the young So, huge thanks to all the staff and volunteers of The Duncairn Events Team: Irish songwriter who uses his lyrics to paint pictures with Debbie Young, Conor Caldwell, Una Brady, William Orr, Federica Banfi, Craig words on canvases of silence, curating a body of work Baird, Stan Nikolov, Marnie Kennedy, Anne Marie Kerr, Gerardine Young, Nia steeped in the poetic tradition of old but delivered in McVicker, Margaret Deevy, Alasdair Murty, Amy McAllister, Leona McGlinchey, such a way that is entirely his own. His recentCOLIN vinyl EP, HASSARD Lorcan Nelson, Justine Brown, Eimear McCotter, Oisin Cash, Clair McKeown Evidence Of Living, ” and Dónall Madden. quickly sold out, he boasts a number of videos by Myles O’Reilly, and his live shows are described as visceral, spiritual and communal events. Remember — you heard it Hiring the Duncairn here first. Our event space is available to hire throughout the year for all sorts of uses including conferences, book launches, exhibitions, lectures, workshops and It’s a whole new experience with 3 David Keenan’s for 1. much more. Visit our website for full details of the unique spaces on offer and You’ll understand when you get here! get a quote, alternatively email [email protected] who will be happy to assist. Follow us for arts updates and info!

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— www.theduncairn.com 028 90 747 114