Rediscover Northern Ireland Report Philip Hammond Creative Director
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REDISCOVER NORTHERN IRELAND REPORT PHILIP HAMMOND CREATIVE DIRECTOR CHAPTER I Introduction and Quotations 3 – 9 CHAPTER II Backgrounds and Contexts 10 – 36 The appointment of the Creative Director Programme and timetable of Rediscover Northern Ireland Rationale for the content and timescale The budget The role of the Creative Director in Washington DC The Washington Experience from the Creative Director’s viewpoint. The challenges in Washington The Northern Ireland Bureau Publicity in Washington for Rediscover Northern Ireland Rediscover Northern Ireland Website Audiences at Rediscover Northern Ireland Events Conclusion – Strengths/Weaknesses/Potential Legacies CHAPTER III Artist Statistics 37 – 41 CHAPTER IV Event Statistics 42 – 45 CHAPTER V Chronological Collection of Reports 2005 – 07 46 – 140 November 05 December 05 February 06 March 07 July 06 September 06 January 07 CHAPTER VI Podcasts 141 – 166 16th March 2007 31st March 2007 14th April 2007 1st May 2007 7th May 2007 26th May 2007 7th June 2007 16th June 2007 28th June 2007 1 CHAPTER VII RNI Event Analyses 167 - 425 Community Mural Anacostia 170 Community Poetry and Photography Anacostia 177 Arts Critics Exchange Programme 194 Brian Irvine Ensemble 221 Brian Irvine Residency in SAIL 233 Cahoots NI Residency at Edge Fest 243 Healthcare Project 252 Camerata Ireland 258 Comic Book Artist Residency in SAIL 264 Comtemporary Popular Music Series 269 Craft Exhibition 273 Drama Residency at Catholic University 278 Drama Production: Scenes from the Big Picture 282 Film at American Film Institute 290 Poetry at Georgetown 299 Katzen Arts Center Art Exhibition 301 Literature Events 314 Glass Artist Residency at Lombardi 322 Poetry and Music Residencies at Lombardi/SAIL 329 Music at The Phillips Collection 346 Music Technology Residency at American University 357 Poetry at the National Geographic 363 NIPPA Photographic Exhibition 366 Opera Theatre Company 374 Peace Café 382 Placenames Symposium 389 Printmakers Exhibition 393 Printmakers Residencies 403 Traditional Music at the Library of Congress 413 2 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND QUOTATIONS The Rediscover Northern Ireland arts and cultural programme was mostly about people – people from Northern Ireland meeting people from Washington – people in the arts in Northern Ireland working with people in the arts in Washington – Northern Irish artists communing with American artists. It was about showing the people of the United States that the people of Northern Ireland had moved on considerably from the days when our troubles featured all too prominently in the world’s news headlines. It was about showing how our arts and artists had played an important role at all levels of society in healing people’s divisions through their innate creativity. So I am beginning this lengthy report with short quotations from the people who did the real work in the Rediscover Northern Ireland - whose experiences of that programme give a flavour of what was achieved on a very personal level. The Rediscover Northern Ireland project was a great idea. The breadth of programming that was achieved was impressive. People all over the city, from many walks of life, were exposed to one or more aspect of the programming and I am certain that there is an increased visibility for N. Ireland, good will and curiosity to learn more. Janet Stanford, Imagination Stage The Rediscover Northern Ireland campaign was very impressive. Programs highlighting other countries and cultures happen on a pretty regular basis in Washington, D.C. This program, RNI, did an outstanding job of sharing the story of Northern Ireland through the full spectrum of Washington’s many communities. Finding and working with these communities whose differences are economic, artistic, social, and geographic is quite a feat! Greg McGruder, National Geographic Society The mural was a humbling experience and between working with the boys and standing side by side at the mural wall with Tracey Gallogly. This was a time I will never forget. Cheryl Foster, Washington Mural Artist Having Mervyn on hand, to provide us primary source information on the complexities of life in Northern Ireland and how similar it was to some of the complexities that of life in Anacostia, was absolutely vital to charting a trajectory for the poems we created in the workshop. I was pleased to hear that during the workshop process Mervyn was determined to show a side of Anacostia that goes against what has become the normal dismal discussion about Anacostia. The fact that he was able to identify what the folk of Anacostia were going through, because it was so similar the types of disparaging things that are said about Belfast, Northern Ireland. Fred Joiner, Washington Poet 3 My involvement with Rediscover NI, in a professional and personal capacity, both through my poetry and my coverage and web content production with CultureNorthernIreland convinced me of the strength of the Northern Ireland cultural offer and I was privileged to witness at first hand the uptake of this offer in Washington during the programme. Kirsten Kearney Northern Ireland Poet On behalf of ARCH, we felt that this project was a major success. Mervyn was a wonderful mentor to the youth of the ARCH photography program. The three projects implemented in Anacostia created a real synergy between the African American populations of Wards 7 & 8 in Washington D.C. and the struggles of Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland was the hot topic of the summer, especially East of the Anacostia River where so many similarities can be drawn between areas in N.I. and Anacostia. Amy Cavanaugh, ARCH Anacostia I have just filed the first piece for my new art column. