BE PART OF THE ART - WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL 2010!

Issued 30th March 2010

Wicklow Town's riverside is set to come alive this May with news that the 7th annual Wicklow Arts Festival, from the 27th to the 30th May, is to include an Artisan Market and outdoor entertainment tent at Bachelors Walk in the heart of the town. The market area will feature a craft expo with demonstrations of heritage skills as well as a stage area for music and dance.

This year's festival is planned to be the largest yet and the voluntary committee are thrilled with the acts that have been planned for the event. A mixture of diverse and popular arts will ensure a programme that will have something for everyone, so get involved and be part of the art.

In a wonderful opportunity for local music lovers one of Ireland's leading sopranos, Mairead Buicke, will perform with the Degani Ensemble at the Church of Ireland on 30th May. Mairead Buicke has performed with great success all over the world and her appearance at this year's festival, in association with Music Network, illustrates the growing reputation of the Wicklow Arts Festival. County Wicklow's own classical professionals will also be showcased in a specially devised concert for organ and harp taking place in the serene setting of the Dominican Convent Chapel. With music, song and spoken word, this is another show not to be missed.

Providing the laughs this year, thought provoking comedian Abie Philbin Bowman will bring his latest hit show "Eco Friendly Jihad" to Wicklow. The show, which will be touring to the Brighton Fringe and Hollywood Fringe Festivals, will come to Wicklow on Friday 28th May for one performance only.

Once again the hugely popular Arts Trail takes place throughout Wicklow Town with a remarkable amount of interest already from artists based all over Ireland to show pieces in the windows of Wicklow's business community.

Chairperson Geoff Kane said "The Arts Trail is by far one of the most popular of our annual events and I have been impressed this year at the quantity of artists mailing the festival looking for the opportunity to exhibit." As well as the outdoor display of paintings and photographs at the Art on the Railings, the festival's solo exhibition will run again at Tinakilly House Hotel, this year with Aughrim based artist Eoin O'Connor.

Eoin's work is much sought after at home and abroad and following the exhibition launch on Sunday 30th May, the show will run for a further seven days giving everyone the chance to drop in to the elegant surroundings of Tinakilly House to browse or buy.

Not forgetting Wicklow's up and coming talent, art projects and design competitions are currently being run in both the primary and secondary schools which will result in displays and exhibitions during the festival of all the fantastic artworks produced by students.

Family entertainment will be ongoing over the four festive days to include a workshop with RTE artist and environmentalist Don Conroy, a puppet show and literary events plus our Bealtaine events will be celebrating creativity in older people with film, music and poetry on offer. The art of food will also be featured this year with a demonstration by celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio using local seasonal food on 27th May.