Alisha finds her connection Belfast school girl, Alisha McFadden has been named winner of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s ‘What’s Your Connection?’ poetry competition. As part of her prize, Alisha and her classmates at St Louise’s Comprehensive College, spent a day with Blackstaff Press, learning about what is involved in producing the next best seller.
The Arts Council invited school students to submit poems based on what art means to them. The young poets drew on all sorts of influences, including music on the radio, public sculpture on the way to school, a recent movie at the cinema, and even the latest fashion trends. At the heart of Alisha’s poem is the concept that everyone has their own personal definition of what is art. Alisha and her classmates from St. Louise’s Comprehensive College in West Belfast enjoyed a visit from Blackstaff Press who taught them about the different stages involved in publishing a book, from the commissioning process, through to marketing and distribution.
Damian Smyth, Literature Officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said, “The Arts Council nurtures creative endeavor in Northern Ireland and the poetry competition is just one example of how we try to encourage young talent to get involved in the arts. We appreciate the support from Blackstaff Press who have helped to give the next generation of writers an insight into the world of publishing.”
ART Art can be anything at all, It doesn’t even matter how small. It can be a dot on a page, Or even a person in a glass cage, The sound of birds singing, Maybe a church bell ringing.
Art can be anything at all, Even the dirt on a child’s ball. The colours all around, A tiny insect on the ground. The textures that we feel, Even a ferris wheel!
Art can be anything at all, It’s up to you; you make the call! There’s no right or wrong, So don’t worry, be strong. Everything and anything You choose, what’s your thing?
By Alisha Mc Fadden
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