Midland Arts

 
 

 

Mission Statement

"Midland Arts Education Programmes aim to help all our students and mentors, beginners and professionals, to move into a different space, a space where different rules apply; rules of rhythm, colour, line, form, movement, melody and harmony. In such a space, learners will feel free to 'imagine' what they can 'create' and find new ways of experiencing the Arts in engagement with their communities, neighbours and society."

Since 1980 Westmeath VEC has sponsored a Midland Arts Education Programme. The programme is funded through the Further Education Section of the Department of Education and Science. The Arts Education Officer, Shane Brennan, develops, oversees and monitors a range of Arts Education Programmes throughout the five counties of Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon and Laois. 

Many of these are projects designed to enhance and enable access to the Arts for people suffering various forms of disadvantage.

Recent Arts Education Projects

Project 'Re-vision' for example (celebrating diversity through Photography) was funded through the EU Socrates programme and offered a forum for the sharing of images on the web between selected groups in six European Countries, Ireland, Romania, Finland, Turkey and the UK.

Project 'TAPE (Transgenerational Arts/Cultural Platform in Education www.tapeeurope.org ) 2008-2010 helped a group of ex-miners and interested younger people in Co. Roscommon to share life and arts experiences with each other, guided by professional artists and musicians. This project also involved intergenerational groups in Lithuania, Sicily, Estonia, Turkey and Poland. 

Visual Arts Provision

The 'Atelier', emerging-artists programme, begun in 2009, uses a work experience model and offers young artists the experience of intensive immersion in the world of the professional artist: Alternating engagement with their own work and the work of the professional host artist, students learn to cope with issues of discipline and  loneliness, while exploring the atelier journeyman model of skill acquisition. The teaching sructure involves: a) Elements of making a painting  b) Drawing and measurement c) Colour theory/seeing colour/tonal relationships, using the vehicle of still life d) developing compositional relationships between objects e) Developing visual impact and working with oil paint. This week long programme is offered at Midland Arts, Kinnegad and at other Midland Centes.

Visual Arts workshops available for groups on request include:-

Specialised Art Courses

Spring/Summer 2012

April 21 & 22 - Light, Colour and Texture on a Watercolour Beach Scene €120.00

May 5th & 6th - Landscape Panoramic Views Oil/Acrylic €120.00

May 26 & 27th Impressionistic Flowers in Watercolour €120.00

June 9th & 10th Mountainous Landscape/Beach Subjects Oil/Acrylic €120.00

June 23rd& 24th Pathways & Waterways Oil/Acrylic €120.00

Feb 20th - 24th ‘Atelier’ project Moyne Community College

 

March Thursday (Afternoons) 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th - General Course - Acrylic

Theme: Light & Colour - Time: 1.30 - 5.30 p.m.- Fee €100.00

 

April 10th, 11th & 12th ‘Atelier’ workshops Longford

 

July 7 & 8th , 16th and 18th ‘Atelier’ Weekend Courses for adult and younger artists focusing on Traditional

Painting Techniques relating to Coastal Landscape Subjects - Acrylic - - Fee €100

 

NEW Photography Courses

Introductory Digital Photography Course 2012
Saturday mornings 1030-1300
March 31st and April 14th
Fee: POA

Get the most out of your digital camera by learning the basic principles of photography, understanding how to get the correct exposure using manual and automatic controls. Learn about shooting portraits and landscapes and how to edit your digital imagery to show them to their best advantage either online or in print. Students will learn tricks and tips necessary to improve their travel, candid, landscape or action shots. Course will cover: Framing, Lighting, Exposure control, Focus, and basic special effect techniques. 
Participants will need to have access to a camera for the duration of the course, one that has manual controls is recommended but not essential. 
Intermediate Digital Photography Course. 2011
Saturday Afternoons 1400-1630
March 31st and April 14th
Fee: POA
This course is designed for photography enthusiasts who wish to expand their skills. The course will feature an in-depth look at exposure using manual controls and compositional techniques.   Encouraging a creative approach that is grounded in thorough technical understanding over the duration of the course participants will build up a portfolio of images and be encouraged to expand their skills through projects and field trips. We will also explore the potential offered by image-processing software such as Photoshop.
Participants will need to have access to a DSLR camera for the duration of the course.
Participants will need to have access to a camera with Manual controls for the duration of the course. Your Camera can be either SLR or Point and shoot, however, we highly recommend SLRs as they have a greater range of options. 


Portfolio Preparation Courses

Further courses will be available in 2012
Subsidised Cost for the course
200 Euros. Spaces will be limited to 10 persons

Course Tutor
The course tutor will be Geraldine O’Reilly who is a practicing artist as well as an experienced art teacher. For 10 years she worked as course tutor at Ballyfermot College of Further Education on their one year course in Art, Design and Portfolio   She has worked as lecturer in Fine Art at the National College of Art and Design and tutor in painting, drawing and printmaking in the Education Dept, National College of Art and Design.

