ArtscapeMinister for Arts John O'Donoghue will have to make do without his adviser, Fiach Mac Conghail, for a while, writes Shane Hegarty. Mac Conghail will spend the next nine weeks touring the US as part of an Eisenhower Scholarship, an award given to 25 "emerging leaders" from around the world.
He'll visit 10 cities to see how cultural policy is formulated and managed, and also take the opportunity to catch various shows and artists.
"It'll be a vocational journey," says Mac Conghail. "But it's also a bit of time out and a chance to take stock. I've never been away for such a length of time, and you tend to think of home a lot more when you're away."
O'Donoghue, Mac Conghail says, has given his "full blessing" to the adventure, even though the cultural programme for Ireland's presidency of the EU is in full swing. The plans are mostly in place anyway, although Mac Conghail admits "there's no good time to go - but in a way this is a perfect time for me to go and learn some new things". He will return for a week around the time of the Day of Welcomes, when festivities throughout the country will mark the arrival of 10 new states into the EU.
Patricia Quinn's recent resignation from the Arts Council will not hinder Mac Conghail's plans as, he says, the Minister has no say as to who will replace her as director. Regarding his own position, Mac Conghail says he will be returning to his part-time role with the department and will stay for as long as O'Donoghue has the brief. He is also involved in film production at the moment, bringing both Paul Mercier's Studs and John Banville's The Book of Evidence to the screen. What's it like being a film producer?
"As scary as it is being an arts adviser."
'Price' tempts Prosky
American actor Robert Prosky, best known from the television series Hill Street Blues, in which he played Sgt Jablonski for more than three years, will take a leading role in Arthur Miller's The Price at the Gate Theatre in May. The play is the story of two brothers, Victor and Walter, who are reunited, after a 16-year estrangement, in the attic of the family residence, to settle the affairs of their recently deceased father.
Prosky, who makes his Irish stage debut in the role of Gregory Solomon, has twice been nominated for Tony awards for his work on Broadway, for Glengarry Glen Ross and A Walk in the Woods. His film credits include Hoffa, Dead Man Walking and The Chamber, as well as TV appearances in Cheers, Frasier and The Practice.
Lorcan Cranitch, Nick Dunning and Ger Ryan complete the cast of The Price, which will open on Tuesday, May 11th, directed by American director Mark Brokaw.
Europeade for Mayo
One week before the EU embraces its new member states, Co Mayo is due to host Europeade, billed as one of Europe's biggest traditional folk art festivals, writes Lorna Siggins. The biennial spring festival will take place in venues throughout the county from April 22nd to 25th as part of the cultural programme of Ireland's EU presidency.
Performers from throughout Europe, along with "supporters and journalists", will attend the Féile Europeade festival and conference, according to its host, Mayo County Council. The Europeade organisation was founded in Antwerp more than 40 years ago to promote unity in diversity through the medium of traditional and folk arts.
The roles of "intangible heritage", new technologies, cultural identity and minority languages are among the themes which will be discussed at the conference.
Musicians and artists from Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Spain, Scotland, Italy and France are expected at the festival, while sean-nós singing, dancing, the Strawboys tradition and "customs relating to life events such as weddings" are promised from the Irish participants. The conference takes place in the Hotel Westport, while festival venues include the Royal Theatre in Castlebar and the Museum of Country Life in Turlough Park, just outside Castlebar.
Mayo County Council is also involving local communities in the event, it says, with "a coming together of Irish and European traditional and folk art in towns and villages such as Achill, Belmullet, Balla, Ballina, Castlebar, Charlestown, Clare Island, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Foxford, Kiltimagh, Newport and Westport". Further information from John Coll of Mayo County Council (tel: 094-24444).
Over the border in Galway, a multi-cultural arts initiative of a different sort is in final rehearsals. Members of the city's refugee and asylum-seeking community, local schools, the Garda Choir and choirs from Catholic, United Methodist and Presbyterian churches are participating in the Agapé Gather Music Project, which had its first, highly successful, outing in the Black Box last year. The Feast of Life, by Marty Haugen, is the title of this year's show, which is described as a "dramatic, energetic and upbeat" spiritual interpretation of St Luke's gospel and the parables. The show opens in the Black Box Theatre, Dyke Road, Galway on March 24th and runs for three nights.
