Local Arts organisation experiences a Taste of Italy |
26/02/2007
Local group Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts has been working alongside two internationally acclaimed theatre companies to train artists in Northern Ireland. This exciting collaboration marks the start of a long term project which will result in an innovative piece of theatre for young people which will be performed internationally.
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Funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Sticky Fingers promote and develop innovative projects for children . In conjunction with world renowned Italian group La Baracca and London based, PLEY, they presented a wealth of experience in early years work and professional theatre to a selection of artists.
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The training was led by Roberto Frabetti Artistic Director, La Baracca and Movement Director, Lesley Hutchison who have been commissioned by Sticky Fingers to create new work for the early years age group across Northern Ireland. At the end of the training session Roberto Frabetti and Lesley Hutchison selected three artists to take part in the further stages of the project.
These artists will work in partnership with playgroup leaders and local early years advisers in Omagh, Fermanagh and Newry to create a piece of theatre for a young audience. The finished work will be performed at the NIPPA Conference in June at Narrow Water Castle and they will eventually travel to Bologna to be showcased at the Festival of Theatre for Early Childhood in March 2008 as well as other international touring opportunities.
Gavin O’Connor, Development Officer for Youth Arts at the Arts Council, said, “Sticky Fingers are regarded as the leading early years arts organisation in Ireland. Their innovative performances are an excellent way of initiating young people to theatre. By introducing this audience to the arts at such an early age it very much reinforces the Arts Council’s vision of placing the arts at the heart of our social life. The amount of work they have undertaken and the impact which they have made on the youth arts sector in Northern Ireland is a credit to them.”
Grainne Powell, Director, Sticky Fingers, comments, “It has been a very exciting opportunity working in partnership with Roberto Frabetti from La Baracca and Lesley Hutchison. They provided local artists with insights into their methodologies for developing theatre for the early years group. We look forward to seeing how these artists implement this advice into their work.”
Sticky fingers are funded by the Arts Council and this particular project is also funded by NIPPA and The Clore Duffield Foundation.
