1. Art and Diseño

Down Arts
Season
Programme
January –
April 2015
INSIDE:
Hound of the Baskervilles
‘Space, Time & Butterflies’ Exhibition
Millinery Workshop
Delivering
for Down
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Welcome
BRILLIANT/ILLUMINATING
/ENTERTAINING/CREATIVE/
EVOCATIVE/MEMORABLE/
ENGAGING/EXCITING/FUNNY
/MOVING/REWARDING/DOWN
ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME
Workshops & Classes
Kids Workshops & Classes
Page 21
Page 31
Exhibition
Page 16
Performance
Page 04
A Down Arts Centre Event
Information
We have designed our programme to be as easy
to use as possible. Please see the keys which
explain the sections and the guidance icons which
may apply to the event within the programme.
Down Arts Centre
2–6 Irish Street
Downpatrick BT30 6BP
[email protected]
www.downartscentre.com
Booking
FREE Event
028 4461 0747
Strong Language
Very Strong Language
Sexual Content
Suggested Minimum Age
Suggested Age Range
Guidance
TO BOOK CALL:
Throughout the programme we have placed
coloured rectangles directing you towards the box
office telephone number. Alternatively you can visit
our website for more information.
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Welcome
HIRE A SPACE IN YOUR ARTS CENTRE
Situated in the beautiful, Victorian Old Town Hall in the centre of Downpatrick,
Down Arts Centre offers a unique range of spaces to hire, including a multi-function
auditorium, modern gallery space, studio/bar and larger meeting and workshop rooms.
We can accommodate bookings from small, cosy meetings to conferences for up to
160 people; spaces for birthday parties, performances, workshops, classes, launches
and lectures. We have hi-spec technical equipment in our auditorium which provides
superb lighting and sound. The entire building is accessible for those with mobility
issues and we can provide a loop system on request.
A special discount rate is available for arts and voluntary organisations and activities.
For further information on rates, availability or to arrange
to see our facilities, please contact Donna Rogan on 028 4461 0747
or email [email protected]
02 – 03
Performance
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
Heroin
HEROIN is the story you were never told about the new republic, of the
person you never saw, of what you built and then demolished.
DATE:
Saturday
31 January
It’s the big one, the bad one, the one you never thought you’d try.
It’s everything that ever happened to us, the words that were never
spoken and how the ones we voted for, kicked us in the teeth.
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
THEATREclub’s award winning show is an explosion of the social history
of Heroin in Ireland over the last forty years. HEROIN is a radical staging
of how we got here, and how much we care.
Created in 2010, HEROIN has toured around Ireland & Europe and
now it’s coming to you. Director, Grace Dyas will be working in
Downpatrick before the show to ‘Design the Audience’ for the
production. Get in touch on [email protected] if you have a group
who you would like to bring.
DURATION:
90 minutes (no interval)
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
Presented by:
THEATREclub
GUIDANCE:
16+
or accompanied
by a parent or
group leader
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Dirty Dancin
in le Shebeen
“That which is clearly known hath
less terror than that which is
but hinted at and guessed.” The
Legend of the Baskerville Hound.
See Sherlock Holmes, in the
classic adventure as Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle intended: in the
imagination! In their inimitable
style, Wireless Mystery Theatre
turns the immortal mystery into
a live old-time radio broadcast.
DATE:
Sunday
1 February
This special new adaptation
uses music and sound effects,
period commercials and
audience participation to
create a rollicking caper full of
retro charm, high energy, and
dark, gothic fun. Part Benedict
Cumberbatch part Robert Downey
Junior, all Sherlock Holmes.
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
90 minutes + interval
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
PRESENTED BY:
WMT On the Air
The loveable Maggie Muff is
back with a bang in the highly
anticipated sequel to 50 Shades
of Red White and Blue. Maggie
and her buck-eejit sidekick,
Big Sally-Ann, are planning a
birthday party in the Shebeen.
Big Sally-Ann’s dream is to
dance to the last dance from
Dirty Dancing at the party but
when plans go drastically awry,
it’s Maggie to the rescue.
Join Maggie and chums for tales
of a front wedgie, being caughtshort in Zumba, and a friendship
that’s tested to the limit.
DATE:
Friday
6 February
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
2 hours + interval
PRICE:
£17
VENUE:
The Great Hall,
Downshire Estate
PRESENTED BY:
GUIDANCE:
16+
facebook.com/wirelessmysterytheatre
wirelessmysterytheatre.com 04 – 05
Performance
Hound of
the Baskervilles
Performance
Performance
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
Duke Special
Those who know Duke Special for the platinum album 'Songs From
The Deep Forest' and the hit song 'Freewheel' may be surprised by the
breadth of his work.
His journey so far has seen him taking on projects as diverse as writing
the theme tune for the Irish Sesame Street to writing the music for and
appearing in Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children at London’s
National Theatre; from presenting a documentary on the life and times of
Ruby Murray to being commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in
New York to write a series of original songs for an exhibition.
In his 2015 tour, Duke will unveil for the first time some of the
material from his new album.
"It’s impossible to fault Duke Special"
EVENING STANDARD
DATE:
Saturday
7 February
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
PRICE:
£14 / £12 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
DMF Music Ltd
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Dublin’s drollest diva
performs her spanking new
songs in a rollercoaster of
styles from hip-hop to pop, jazz
to country, French ballad to
blue-grass and gospel, finishing
with a moving rock anthem that
will make you feel as if you can
change the world.
Accompanied by renowned
pianist Cian Boylan, don’t miss
this hot, chic chanteuse with
a zippy line in laughs. Voilà la
Charlatanne!
@karenegandiva
facebook.com/karenegandiva
karenegan.com
Simon & Garfunkel –
Through The Years
DATE:
Saturday
14 February
Written and performed
by Bookends.
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
Bookends return to Down Arts
Centre following a sell out
run at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival. Receiving 4 stars from
Broadway Baby the show sees
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
give their personal accounts of
their rise to fame. Bookends
perform as no other Simon &
Garfunkel act can, with just a
single guitar and two voices.
Hear hits like Mrs Robinson,
Homeward Bound, Bridge Over
Troubled Water and The Boxer in
this ‘must see’ show.
DURATION:
90 minutes + interval
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Madeleine
Seiler Agency
DATE:
Sunday
22 February
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
90 minutes + interval
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Bookends
"Closing your eyes that could
really be Simon and Garfunkel."
