Sticky Fingers scoops Top Prize for Peace and Reconciliation

22/11/2006

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland congratulated Sticky Fingers Early Years Art, who won the top prize for their contribution to peace and reconciliation at the recent National Resource Rural Tourism Initiative Awards. The Sticky Fingers organisation is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and is one of the leading early years arts organisations in Ireland, who specialise in promoting and developing innovative projects for very young children.

Photograph of an artwork entitled 'Acorn'; a tall sculpture featuring oak leaves and large acorns hanging from stalks

Acorn; one of the 8 public artworks
which makes up the Sticky Fingers Sculpture Trail

Sticky Fingers won the award for their imaginative arts led intergenerational work in South Armagh. They provided opportunities for people to work together across different generations and cultural backgrounds by exploring the traditions, history and folklore of the various town lands in South Armagh. The result was the Sticky Fingers Sculpture Trail, which comprises of 8 public artworks and provides a permanent reminder of the legends and myths unique to South Armagh area.

Photograph of a sculpture showing a cow's head resting on a broken tiled mound

The Sculpture trail provides the people of South Armagh with
a permanent reminder of the legends and myths unique to their area

Grainne Powell from Sticky Fingers said, “The arts provide a safe method of addressing issues of conflict in a safe environment resulting in a positive outcome; an artwork that is a reminder to the community of their history and mixed cultures and provides a platform for further communication and shared understanding.”

Gavin O’Connor, Arts Development Officer at the Arts Council said, “This award gives recognition to the positive contribution made by the arts to our local communities. The Arts Council is delighted that Sticky Finger’s innovative arts-led cultural development work has been acknowledged as instrumental in supporting communities in the South Armagh area. This type of arts work supports the Arts Council’s vision to place the arts at the heart of social, economic and creative life in Northern Ireland.”

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Arts Council of Northern Ireland