‘Where Past and Present Converge’

We are delighted to have got our latest project started despite the challenge of the weather. Funding for our mural project ‘Where Past and Present Converge’ was made possible via funding from Creative Cavan  through the Creative Ireland Programme, led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, that is designed to promote creativity as a strategy for wellbeing, social cohesion, and economic success. Artist Steve O’Donnell from All Out was on the scene early on Sunday morning 24th September with Hub Creative Coordinators Caroline Clarke and Sally-Ann Duffy along with Dimitry from Jago Studio ( funded by Cavan Arts) who is to video and capture the process of creating a new and first of it’s kind mural in Bailieborough, Co Cavan. Steve was chosen for the project after a rigorous selection process by a group of stakeholders including Bailieborough Creative Hub, Bailieborough Heritage Society, Nomad Coffee and Waller Bros with guidance from Caroline Brady Town Regeneration Officer from Cavan County Council. The mural is expected to take 3 days to complete and will be a bright and positive addition to the town.

Steve mural 1

Open Call for A Mural Artist

‘Where Past and Present Converge’ will harness the cultural, business, history and community spirit in Bailieborough, Co Cavan.

Bailieborough Creative Hub are delighted to announce that we have secured funding through the Creative Cavan Grant Scheme 2023 towards the design and painting of a mural on a premises in Bailieborough. We are now inviting quotations from mural artists to work with our group to design and complete the mural.

This project aims to achieve public art that resonates with the natural environment and local heritage, encouraging linking of history, community and the physical space including elements that are unique to Bailieborough.

We are now inviting mural artists to apply and the full brief can be seen by following the  LINK TO BRIEF

If you wish to be considered for this project, can you please forward your expression of interest by email to bailieboroughcreativehub@gmail.com
on or before 5pm Monday 31st July

This project is funded by Creative Ireland and Cavan County Council through Creative Cavan

Think it! Create it! Share it! Chat!

Think it! Create it! Share it! Is the motto of Bailieborough Creative Hub and we always love a chat!

Our recent art and creative workshops provided an opportunity to connect with displaced Ukrainian people in 3 locations in Co Cavan-Ballinagh, Bailieborough and Virginia. The workshops ran for six weeks in each location and were supported by Cavan Volunteer Centre through funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development. We shared stories, and connected while creating in a relaxed friendly atmosphere.  Participants are given the opportunity to practice English while trying different creative techniques each session. We had lots of lovely volunteers who gave their time to chat, make the Ukrainians feel welcome and joined in the activities.

Activities included:

  • Painting
  • Mixed media collage
  • Mindful stitching
  • Paper arts
  • Watercolour doodles

We encouraged everyone to speak in English where they could and used Google translate on occasion which always caused laughter at the sometimes odd translations!

We hope that having more confidence in conversational English will help participants to gain employment, take up volunteering roles, move on to other courses and become involved in community activities.

A very small snapshot of the art produced

 

Crann a Chruthú- Creating a Tree-خلق شجرة

In this art project we worked with a vibrant group of Syrian women giving them the opportunity to try a variety of different art techniques which led them to create a an individual tree. Trees were used to represent people placing down new roots growing, developing, nurturing, and sharing the same space. Trees have many symbolic and metaphorical meanings. All trees are different and as individual as each person. The roots of trees take a long time to grow and become strong as does a new community, but with care and nurturing, strong new communities can be formed. Through the 8 workshops we introduced different materials, shared stories, individual journeys from Syria to Ireland, music, photos of families, laughter and of course food! Our final celebration session welcomed Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feely, and Cavan Arts Officer Catriona O’Reilly along with Community Volunteer Marion and Cavan arts office staff Annetta and Alysha who helped to drive the project forward. Just a few photos….

Page 10… Line 5…

Our Annual Exhibition is now open!

The inspiration for this year’s exhibition has been drawn from books and more specifically page 10, line 5 from the artists selected book. The artwork may reflect the theme of the book or just one word from the line, which has then been interpreted in the artist’s own creative and unique style.

Check out Bailieborough Library for the opening times

Bailieborough Creative Hub Presents a ‘Summer Showcase’ 2022

Our ‘Summer Showcase was officially opened by John Paul Feeley, Cathaoirleach of Cavan at 1.30pm Sunday 24th July as part of the Bailieborough Midsummer Festival Family Fun Day. Daire O’Reilly Harper Lane Studios Cavan of entertained us with smooth saxophone sounds to get the event off to a summery start.

Our call out for artists to exhibit in our first ‘Summer Showcase’ at the Bailieborough Mid Summer Festival & Town Events. has been fantastic. We had more than 30 talented artists from all over Ireland apply with a wide range of styles. We whittled down the applications to ensure we had a balance of both local artists and the rest of Ireland plus a selection of professionals and those taking their first tentative steps in to the art world.  We hope all the artists will benefit from increased exposure and for the public to experience rich arts offerings. Bailieborough Creative Hub is delighted and proud to be supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The funding has enabled us to curate the exhibition, provide a free ‘Creation Station’ for the festival with creative activities for all ages and a free mini ‘Summer School’ for adults and children to try out different art techniques such as pottery, acrylic painting, textile art with further workshops over the coming weeks. Connecting through art and creative experiences helps people unleash their imagination and participating actively as well as passively in cultural activities is great for well-being too.

Bailieborough Creative Hub is a voluntary community arts group where we encourage everyone to get  creative whatever their level, experience or genre is. With support from Cavan County Council and Cavan Arts we have been offering opportunities for the public to access the arts and arts events since 2019. We created Poetry Town, A Halloween show, art in shop windows, craft markets, a Cruinniu na nOg children’s art programme, and have celebrated local artists in exhibitions for Culture Nights and Heritage weeks and much more check out our Facebook for images of all these events.

 

We hope that our ‘Summer Showcase’ & Mini Summer School will become an annual arts event for Bailieborough.

‘Under Cavan Skies’

Under Cavan Skies

Since February 2020 being a very different and challenging year, we have changed how we develop as a group while still following the appropriate pandemic advice. Hubsters have continued to be inspired by each other and the local area. Our exhibition ‘Under Cavan Skies’ is a selection of work created through the lockdowns. Our wildly diverse talented Hubsters throughout the darkness of the last year flourished and found a beacon of light through their creativity. 

View the exhibition at Bailieborough Library, Co Cavan throughout November, pick up our FREE accompanying book and postcards.

Think it! Create it! Share it!

 

Production Day for Poetry Town

‘It’s a wrap!!!’
A fabulous days filming putting Bailieborough once again in the spotlight for Poetry Ireland / Éigse Éireann Poetry Town event for Culture Night. The Hubsters performed their poetry beautifully despite the showers and the brilliant and talented Dimitry from Jago Studio was amazing and even shot some stunning footage of our town and the surrounding countryside with his drone. We can’t wait to share the videos with you on the run up to Culture Night but for now a few ‘production day snaps’