BBC Radio Nottingham
06 – 07
Performance
Karen Egan –
‘Charlatanne’
Performance
Performance
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
Quartet for 15 Chairs
Mischievous Musical Chairs
Four dancers are joined by a cast
of 15 chairs in a riotous game
of musical movement. Let your
imagination run riot in response
to their mischievous antics and
be encouraged along the way
with music from Bach and award
winning composer Brian Irvine.
Created by Enrique Cabrera, a
choreographer internationally
renowned for his surreal and
playful dance productions.
"It was amazing - visually
exciting, fast music to keep pace
with the dancing and comedy!"
Audience Member, Belfast
Children’s Festival
DATE:
Tuesday
24 February
TIME:
10am & 12pm
DURATION:
25 minutes
PRICE:
£5 adult / £4 child
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Maiden Voyage Dance
GUIDANCE:
3+
@MaidenVoyageNI
facebook.com/MaidenVoyageDanceCompany
maidenvoyagedance.com
Baby It’s Cold Outside
The hilarious new comedy from
award-winning playwright,
Brenda Murphy.
Pregnant Patsy from West
Belfast heads to an isolated
cottage on the snow-trapped
Black Mountain to have her
baby, with the support of two
friends. However, when Patsy’s
ex-boyfriend and baby’s father
Joe arrives on the scene to
try and win her back, Patsy
announces that she’s in love
with a woman.
Packed full of Belfast
humour and a bizarre love
triangle, this show will have
you rolling in the aisles.
gblproductions.com
DATE:
Friday 27 February &
Saturday 28 February
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
2 hours + interval
PRICE:
£15
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
GBL Productions
GUIDANCE:
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Legends of Irish music and
song, The FUREYS, renowned
for hit songs, I Will Love You,
Sweet 16, The Green Fields of
France, and Steal Away amongst
others, have been entertaining
audiences worldwide for 36 years.
Audiences have included former
Australian Prime Minister John
Howard, former Irish President
Mary McAleese and recently Irish
President Michael D. Higgins.
Responsible for some of the
most stirring music ever to
capture the public imagination,
A Fureys concert is always a night
to remember.
DATE:
Friday 6 March
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
2 hours + interval
PRICE:
£20
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Joe McCadden
Management
Neil Delamere: The
Fresh Prince of Delamere
Neil returns to DAC with
a brand new show, chock
full of tales of mischief and
mayhem. 2014 saw the awardwinning comedian undertake
an exciting new 4-part
documentary series for RTE2,
Holding Out for a Hero, which
airs in the Autumn.
Now, however, Neil is back to
what he does best, casting
an acerbic eye over his recent
adventures. Includes free
life tips such as how not to
deliver a letter and appropriate
machine gun usage.
DATE:
Sunday
8 March
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
2 hours + interval
PRICE:
£18 / £15 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Lisa Richards Agency
GUIDANCE:
16+
08 – 09
Performance
The Fureys
Performance
Performance
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
Stitched Up
By Rosemary Jenkins
"We do not have a situation
that is a crisis in emergency
departments across Northern
Ireland." Edwin Poots.
Stitched Up is an entertaining,
satirical drama about the
current crisis within the NHS.
A surgeon, Aidan, is reaching
meltdown with his career.
His wife, Kate, is meanwhile
preoccupied with her own
campaign to remove the peace
walls around Belfast, not to
mention the arrival of Bono!
But one night, when Aidan is
alone, he is forced to make
a life-or-death decision that
could change everything.
facebook.com/C21TheatreCompany
DATE:
Saturday
14 March
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
80 minutes (no interval)
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
c21 Theatre Company
GUIDANCE:
16+
Jake O’Kane’s
TONGUE-LASHING
Following the successes of his
earlier Teargas and Mouthful
tours, Jake is back with a
ferociously irreverent review of
Northern Ireland in 2014.
Having created one of the
most talked about comedy
moments when dealing with
the flags issue, Jake now turns
his satirical eye on the local
issues, events and characters
that made the headlines over
the past twelve months. Turning
his attention to everything that
makes Northern Ireland unique,
Jake’s new show is the perfect
antidote to the year that’s been.
DATE:
Monday
16 March
TIME:
8pm (bar available
from 7pm)
DURATION:
2 hours + interval
PRICE:
£16 / £14 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
David Hull
Promotions
GUIDANCE:
16+
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Conceived and directed by
Andrea Montgomery.
From the company that
brought you last year’s
acclaimed production Arrivals,
about the lives of immigrants
to Northern Ireland, the story
continues with Arrivals 2, all
about their children.
Join us for a night of tasty
‘theatre tapas’ that will leave
you entertained, amused,
moved and thoughtful.
Five plays, featuring four
actors, by five of Northern
Ireland’s most exciting local
writers, all in one great night
of theatre.
terranovaproductions.net
Celtic Soul
DATE:
Sunday
22 March
TIME:
3pm
DURATION:
2 hours + interval
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Terra Nova Productions,
with support from
Accidental Theatre
Performance
Arrivals 2
Performance
Celtic Soul returns to the
heart of Down to pay homage
to one of the truly great singer/
songwriters of all time - our
very own Van Morrison.
DATE:
Saturday
28 March
Highly acclaimed by devout Van
fans wherever they perform,
this 7-piece band performs
favourite hits and classic album
tracks in a packed show.
PRICE:
2 hours + interval
Celtic Soul will take you
through the songbook of a
musical legend!
TIME:
8pm
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
GUIDANCE:
14+
facebook.com/celtic-soul
celtic-soul.com
10 – 11
Performance
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
Dalloway
1923: The War is over. While
Clarissa Dalloway prepares a party,
Septimus Smith is diagnosed with
shell-shock, their memories and
dreams magically intertwining with
those of 15 other Londoners, in
Elton Townend Jones’ adaptation
of Virginia Woolf’s classic novel.
Performed by Rebecca Vaughan
(Female Gothic, I, Elizabeth,
Austen’s Women).
“Perfection… Vaughan is
simply sublime in one of the
best shows at the Fringe”
THE HUFFINGTON POST
Steve Amos & Garvin Crawford:
DATE:
Sunday
29 March
TIME:
8pm (bar available from
7pm)
DURATION:
85 minutes
(no interval)
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
Poignant and Tasteless
A musical act comprising
Garvin Crawford (Poignant)
and Steve Amos (Tasteless) two very different singer/
songwriters who bring a
uniquely compelling and
hilarious twist to the issues of
the day. Garvin’s approach is
to explore the human heart.
