Arts Council supports new artistic development |
13/02/2008
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has honoured renowned playwright, Owen McCafferty and award winning composer, Elaine Agnew with £15,000 each through its ‘Major Individual Artist Awards’.
The Arts Council’s Major Individual Artist Awards recognise the contribution made by artists, writers and musicians to the arts in Northern Ireland and make it possible for artists to develop new and ambitious work which will make a significant contribution to the development of their careers.
Congratulating the artists, Roisín McDonough, Arts Council Chief Executive, said “Through these major awards the Arts Council supports two of Northern Ireland’s leading artists to produce work which will contribute to the positive cultural profile of Northern Ireland; nationally and internationally. The award will enable both artists to concentrate purely on their talent and build on the notable contribution that they have already made to the arts in Northern Ireland.”
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South Belfast based, Owen McCafferty is one of Northern Ireland’s leading contemporary playwrights whose work has been premiered internationally.
McCafferty will use the award to develop an original and challenging play. Commenting on the award, Owen said, “When under commission to theatre companies you rarely get the chance to experiment with your own art form. This award will allow me to engage honestly in that process, free from normal commercial restraints.”
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County Antrim composer, Elaine Agnew has received numerous accolades for her artistic work including the British Music Commemoration and RTE Composer award.
Elaine will use the Arts Council’s Major Individual Artist Award to research and write an extensive chamber opera, based on the story ‘The Night of the Big Wind’. This impressive piece of work will represent a new artistic development.
Elaine said, “The Night of the Big Wind is a project which I have always been interested in. Developing this new opera and researching various opera productions will be a major but exciting challenge. Australian composer Elena Kats-Cherin will act as my mentor, which will indeed contribute to my artistic development and confidence. ”
