Cosy Cultural Vibe in a Beautiful Seaside Village
This coming bank holiday weekend, 3-6 May, the Antrim Coast village of Cushendun would like to welcome you to its first ever Big Arts Weekend.
The four-day celebration, including a jazz night, choral concert, drama, poetry, exhibitions and hands-on workshops, is being organised by Cushendun Building Preservation Trust to mark a milestone in the Cushendun Old Church project. The programme has something for everyone and many of the events are free.
The Big Arts Weekend will not only celebrate the signing of a lease on the disused Cushendun Old Church but will also give a taste of what may be on offer there when the 170-year-old building is restored as an arts and community space. The weekend will bring visiting performers and artists to the village and will also showcase local talent.
The Old Church itself will be open and hosting the ‘Swallows Make a Summer’ art installation. Other events are being held in a range of cosy village venues including the local school and pub, as well as the National Trust owned Glenmona House, exceptionally open to the public for an exhibition of paintings. All the performance venues are small, so for the three ticketed events – jazz with the Victoria Geelan Trio, a drama double bill with An Grianán Theatre and Lurig Players, and Voices Chamber Choir – early booking is essential. To see the full Big Arts Weekend programme and to book tickets online, visit www.cushendunbpt.org.
In 2006, thanks to huge support locally and further afield, Cushendun Old Church won the Northern Ireland heat in BBC2’s Restoration Village. Since then, much essential behind-the-scenes work and negotiation has taken place and the lease was finally signed in December 2012. The Big Arts Weekend promises to recapture the enthusiasm for turning the dream into reality.
CBPT Chair Monica Morgan said: ‘We are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for supporting the Arts Weekend and also to Cushendun and District Development Association and Moyle District Council.’
Full Big Arts Weekend programme follows.
For more information call the Big Arts Weekend team on 07879543090 or e-mail info@cushendunbpt.org.
Tickets are available online at www.cushendunbpt.org or from Theresa’s Tearoom, Cushendun
or Cushendall Development Office.
CUSHENDUN’S ‘BIG ARTS WEEKEND’ 3rd to 6th May 2013 – PROGRAMME
FRIDAY 3rd Jazz at McBrides with the Victoria Geelan Trio, Mary McBrides 8.30pm Tickets £5 ✷
SATURDAY 4th Music Workshop for 11-18 year olds, Glenmona House, 10am-1pm FREE ✷ Share a Poem, Randal’s 2pm FREE ✷ On the Camel’s Hump by Guy Le Jeune, A ‘Sense of Memory’ project produced by An Grainán Theatre, and The Duck Variations by David Mamet performed by Lurig Drama Group, St Ciaran’s School, Knocknacarry 8pm Tickets £5 ✷ Exhibition: Swallows Make a Summer, the Old Church 4th-6th May 12-5pm FREE ✷ Exhibition of work by local artists, Glenmona House 4th-6th May 12-5pm FREE ✷
SUNDAY 5th Sand Sculpture Competition – Registration riverside carpark from 1.45pm Prizegiving 4.15pm FREE ✷ Mermaids and Pirates Craft Workshop for age 3+, Glenmona House 2-5pm FREE ✷ Music for a May Evening – Choral music performed by Voices Chamber Choir directed by Loreto McAuley, St Patrick’s Church 7.30pm Tickets £3 ✷
MONDAY 6th Unveiling of the Fuldiew Seat, riverside carpark 2pm FREE ✷ Vintage films The Devil’s Rock + Earlybird, Randal’s 4pm
TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO www.cushendunbpt.org.
Alternatively, why not like us on facebook – Cushendun’s ‘Big Arts Weekend’ 3rd to 6th May 2013 – where details of all events and activities are available.