Steve will happily kick any
subject when it is down and is
not confined by reticence or
good taste.
DATE:
Saturday
11 April
TIME:
8pm
DURATION:
2 hours + interval
PRICE:
£10 / £8 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
GUIDANCE:
“Intelligently adapted,
beautifully performed...
Dalloway is entrancing”
BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
@dyadproductions
facebook.com/DyadProductions
dyadproductions.com
PRESENTED BY:
Dyad Productions
If you like to think, feel and
laugh all at the same time, an
evening in their company will
do the business.
garvincrawford.co.uk
steveamos.info
16+
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
They’ve skewered history, the Bible and the world’s most
celebrated playwright, now the Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles
the subject it was born to reduce. Following a hugely successful,
critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 the
Reduced Shakespeare Company will set out to reduce the UK to tears of
laughter in Spring 2015.
Tickets to The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) are far more
affordable than tickets to an amusement park, but you’ll come away with
the same feeling of nausea and motion sickness.
From the high-brow to the low and everything in-between, the bad
boys of abridgment leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire
history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes.
"This show proves (the Reduced Shakespeare Company)
have not lost their touch - or their remarkable energy."
The Stage
Performance
Reduced Shakespeare Company® in:
The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)
DATE:
Friday
17 April
TIME:
8pm
DURATION:
90 minutes + interval
PRICE:
£14 / £12 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Makin Productions
GUIDANCE:
12+
"Playful and clever. There is an unmistakable
joy in watching the company at work."
The List
12 – 13
Performance
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
Realta
Described by Irish Music Magazine as “A full bodied pipe and
whistle extravaganza”, Belfast based Réalta carries on the Bothy
Band tradition of taking tunes by the scruff of the neck and firing
excitement through them like hot flames!
With a sound based on the twin uilleann piping talents of Conor
Lamb and Aaron O'Hagan, propelled by dynamic accompaniments on
guitar, bouzouki and double bass, Réalta make full use of the intricate
melodies and driving rhythms that make Irish music so loved
throughout the world.
Having toured alongside Altan in Germany, Switzerland and
Greece and won the prestigious Danny Kyle Award at Celtic
Connections Glasgow, these young musicians have earned a
reputation for delighting audiences with the enthusiasm, energy
and passion they bring to traditional music.
"Youthful, energetic, stellar music, from one of Ireland's finest bands!"
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Altan)
realtamusic.com
DATE:
Sunday
26 April
TIME:
8pm
DURATION:
90 minutes + interval
PRICE:
£12 / £10 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Moving on Music
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Performance
We invite budding readers, writers and singers to join us in
celebrating the written word in all its forms. Offering a friendly
space to read, we hope that as before, those gathered will join in by
sharing a piece of their own work, or perhaps a favourite poem.
On 22 February we are delighted to welcome local author,
Damian Smyth to our featured reader spot. Damian was born in
Downpatrick and his five full collections focus on the town and
the surrounding areas. On 26 April members of the ‘Words for Castle Ward’ monthly writing
group, part of the Castle Ward Arts and Craft Initiative, will share
their work with us.
Please join us for what are sure to be entertaining and inspiring
afternoons of words, music and a friendly space to share your work.
Performance
Poems on a Sunday Afternoon
DATE:
Sunday 22 February
& Sunday 26 April
TIME:
2.30pm – 4.30pm
PRICE:
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
PRESENTED BY:
Castle Ward Arts
and Crafts & Down
Arts Centre
[email protected]
14 – 15
Exhibitions
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Exhibitions
Tying Together
‘Lecora Textile Artists’ is a group of 10 women who all share
an interest in contemporary textile art and embroidery.
DATE:
Friday 16 January –
Saturday 7 February
Set up in 2007, the group’s skills range from substantial
experience in traditional crafts to artistic use of design and
machine technology.
TIME:
During Opening Hours
Tying Together explores the theme of Aprons with a wide
range of exhibition pieces demonstrating great individual
expression and creativity. Members’ interests include surface
design, fabric painting, patchwork, quilting, textile decoration,
lace-making, weaving, felting and embroidery.
PRICE:
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
ARTIST:
Lecora Textile Artists
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Exhibitions
Emma Whitehead is a textile artist who incorporates unwanted
watches, discarded jewellery and recycled maps into intricate, silk
and linen hand embroidered pictures. She explores the relationship
we have with the natural world, the detritus of our lives and how it
inhabits the space around us.
A self-taught artist from County Down, Emma holds a regular
open studio in Saintfield. She exhibits in Northern Ireland and
abroad, most recently a solo exhibition in Berlin February 2014, in
conjunction with master weavers Flax Mills Textiles.
Exhibitions
Space, Time & Butterflies
DATE:
Friday 30 January –
Saturday 21 March
TIME:
During Opening Hours
PRICE:
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
(small gallery)
ARTIST:
Emma Whitehead
16 – 17
Exhibitions
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Exhibitions
Life Text
Down Community Arts presents ‘Life Text’. An exhibition
resulting from an intergenerational project whereby groups of
older and younger people have worked together with artists
Charlotte Bosanquet, Larry Cowan, Jill McKeown and Verity Peet.
Groups from across Down District have engaged in a
series of visual art, text based and multimedia workshops
challenging participant’s perceptions of one another and
exploring stories, memories and experiences. The artists
involved have also developed their own artwork in response
to working with the groups.
The Life Text Project is supported through the Arts Council of
Northern Ireland Arts and Older People Fund.
DATE:
Friday 13 February –
Saturday 28 February
TIME:
During Opening Hours
PRICE:
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
ARTIST:
Various
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Exploration of
the Irish Cityscape
Paul Morrison is an emerging Irish artist who lives and works
in Belfast. His work is held both in public and private collections
throughout the world. Most recently he was chosen for a prestigious
commission to paint a Belfast cityscape for the Prime Minister,
David Cameron for his Downing Street offices.
DATE:
Friday 6 March –
Saturday 4 April
Also 100 signed and framed copies have been presented to
executives of investing companies who attended an investment
conference, which was held in Belfast in the aftermath of the
g8 summit.
PRICE:
"I create paintings that are pleasing to the eye somewhat
traditional in their style. My recent body of work focuses mainly
on Irish landscape/cityscape because architecture plays a dominant
role in my work. I have also experimented with different painting
styles which convey emotions and memories of the places that
I have visited."