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have been offered this job were it not for my participation in this Arts Critics’ Exchange Program as part of Rediscover Northern Ireland. Chris Klimek, Art Critic, Washington The US participants came away with a better understanding of the cultural context in Belfast and Northern Ireland. Additionally two participants are actively seeking to return to Belfast in the next 6-months to report on topics encountered during the programme Sioned Hughes, Arts Critics Exchange Organiser, Visiting Arts London Overall, I gained a lot of tips which will help me with my own writing and in training others, I made friendships in NI and DC which will last beyond the course, I developed the confidence to try criticism in new areas such as visual arts and opera… David Lewis, Art Critic, Northern Ireland The week in Washington was chock-filled with charms. I loved meeting the authors and playwrights and seeing some great performances from Northern Ireland. Drew Bratcher, Art Critic, Washington Another standing ovation; it’s amazing how The Brian Irvine Ensemble can turn a situation and an audience! I believe that we presented art from Northern Ireland which was totally unexpected by those who witnessed it. Feedback was unanimously positive. Brian Carson, Moving on Music Brian Irvine was just incredible in his workshop with youth and adults of the Levine School of Music. His approach to music was fun and engaging while still remaining educational. Not one person from this workshop came out without one excellent piece of knowledge they could implement into their daily practice routine. I say this as a professional musician and witness to that particular workshop. Amy Cavanaugh ARCH Anacostia 4 Following from the hugely successful 3 week artist-in-residence collaboration between Elaine Agnew and Kate Newmann from N. Ireland, Philip Hammond asked if we would be able to do another collaboration with music composer Brian Irvine. We can honestly say that it was amazing to watch Brian work with all of our students, even the most shy and reticent ones amongst them were joining in with the group activities. James Laverty-Furphy SAIL The invitation Cahoots NI received to present work on this international stage in the USA was an immense benefit to the profile, reputation and artistic programming for the company. One child was so enthralled he came back to see the show a second time and requested reading lists for the Cuchulain tales. Other audience members were astonished to see the beauty of the Northern Irish coastline and pledged to visit. Louise O’Neill, CahootsNI The Northern Irish artists won the hearts of everyone they encountered with their friendliness and out-going personalities. We also found them a joy to work with; very well organized and professional in their preparation for the challenges of mounting shows on a trans-Atlantic tour. Janet Stanford, Imagination Stage Paul and Christina brought many faces to light and life with their gentle antics and meandering through the pediatric cancer clinic, general hallways, and inpatient pediatric unit. Staff indicated many children smiled for the first time since they have been in clinic. Nancy Morgan, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Cahoots ventured into the most serious venues, cancer treatment clinics and physicians' meetings alike, transforming them with humor, music and gentleness -the best medicine imaginable for our community. Nancy Morgan, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Washington D.C’s hospitality was over-whelming, we were welcomed with open arms and treated with respect and appreciation. Christina Nelson, Cahoots NI The audience at the concert in the Library of Congress was very high profile - from business, government and the arts. The concert allowed the orchestra to show its potential as an arts organisation of the highest quality and to show its value to government, business and the Arts Council. Hugh Carslaw, Camerata Ireland I think the audience at the Library of Congress really loved Dave Morris’ composition that I played. The piece had an influence of Irish traditional music which really appealed to the audience and the composer also got a standing ovation for the piece. Eimear McGeown, Flautist, Camerata Ireland 5 Each of the artist’s performances were creatively excellent and the response by each of the audiences was very positive.