Armagh is gearing up for a major creative initiative that offers local people a chance to get involved in the development of a new series of public artworks for the city centre.
Throughout February and March 2019, the Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre will host a lively programme of FREE hands-on creative workshops, illustrated talks, town tours and research sessions led by the artists Kevin Killen, Robert Peters, Deborah Malcomson and writer Byddie Lee.
The programme launches on Thursday 31st January at 2pm with the opening of a pop-up exhibition presenting information about this live project and showcasing the work produced so far by local community groups.
Lead artist on the project Kevin Killen has been researching and exploring the hidden stories of Armagh’s smaller streets and alleyways, such as McCrum’s Court, Jenny’s Row and ‘The Back Looter’. The Alleyways programme of events and workshops at the Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre offers a host of opportunities for more people to get involved, be creative, meet the artist and take part in this exciting new collaborative art project.
Kicking off on Saturday 2nd February with a captivating tour of the city, the programme offers creative activities for all ages – from ‘Doodle Den’ drop-in sessions for families, through to a ‘Flash Fiction’ event and sculpture workshops catering for all abilities.
Creative collaborations unearth hidden stories of the city
The workshop programme runs each Friday and Saturday at the Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre throughout February and concludes on Saturday 9th March with artist Deborah Malcomson offering families a fun afternoon of exploring line, colour and Armagh City. The full events list and registration information can be found at: http://connectedproject.eventbrite.com
Alleyways is part of the Connected project, an ambitious new collaborative cultural programming initiative being delivered across the borough of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon and co-funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Local Government Challenge Fund. The Connected programme represents a new investment of £260,000 in the arts across the borough.
Community Arts Development Officer with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Louise Rice, who is leading the project said: “This project offers a unique opportunity to join one of Northern Ireland’s leading visual artists, Kevin Killen, on a creative journey that explores the lesser known stories and spaces of Armagh city. It is exciting to see how his creative vision for Armagh’s alleyways is developing in response to his interactions with local people. We are very grateful to all of the local community groups who been involved so far. Their positive energy, openness, creativity and hard work is making this a very special project.
“Through the upcoming creative programme and exhibition at the Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, we’re hoping to widen opportunities for people to engage in the project, be inspired and contribute to the future vision for public spaces in the city.”
To find out more about Alleyways Connected, log on to alleywaysconnected.com and check out the project’s Facebook page at facebook.com/AlleywaysConnected
For registration and booking information log on connectedproject.eventbrite.com. Spaces are free but please do book early to avoid disappointment.
Alleyways Connected
Alleyways is a public art project where collaboration with the local community comes first. The location for the artworks is the minor streets and alleyways of Armagh city centre. The artist chosen to lead this socially engaged project is Kevin Killen, an experienced maker of public art. He will be collaborating closely with locals – through talks, town tours, studio visits, research sessions, workshops and a pop-up exhibition.
Kevin Killen
Based in Northern Ireland, Kevin Killen’s creative practice focuses on site-specific neon installations and large-scale public artworks. He also has extensive experience of working in a range of community settings on creative projects. Born in 1977 in Belfast, he graduated from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College in 1999 and completed further specialist training in neon making in Dallas, Texas in 2009. He began working with Armagh residents in September 2018, finding out about the lesser-known histories of the narrow streets and alleyways in the centre of the city, and meeting many of the people who live and work there. In addition to exhibiting at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge, in 2015, he created a large-scale neon installation for The Argory which can be viewed up to May 2019.
Community Partners
Local community organisations engaged as part of the Alleyways Connected project include:
Armagh Men’s Shed is a community based, non-commercial organisation where the focus is on the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive social environment. They have been meeting with artist Kevin Killen to explore the history of the alleyways, recount their memories and create some sculptural artworks.
Armagh Art Club is a group of talented amateur artists who meet every other week to share their love of painting and drawing. They have been learning skills in drypoint printmaking facilitated by Robert Peters, the Artistic Coordinator of the Alleyways project.
Include Youth support the employability and personal development of young people aged 16+. Participants have been working with Robert Peters and Kevin Killen exploring text, place and identity through drawing and sculpture.
The Epicentre is a youth centre based in Armagh for young people aged 8-25. They have been working with Robert Peters and Kevin Killen in a five-week workshop programme exploring how they navigate around Armagh and map their journeys in digital media.
A group of students from Southern Regional College, led by their tutor Shirley Smylie, and ceramicist Rebecca Killen are learning skills in responding to a design brief. The students are creating limited edition multiples in response to the Alleyways public art brief. Kevin has been to visit the college to give an overview of his practice and describe how he responds to artist briefs for public artwork.
Armagh Writers are creating fiction inspired by Armagh’s alleyways as part of the project. Supported in editing their stories by writer Martelle McPartland, they are selecting single words, phrases or sentences to construct in metal with the help of artist Kevin Killen.
REACT is a community organisation based in Armagh City, with a focused approach on addressing community need through reconciliation and community relations work, education, youth development and training. They are learning drypoint printmaking with Robert Peters whilst local writer Byddi Lee is encouraging the group to reminisce about earlier times in Armagh and their relationship to the alleyways.