TIME:
During Opening Hours
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
ARTIST:
Paul Morrison
18 – 19
Exhibitions
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Exhibitions
Lecale
"Coming to Kilclief over 35 years ago, the vision of a
silver strand lit up in some way has never left me. That
same day I went to Saul and looked out over Lecale: this
landscape has been a key element in my modus operandi
ever since. The exhibition features a series of paintings
connected to Lecale, a number of which are focused on
my 97-year-old father-in-law."
Although born in South Wales, and having lived in London for
forty years, Jeffrey now lives in Antrim where he is restoring an
ancient house. His wife, the Belfast writer Patricia Craig, is also
an element in many of the paintings connected to Lecale.
Jeffrey’s work is held in the collection of the Arts Council of
Northern Ireland, the collections of Queen’s University Belfast,
and many other important collections throughout the world.
DATE:
Friday 10 April –
Saturday 2 May
TIME:
During Opening Hours
PRICE:
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
ARTIST:
Jeffrey Morgan
Painting
This well established course
is aimed at both beginners
and those who have some
experience of oil or acrylic
painting. Instruction will be
given in the chosen medium
and the sessions will cover
essentials such as basic
equipment and materials,
getting started, choosing
subject matter, composition,
colour, perspective, still
life and landscape.
A list of materials needed is
available on the website
downartscentre.com
in ‘downloads’.
DATE:
Tuesday 27 &
Thursday 29 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
7pm – 9pm
PRICE:
£50 / £45 concession
VENUE:
Newcastle Centre
TUTOR:
Martin McParland
Workshops & Classes
Intermediate
Dressmaking
This course is aimed at those
who are familiar with using
their own sewing machine and
can therefore thread it up and
wind a bobbin.
DATE:
Tuesday 27 January
for 10 weeks
In the past if you have had
some practice with using
patterns to make your own
clothes this course will help
you develop those skills to
a higher level. All patterns
will be provided and different
techniques will be taught like
how to do buttonholes, insert
zips and use stretchy fabrics.
PRICE:
£65 / £60 concession
TIME:
6.30pm – 9pm
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Naomi Whan
Please bring along your own
sewing machine otherwise
enquire at time of booking
and one maybe available for
you to use.
20 – 21
Workshops & Classes
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Workshops & Classes
Workshops & Classes
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Pottery for
Beginners
These classes are catering to
the pottery novice, or little
experience working in clay.
Experienced potter and
teacher, Alice McDaniel, will
help lead you through this
exciting tactile medium.
Singers’ Circle –
Vagabonds!
DATE:
Tuesday 27 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
10:30am – 12:30pm
or 7pm – 9pm
PRICE:
£60/£55 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Alice McDaniel
Banish the new year blues in song
and meet other people who enjoy
singing as part of a group. This term
will we will be vagabonds - singing
an eclectic mix of songs from pop
and folk to songs from far-off lands.
You don’t have to be able to read
music as all the songs are taught
by ear and many are uploaded to
YouTube to help you practice. The
Singer's Circle has celebrated 10
years and former members as well as
new voices are very welcome.
We are particularly keen to get some
new (or not so new) men to join us!
Members of this class also have
an opportunity to join the Voices
of Lecale community choir (www.
freewebs.com/voicesoflecale) and
perform in the mid-Down area.
‘If you can walk you can dance,
if you can talk you can sing’ –
what are you waiting for?
with tutor Laura Plummer.
lauraplummer.com
DATE:
Wednesday 28 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
7.30pm – 9.30pm
PRICE:
£35 / £30 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Laura Plummer
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Always wanted to write? Need
encouragement to get started
or to continue? Then this is
the course for you! These
workshop-based classes are
designed to support those who
wish to explore and develop
their writing skills. They will
cover topics such as writers’
tools and sources, character
and plot, as well as looking at
a variety of styles including
short stories, scriptwriting
and poetry. Opportunities to
experiment with different types
of writing will be provided to
enable participants to find
and enhance their own writer’s
voice. Whether for fun or with a
view to publication, this course
aims to find ways to unlock
imagination and to develop a
greater awareness of craft.
Silver Jewellery Workshop
DATE:
Wednesday
28 Janaury
for 10 weeks
TIME:
7pm – 9pm
PRICE:
£50 / £45
concession VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Dr Catherine Kelly
Create a unique piece of silver
jewellery in this very popular
class. Each participant will be
taught traditional jewellery
making techniques such as
piercing, soldering, rolling,
annealing and filing.
If you have attended
previous workshops this is
a great opportunity to build
on the skills that you have
already gained.
DATE:
Wednesday
28 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
7pm – 9pm
PRICE:
£80 / £75 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Diane Lyness
Copper sheet provided.
Sterling silver to be purchased
by each participant.
22 – 23
Workshops & Classes
Creative Writing
Workshop
Workshops & Classes
Workshops & Classes
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Workshops & Classes
Painting
This established painting
class offers tutoring in a
range of mediums including oil
painting, acrylic, watercolour,
ink wash and sketch line work.
The class also explores the
basics of colour appreciation
and application.
The class will cater for
all skills, whether you
are a beginner or a more
accomplished painter. A list
of materials needed is on the
website in 'downloads'.
Ossia Guitar
DATE:
Wednesday
28 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
7pm – 9pm
PRICE:
£50 / £45 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Martin McParland
In a relaxed and informal
setting, all students will gain
valuable playing experience
whilst having fun. A perfect
option for all beginner
guitarists seeking a funbased learning programme.
All aspects of guitar playing
will be touched upon, from
basic rhythms to fundamental
finger style.
DATE:
Thursday
29 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
7pm – 8pm (Beginners)
8pm – 9pm (Improvers)
PRICE:
£40 / £35 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Paul McMordie
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Workshops & Classes
This course is aimed at those who have never learnt any dressmaking
skills and those who need help in using a sewing machine. You
will be taught how to read a pattern and understand what all the
symbols mean. Your tutor will provide all of the patterns and you will
experiment with different garments in order to gain the confidence
to be able to make your own clothes. We will be using various
patterns to learn skills like how to insert a zip, bag patterns to learn
how to sew fashion accessories and you will also work on an adult
skirt and blouse pattern.
If you have a sewing machine please bring it with you, otherwise
enquire at time of booking and one maybe available for you to use.