Duration
The course will enable the student to develop drawing and observational skills and to explore creativity and personal expression through a range of creative processes including, painting and drawing and mixed media. Some printmaking will also be included.

Students will be helped to develop a personal project and to explore ideas and make their portfolio suitable for third level requirements. All the projects will be broad enough to allow students to develop a portfolio suitable to their particular interests – Fine Art, Design, Fashion, Animation etc.

Course Content
Drawing and Painting covering colour, texture, tone and form using a variety of media such as paint, pencil, charcoal, ink, pastel.
Developing an ideas notebook
Printmaking – exploring basic printmaking and developing a series of finished prints.
Developing a personal dimension to the artwork.
Apart from the actual teaching the tutor will also advise and mentor each student through individual tutorial sessions.

For further information or to enrol phone 087-9231106

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Music Provision:

Westmeath County Music Scheme, which has been running successfully for 30 years, providing quality instrumental tuition for all age-groups, is now being developed and expanded imaginatively through several new music education initiatives.

One of these is the 'Kindermusik Outreach Programme' which is a collaborative venture between the VECs and County Council Arts Offices of Westmeath and Offaly. This programme aims to introduce adult guardians together with their 'little ones' to the world of music and music literacy. This has been running successfully now for three years in over 12 centres and is set to become an important foundation in the development of future regional and local music education networks

Other music initiatives come collectively under the 'Musicmakers Outreach Programme' where emphasis is placed on  'Group Instrumental Tuition' at various schools and centres in the region. Group tuition (generally four students per hour) is available at Kinnegad and other centres in Trumpet/Trombone/Flute/Piano/Classical and General Guitar/Violin/Viola/Cello and Double Bass. The long-term aim is to develop templates for greater community participation in music making and the performing arts and to increase the involvement of young people and adults in accessible Community Music Programmes, as well as choirs, ensembles and orchestras of excellence. A new Orchestra - LIR Youth Orchestra was formed (January 2004) at Midland Arts and 2006 saw the formation of the first Midland Youth Orchestra with an inaugural Summer-school at Mullingar Community College and a debut performance at the Cathedral of Christ the King Mullingar in September 2006. The orchestra has continued to expand its membership and repertoire and has now peformed twice at the NCH, Dublin and the Whitla Hall Belfast, as well as hosting a week long visit of the Jugend Sinfonie Orchester, Bremen in summer 2008. The MYO in turn made a very rewarding return visit to Germany Summer 2009, where the two orchestras once again worked and played together. It is hoped in the future to form a resident professional Midland Chamber Orchestra which will have a teaching remit in addition to providing regular performances in the region. 

 

New Music Technology Workshops

Two introductory full day workshops, February 11th and 18th.  

Through practical demonstration and hands on work, participants will learn the steps involved in setting up a home studio for recording and producing their own music. Course covers:- equipment and technology used in music production, understanding of the basics of acoustics, introduction to recording and editing audio, sequencing and midi programming, digital effects and how to use them. Participants will also explore the types of equipment needed for producing different styles of music.


Shane Brennan, Arts Education Officer,
Midland Arts,
Old National School,
Kinnegad,
Co. Westmeath
Tel:  044 9379040  Mob:  086 1734626
Fax: 044 9379040
E-Mail: midlandarts@westmeathvec.ie


Ongoing Courses & Workshops available at Midland Arts, Old National School, Kinnegad

Course/Event Name

Date

  Location Description
Hip Hop Dance Friday 1600 - 2000

Old National School

Now moved to St Finians Hall, Kinnegad

 Locking/ popping/ moonwalking, all the techniques of real Hip Hop are brilliantly imparted by Aidean Byrne Contact: 0857040870
Wood Sculpture

Monday Mornings Spring and Autumn

 Old National School, Kinnegad With expert Sculptor, Paradazi Havatitye, this class which specialises in very fine bog-oak sculpture, runs for three hours (1000-1300) and its work is regularly exhibited here and in other settings. Contact 0872905277
Irish Set Dancing Ongoing every Thursday 7-10 Old National School Kinnegad A really fun night out for all ages where Jim Monaghan will lead the group.
Life Drawing

Spring and Autumn Full Day Workshops, Every Other Friday

 Old National School Kinnegad A practical introduction to the techniques and aesthetics of drawing the human form. The centre will provide professional male and female models. Contact 0449348887
Lir Youth Orchestra and Group Instrumental Tuition

Orchestras Mon /Thur

1715-1845

Old National School, Kinnegad

and other centres

Formed in 2004,  this youthful string ensemble goes from strength to strength. Under the direction of Vincent Hunt our head of strings, several concerts are are planned each year. Auditions for new members and for the Midland Youth Orchestra can be easily arranged by contacting Midland Arts or by directly contacting the Director  of both orchestras, Vincent Hunt on  086/8264007

Group Tuition (four students per hour) is available at very reasonable rates in Flute/Piano/Guitar/Trumpet and other Brass instruments and in all the orchestral stringed instruments.