Programmed to dance
The Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland (APDI) is currently accepting applications and bookings for two different but creatively advantageous programmes this spring, writes Christine Madden.
The Cross-Arts Improvisation Sessions, which APDI has been running for several years, are open to performance artists as well as to interested non-professionals who would like to take part in explorations, improvisations and a creative experience not normally available in their own genre. The programme begins this year on April 20th with a Body Weather Laboratory, led by independent dancer, choreographer and director Morleigh Steinberg, which includes sensory exercises for the body using a training method from Japan. Gavin Quinn, artistic director of Pan Pan Theatre Company, will lead the second session, Talking to the Audience, on May 18th. This will give participants the opportunity to experiment with live performance and action. Both sessions run from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. The cost for APDI members is €6 each, or €10 for both sessions; the charge to non-members is €8 for each session.
APDI is also seeking applications for its productive Irish Choreographers' New Works Platform. Now in its 11th year, the platform has facilitated innovative choreographic work, as well as boosting the careers of many young choreographers. Last year, it resulted in the Fringe production Revolutions, and the piece, developed by Lisa McLoughlin, went on to win the Jayne Snow award. French dancer and choreographer Jean-Christophe Paré, a former premier danseur of the Paris Opera Ballet and one of France's most esteemed teachers, will mentor the platform, which for the first time this year runs in two phases. This will give participants an opportunity to leave the studio, step back from their work for a few weeks and consider where to take it. The workshops will run from May 27th to 31st and July 3rd to 11th; the performance showcase of the work brainstormed during the platform will take place on the final day.
Application forms for the platform are available at APDI or can be sent by e-mail. As well as a completed form, applicants must submit details of the choreographic process on which they would like to work during the platform. The deadline for applications is 3 p.m. on March 26th (APDI tel: 01-8730288; e-mail: prodance@iol.ie; website: www.prodanceireland.com).
Irish tenor takes his pick
A young Irish tenor described as a "major talent" has won a prestigious scholarship to a leading school of music in London to study opera, writes Brian McLaughlin. Alan Costigan (26), from Pennywell in Limerick city, moved to London last month to study at the Royal College of Music with the world-renowned tenors and teachers, Prof Ryland Davies, from Wales, and Carlo Bergonzi, from Italy.
Costigan worked for Aer Rianta Catering in Shannon and has been compared to chart-topping English tenor Russell Watson. He was recommendedfor a place at one of England's top music colleges by Robin Martin Oliver, who produces opera in London and Glyndebourne. The young tenor was awarded scholarship places at all the main conservatoires in London, but chose the Royal College over the Guildhall School of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music.
Dr Neil Mackie, head of vocal studies at the Royal College, describes Costigan as "one of the most talented singers I have come across since I assumed my position . . . His potential is enormous and I am sure that in time he will enjoy an operatic career at the highest international level. In short, Alan has been blessed with a glorious tenor voice of considerable substance. I believe he is a major talent".
"The college has offered an operatic scholarship which covers all tuition fees. Now Alan has the task of securing sponsorship and funding to help with his maintenance and living costs in London, " he added.
Costigan took part in masterclasses in Dublin and Limerick, organised by Opera Ireland. He has performed at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin and the University Concert Hall, Limerick, and made a Christmas broadcast for Lyric fm.
Cross-Border partnership
Smashing Times Theatre Company and Queen's University Belfast have formed a partnership to create a new programme, Creative Training in Community Drama, which provides participants with the opportunity to acquire a certificate in community drama. The programme, funded by the EU Peace II Programme and partly financed by the UK and Irish governments, brings together 20 participants from both sides of the Border and from the two traditions in Northern Ireland.
Running from January to June this year, it is taking place over nine residential weekends in Belfast, Dublin and counties Monaghan, Down and Tyrone. According to the organisers, "the aim of the programme is to support the ongoing development and sustainability of community drama groups and to develop the use of drama to address conflict resolution, peace-building and reconciliation".
Further information from Freda Manweiler, Smashing Times Theatre Company, Coleraine House, Coleraine Street, Dublin 7 (tel: 01-8656613; e-mail: smashingtimes@eircom.net; website: www.smashingtimes.ie).