Workshops & Classes
Beginners Dressmaking
DATE:
Thursday
29 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
10.30am – 1pm
PRICE:
£65 / £60 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
24 – 25
Workshops & Classes
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Workshops & Classes
Pottery Class
Join Aine McKenna, Artist
in Residence, and create a
masterpiece in clay, Aine will
show the basic techniques
of hand-building with clay,
applying textures and colour.
Clay, glazes and firing
included, the class is limited
to 8 people, so book early.
Flower Arranging
DATE:
Thursday
29 January
for 10 weeks
TIME:
7pm – 9pm
PRICE:
£80 / £75 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Áine McKenna
Elizabeth Rea leads the class
creating magnificent floral
arrangements that you can
then reproduce at home for
any occasion.
DATE:
Monday 2 February
for 4 weeks
Flowers and materials
supplied the first evening and
guidance on what to buy will
be given for the remaining
three weeks, to ensure you
are creating a personalised
arrangement each week.
PRICE:
£35 / £30 concession
TIME:
7pm – 9pm
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Elizabeth Rea
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
You and your
Sewing Machine
Come along and get up
and running with some
troubleshooting techniques
under your belt.
Sewing machine a must
and the instruction booklet
would be handy too!
Millinery Workshop
DATE:
Saturday 31 January
TIME:
10am – 4pm
PRICE:
£35/ £30 concession
(lunch and materials
included)
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Lynda Kelly
Marie-Claire is a milliner,
based in Strangford. She
trained for a number of years
in England before returning
to Northern Ireland to set up
business creating bespoke hats
and headpieces.
In this workshop she will
teach you a number of basic
millinery skills, such as
blocking bases, trimming and
beading. She will work with
you through the whole creative
process as you make your own
unique headpiece. No sewing
skills required.
DATE:
Saturday 7 February
& Saturday 7 March
TIME:
10am – 4pm
PRICE:
£40 / £35 concession
(lunch and materials
included)
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Marie-Claire Ferguson
26 – 27
One Day Workshops
Join Lynda Kelly and learn
about your machine in this
beginner’s workshop. Put
these new skills to the test
in the afternoon creating a
lined tote bag.
One Day Workshops
One Day Workshops
One Day Workshops
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Silver Jewellery
Workshop
Spend a day of fun in the
workshop and create a linked
silver bracelet.
Each participant will be
taught traditional jewellery
making techniques such as
piercing, soldering, rolling,
annealing and filing, enabling
them to design and make a
beautiful piece of jewellery to
take home.
Glass Fusing
Workshop
DATE:
Saturday 21 February
& Saturday 21 March
TIME:
10am – 4pm
PRICE:
£50 / £45 concession
(materials and lunch
included)
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Diane Lyness
Looking for something
different to do, something
creative and lots of fun?
Come and make a beautiful
glass bowl. Spend the morning
making a stunning decorative
fused glass bowl.
No special artistic talent
is required- you will be
absolutely delighted with
what you are able to achieve.
Why not invite some friends
or family for a thoroughly
enjoyable time together.
DATE:
Saturday
28 February
TIME:
10.30am – 1.30pm
PRICE:
£40/ £35 concession
(materials included)
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Kenny Devon
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
The aims of the class are to
teach the basics of crochet.
This course is suitable for
complete beginners. Your
tutor will offer guidance and
worksheets on various stitch
techniques and shaping.
You will also be
introduced to the fun of
creating the ever popular
granny square method.
DATE:
Saturday 14 March
TIME:
10am – 4pm
PRICE:
£40 / £35 concession
(materials & lunch
included)
Easter Flower Arranging
Create your own festive floral
art arrangements in this one
day workshop with Elizabeth
Rea and learn the basic flower
arranging skills for traditional
and contemporary design.
Suitable for beginners and
those with experience.
DATE:
Saturday 28 March
TIME:
10am – 4pm
PRICE:
£40 / £35 concession
(materials & lunch
included)
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Naomi Whan
TUTOR:
Elizabeth Rea
28 – 29
One Day Workshops
Crochet Workshop
One Day Workshops
One Day Workshops
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
One Day Workshops
Drumming Workshop
Experience the thrill of
making music in a group with
local drummer Aidan Milligan.
No previous musical
experience in needed,
Djembe drums supplied.
DATE:
Saturday 18 April
TIME:
11am – 3pm
PRICE:
£25 / £20 concession
(lunch included)
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Aiden Milligan
Colour Me Beautiful
A really enlightening, fun and
in-depth workshop focusing
on beauty, elegance, style
and confidence. Forget age,
size and shape - learn to
really enhance yourself.
This full-day workshop
will look at Colour - each
participant will be fully tested
with colour fabric swatches
so as they really know what
colours really work for them
both in clothes and make-up.
Plus we will also be looking at
body shapes and which styles
of clothes work best.
Participants are invited to
bring some examples of their
own clothes for discussion.
DATE:
Saturday 25 April
TIME:
10am – 5pm
PRICE:
£45 /£40 concession
(materials &
lunch included)
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Kids Workshops & Classes
Join our Artist in Residence, Aine McKenna to create
sculptural forms, animal pots, explore texture and impressing
in clay, make relief tiles and coil or pinch pots.
TIME:
11am – 12 noon
TIME:
12.30pm – 2pm
PRICE:
£35 / £30
concession
PRICE:
£40 / £35
concession
GUIDANCE:
GUIDANCE:
4–
6yrs
Kids Workshops & Classes
Kids Pottery Class
DATE:
Saturday 31 January
for 8 weeks
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Aíne McKenna
7–
11yrs
30 – 31
Kids Workshops & Classes
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Kids Workshops & Classes
© Du Dance (NI) & Joe Fox
Alpha, Equinox
and Pulse Dance
These are fun dance classes combining a fusion of dance styles
including jazz, hip-hop and contemporary. There are different levels
depending on age. See below for guidelines, if you require more
information contact the box office.
AGE RANGE:
8–
11yrs
AGE RANGE:
12 –
14yrs
AGE RANGE:
15 –
18 yrs
DATE:
Tuesday 27 January
for 10 weeks
DATE:
Tuesday 27 January
for 10 weeks
DATE:
Tuesday for 27 January for10 weeks
TIME:
6pm – 7pm
TIME:
7pm –8pm
TIME:
8pm – 9pm
PRICE:
£30 / £25 concession
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Paula O’ Reilly
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Kids Workshops & Classes
Whether you're an absolute beginner or a more advanced
player, Ossia Music Rock School offers you the opportunity to
learn and improve your skills on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards,
and vocals, from professional musicians and teachers in a friendly
and creative curriculum-based environment.
DATE:
Thursday 29 January
for 8 weeks
You'll learn to play in a band, write an original song, perform in
a rock concert, and record your performance live!
PRICE:
£40 / £35 concession
Kids Workshops & Classes
Rock School
TIME:
4pm – 6pm
VENUE:
Down Arts Centre
TUTOR:
Ossia Music Tutors
AGE RANGE:
11–
15yrs
32 – 33
Your Down Arts Centre
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
DOWN ARTS CENTRE
CRAFT SHOP
Your Down Arts Centre
Down Arts Centre now boasts a craft shop specialising in the best of
craft both regionally and abroad. Artists include Leigh Shepherd, Diane
Lyness, Gill Laverick, Hazel Atkinson and artists from the Craft and Design
Collective. Come in and collect that special gift or just a treat for yourself.
Gail Kelly
Gill Laverick
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
Your Down Arts Centre
ÁIne McKenna/Ceramic Design
CRAFT BUSINESS IN RESIDENCE
Your Down Arts Centre
Following a degree in Fine and Applied Art from the University of Ulster, Áine McKenna
embarked on a Master’s degree in Ceramic Design for manufacture at Staffordshire
University in the heart of The Potteries, Stoke on Trent. During this time Áine gained
a placement with leading tableware manufacturer, Dudson Ltd. Upon graduation Áine
worked for Royal Stafford and Poole pottery specialising in surface pattern.
Áine is now CRAFT BUSINESS IN RESIDENCE at DAC for the next two years
with Craft NI and the Making It programme. She will be working on a number
of innovative product lines, combining the manufactured and the handmade to
create unique and decorative fine art ceramics.
Making It is funded through Invest NI and the
Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The focus of
making it is to enable crafts people to embark
on a career and build their own business.
34 – 35
Important Information
DOWN ARTS SEASON PROGRAMME Winter–Spring 2015
DOWN ARTS CENTRE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION…
Located in the heart of Downpatrick, Down Arts Centre manages the
Season Programme and is the operational base for the Arts in Down
district. Staffed by Down District Council’s Arts Team, the venue produces
a busy programme of events and exhibitions all year round as well as
the annual Performing Arts Summer Schools and the Newcastle Summer
Season entertainment programme.
Information
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 4.30pm
Sunday: open for events as advertised in
the season programme.
Down Arts Centre is open in the evening for classes,
workshops and performances, contact the Box Office
for further information.
Concessions:
Performance and Adult Classes/Workshops:
Concessionary tickets apply to children under 16,
full time students, people over 60, those claiming
unemployment benefit or registered disabled. Proof
of status will be required.
Children’s Classes/Workshops:
Concessionary tickets apply to children who are
registered disabled or whose parents/guardians
are in full time education, over 60, those claiming
unemployment benefit or registered disabled. Proof
of status will be required.
Special Assistance:
Down Arts Centre is wheelchair accessible with
a lift to all levels of the building, low level access
at the box office and allocated wheelchair spaces
in the auditorium.
Disabled patrons can avail of a complimentary ticket
for an escort / Personal Assistant if they require
one. We would request that patrons notify staff
of any special requirements they may have when
purchasing tickets as wheelchair spaces available for
performances will be limited.
Booking Information:
– Tickets for performances may be booked
by telephone by phoning 028 4461 0747 and
in person at Down Arts Centre.
– Tickets cannot be reserved without payment.
– Tickets will be held by the box office and available to pick up before or on the night of the event.
– Should you request posting, a £1 postage and administration fee will be applied.
– Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.
– Latecomers cannot be admitted
– All information is correct at time of print
–Down Arts Centre reserves the right to change or
cancel events or refuse admission.
For full terms and conditions
visit www.downartscentre.com
or contact the Box Office on
028 4461 0747 to request
a hard copy.
L
The Saint Patrick’s Centre
1
2
Down County Museum
Denvir’s Hotel
2
N
1
AL
S T.
SA I
V.
’S A
ICK
R
T
T PA
Down Arts Centre
EM
TH
ISH
ST.
< TO BELFAS T CHURCH
NEW
ENGL
B
R
ID
GE
S
T.
L
LLY
FO
T.
EDW
A RD
S
UL
SA
H S T.
E
AN
S CO T C
Where is Down Arts Centre / Down County Museum
.
ST
< TO
T.
TS
KE
MA
R
H
IS
IR
C AST
LE
FOUNTAIN ST.
S T.
TO
GRE
AT H
ALL
>
There are several pay and display car parks
in the near vicinity (see map) and some
on–street parking nearby.
For times, visit: www.translink.co.uk
If you turn right up English Street and continue
up past Denvir’s Hotel and the Court House, Down
County Museum is on your right hand side.
The Down Arts Centre is a red–brick building with
a clock tower across the road.
Get off the bus at the bus station. Walk toward the
centre of the town, up Market Street. Upon reaching
the T–junction at the top of this street, turn left.
From: Newcastle
The stop for leaving Downpatrick is located directly
opposite where you disembarked.
To get to Down County Museum, cross the road at the
lights directly before Down Arts Centre and continue
up English Street past the Court House. The Museum
is located on the right-hand side of The Mall.
Get off the bus at the stop directly opposite the
church, just past the fire station. Continue walking
toward the town centre until you see a red–brick
building with a clock tower on your left. You have
arrived at Down Arts Centre.
From: Belfast/Ballynahinch/Killyleagh
BY BUS:
St Patrick’s
Festival
Highlights
3 February–31 March
In the Footsteps of St Patrick
This Peace 111 Funded exhibition
display explores local sites,
monuments and archaeological
discoveries linked to the early
missionary work of St Patrick and
his followers.
Venue: The Saint Patrick Centre,
Downpatrick
Time: The Saint Patrick
Centre Opening Hours
Admission: Free
www.saintpatrickscountry.com
Sunday 8 March
Neil Delamere: The Fresh
Prince of Delamere
Neil back to what he does best,
casting an acerbic eye over his recent
adventures, chock full of tales of
mischief and mayhem.
Venue: Down Arts Centre
Time: 8pm (bar from 7pm)
Duration: 2 hours including interval
Admission: £18/£15
Presented by: Lisa Richards Agency
Guidance: Age 16+
Wednesday 11 March
An Evening With Feile
Feile Women’s Singing Group
supported by Rathkelatair School of
Traditional music. Their unique mix of
African, Scottish, pop and folk songs
and their acapella style has earned
them a reputation as a great night
out. Tickets limited to 70 so please
book early!
Venue: Down County Museum
Time: 7.30pm
Admission: £7.50 (includes glass
wine/soft drink)
Friday 13 March
Máirtin O’Connor &
Band in Concert
Martain
One of Ireland’s
most sought after
O’connor
traditional/contemporary Irish bands.
Venue: The Saint Patrick Centre
Time: 7.30pm
Admission: £5 (Pre-booking essential)
Contact: Festival Office –
028 4461 2233
Thursday 12 March
Zoe Conway,
Donal Lunny and
Máirtin O’Connor
Venue: The Great Hall, Downshire
Time: 8pm
Admission: £5 (Pre-booking essential)
Contact: Festival Office –
028 4461 2233
Saturday 14 March
Irish Dance Workshops
Venue: The Saint Patrick Centre
and St Patrick Square
Time: 2pm–4pm
Admission: Free
(Pre-booking essential)
Contact: Festival Office –
028 4461 2233
Friday 13 March
St Patrick’s Week
Conference
Crosses, Millstones and Quarries:
The geology of Early Christian
Down. The conference will include
a number of morning talks, an
afternoon bus tour of local sites and
lunch. Pre-booking essential. Please
bring suitable footwear and raincoat.
Venue: Down County Museum
Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Admission: £20
Saturday 14 March
Stitched Up By Rosemary Jenkins
Stitched Up is an entertaining, satirical
drama about the current crisis within
the NHS. A surgeon, Aidan, is reaching
meltdown with his career. His wife is
preoccupied with removing the peace
walls around Belfast.
Saturday 14 March
Crochet Workshop
The aims of this beginners class is to
teach the basics of crochet. You will
learn stitch techniques and shaping.
Venue: Down Arts Centre
Time: 10am–4pm
Admission: £40 /£35 concession
(materials & lunch included)
Tutor: Naomi Whan
Saturday 14 March
An Afternoon of Music
in St Patrick Square
From 2pm–4pm
Street Music Competition
Contact the Festival Office on
028 4461 2233 to register
From 4pm–6pm
More Power to your Elbow
Venue: Festival stage
Prize
fund of
£3000
Venue: Down Arts Centre
Time: 8pm (bar available from 7pm)
Duration: 80 minutes (no interval)
Admission: £12/£10
Presented by: C21 Theatre Company
Guidance: 16+ (strong language
throughout)
/C21TheatreCompany
Sunday 15 March
Voices of Ireland
The cathedral welcomes John
Anderson and the Voices of Ireland
who will be giving a recital in honour
of our national Saint. It is a lovely
blend of sacred and secular music,
ranging from popular songs of today to
some of the most beautiful and best
loved Irish melodies ever written.
Venue: Down Cathedral
Time: 7.30pm
Admission: £5 (Pre-booking essential)
Contact: Festival Office –
028 4461 2233
Sunday 15 March
Jimmy’s 10K
Adult and children’s race.
Venue: Downpatrick
Time: From 9am,
Main Race 11am
Sunday 15 March
Cúig and Dance Show featuring
Ex Riverdance Performers
Venue: Festival Stage,
St Patrick Square
Time: 11am–1pm
Monday 16 March
St Patrick’s Cross: Rediscovery
and Reconstruction
The Lecale and Downe Historical
Society present this lecture by Mike
King, Curator Down County Museum,
for the St Patrick’s Festival.
Venue: Down County Museum
Time: 7.30pm
Admission: Free
For more information visit
www.lecalehistory.co.uk
or email [email protected]
Tuesday 17 March
St Patrick’s Day Celebrations!
Irish dancing, traditional and folk
music, storytelling, circus style
entertainment, clowns, acrobats and
jugglers. Exhibitions and shop open
throughout the day.
Venue: Down County Museum
Time: 10am to 6pm
Admission: Free
Tuesday 17 March
St Patrick’s Day CrossCommunity Carnival Parade
Monday 16 March
Jake O’Kane’s Tongue-Lashing
Come along to see our spectacular
cavalcade of floats, bands, fancy
dress and lots of attractions! Four
Men and a Dog playing on the
festival stage.
Jake is back with a ferociously
irreverent review of Northern Ireland
in 2014. He now turns his satirical
eye on the local issues, events and
characters that made the headlines
over the past twelve months.
Venue: Downpatrick
Time: 2pm
Admission: Free
Contact:
Festival Office –
028 4461 2233
Venue: Down Arts Centre
Time: 8pm (bar available from 7pm)
Duration: 2 hours including interval
Admission: £16/£14 concession
Presented by: David Hull Promotions
Age guidance: 16+ (contains adult
references)
Tuesday 17 March
At First Light
Tuesday 17 March
Down Arts Centre
Join us for a day of fun, clowns
and Punch and Judy!
Venue: Down Arts Centre
Time: 10am – 4pm
One of Ireland’s leading traditional/
contemporary Irish bands.
Venue: The Saint Patrick Centre
Time: 7.30pm
Admission: £5 (Pre-booking essential)
Contact: Festival Office –
028 4461 2233
January – April 2015
Jane Margaret Rea in QAIMNS uniform, c1916.
INSIDE:
The People’s Story: Commemorating World War I in County Down
The Power of Place: Photographs by Patricia Pyne
St Patrick’s Cross: Rediscovery and Reconstruction
Delivering
for Down
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Exhibitions
Ballynahinch: The Island Town
Ballynahinch, a town at the heart
of County Down, has been an
important market centre, serving the
surrounding rural area, for hundreds
of years. A thriving settlement from
the eighteenth century, the town is
also well known for its involvement
in the 1798 rebellion, the Battle of
Ballynahinch was the last great land
battle in these islands.
Today the town continues to be
an important commercial centre
providing a host of services to local
people and its rural hinterland. This
PEACE III funded exhibition, created
by local community and school
groups, details the changing face of
Ballynahinch over the centuries.
Date:
Until 31 January 2015
Venue:
Down County Museum
Admission:
FREE
This project has been funded by the
EU’s PEACE III Programme, managed
by the Special EU Programmes Body
and delivered by the North Down,
Ards and Down Council’s Cluster.
www.downcountymuseum.com
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
The People’s Story:
Commemorating World War I in County Down
To commemorate the anniversary
of the beginning of World War I, this
exhibition examines how the war
impacted on the lives of local people
in County Down, from the outbreak
of hostilities to the end of the war
and its aftermath. The exhibition uses
the personal stories of local people
at home and on the Front, as well
as extracts from local newspapers,
to illustrate how the war affected
families, individuals, working patterns
and aspects of daily life.
The exhibition also contains artefacts
from the period which belonged
to local people including letters,
postcards, medals and uniform.
Date:
Until 2015
Venue:
Down County Museum
Admission:
FREE
This project has been funded by the
EU’s PEACE III Programme, managed
by the Special EU Programmes Body
and delivered by the North Down,
Ards and Down Councils Cluster.
02 – 03
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Exhibitions
The Power of Place:
Photographs by Patricia Pyne
In early 2014 Down County
Museum commissioned
fine art photographer
Patricia Pyne to photograph
a selection of early Christian
and medieval sites in County
Down. The results are displayed
in this dramatic and thoughtprovoking exhibition which
captures the hidden beauty of
our ecclesiastical heritage.
A Graduate in Medieval
and Modern Languages
and Associate of the Royal
Photographic Society, Patricia
Pyne has developed
a reputation as a stylish and
creative photographer, with a
breadth of subject covering all
of Ireland but dealing mainly
with the ancient Province of
Ulster. Whilst her particular
interests lie in the history of
photography, she approaches
her work with a modern
sensibility, playing a key role in
the exploration of the medium
as an art form.
Her work has previously
been displayed in a number of
venues including Down Arts
Centre and the Linen Hall Library
in Belfast.
Date:
From 20 February
until September 2015
Venue:
Down County Museum
Admission:
FREE
www.downcountymuseum.com
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
In the Footsteps of St Patrick
Although everyone has heard of
St Patrick, not everyone is familiar
with the places around Downpatrick
and County Down where he first
established Christian communities
and churches in the local landscape.
The aim of this exhibition produced
by Down County Museum, is to
explore some of the local sites,
monuments and archaeological
discoveries which are linked to the
early missionary work of St Patrick
and his followers, and to his Early
Christian legacy in County Down.
This PEACE III funded display,
featuring stunning photographs,
is in English and Polish and is
accompanied by a free booklet also
in both languages.
Date
3 February-31 March
Time
St Patrick Visitor Centre
Opening Hours
Venue
Saint Patrick Visitor
Centre, Downpatrick
This project has been funded by the
EU’s PEACE III Programme, managed
by the Special EU Programmes Body
and delivered by the North Down,
Ards and Down Councils Cluster.
Admission
FREE
04 – 05
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Special Events
Celebrate Burns Night
Join the Friends of Down County Museum
in this special celebration of Robbie Burns’
song, poetry and legacy. This evening’s
entertainment includes readings and music
featuring Irish and Scottish airs.
Line up includes Willie Garrett from Killyleagh
(formerly of the Field Marshall Montgomery
Pipe Band) on bagpipes and Lowland pipes,
Michael Steenson from Comber on guitar
and Ciaran Bingham from Killinchy on fiddle
with Kevin Og Kearney from Strangford,
singing the songs of Burns and ‘Weemin Folk’
(Claire Magennis, Jennifer Taggart, Elma van
Baasbank, Noreen Napier, Michelle Napier)
performing humorous folk songs.
that come it may
Then let us pray will for a’ that
A s come it th o’er a’ the earth,
d Wor
That Sense an r the gree an a’ that.
S hall bea
a’ that,
F or a’ that, an r a’ that,
I t’s comin yet fothe world, o’er
an,
That man to m s be for a’ that.
S hall brither
Light supper (with haggis and a ‘wee dram’)
included! Tickets limited to 60 so book early!
Date:
Friday 23 January
Venue:
Down County Museum
Admission:
£10 (includes supper
and complimentary
glass of wine/soft drink/
tea/coffee)
Time:
7.30pm
World War II Murder Mystery
It’s 1944 and there’s a war on.
A code-breaking unit is stationed
in the Old Gaol; their main aim to
intercept messages and capture
spies. General Banks has ordered
an open night where the public
will be instructed in how to help
with the “War Effort”. However,
the unit are a rum lot and High
Command fear that there may
be a traitor amongst them.
Relationships have become
heated and somebody is
about to be murdered…
We need YOU to assist in our
enquires, find the perpetrator,
and bring them to justice.
Pre-booking essential.
Date:
Saturday 28 February
Venue:
Down County Museum
Time:
7pm
Admission:
£25 (includes dinner
at Justine’s restaurant).
Concessions available for
larger groups
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
www.downcountymuseum.com
Valentine Crafts
For Children
St Patrick’s Week Conference
The theme of this year’s
special one day conference
is Crosses, Millstones and
Quarries: The geology of
Early Christian Down.
Date:
Friday 13 March
Come along and make a great
range of Valentine’s themed crafts
from cards and paper decorations
to jewellery boxes!
Date:
Saturday
14 February
Venue:
Down County
Museum
The conference will
include a number of
morning talks, an afternoon
bus tour of local sites and
lunch. Pre-booking essential.
Please bring suitable
footwear and raincoat.
Venue:
Down County
Museum
Time:
1.30pm – 4.30pm
Time:
9.30am – 4.30pm
Admission:
£3
Admission:
£20
An Evening With Feile
Join the Friends of Down County
Museum for this special St Patrick’s
Festival event featuring the Feile
choir who sing a selection of
international songs. Feile Women’s
Singing Group was founded
in 2006 and includes over 50
women of all ages from all over
Belfast. They have supported Eddi
Reader, Mary Black, Brian Kennedy
and the Russian Philharmonic
Chamber Orchestra. They have
also performed in alley ways,
bandstands and hospital corridors!
Their unique mix of African,
Scottish, pop and folk songs and
their acapella style has earned
them a reputation as a great
night out. The choir is led by the
extremely talented artistic and
musical director, Anna Newell.
Come along and enjoy music from
around the world showcased
by an amazingly talented
choir. Feile will be supported
by the Rathkeltair School of
Traditional Music which is based
in Downpatrick. Leading local
musician Danny McGreevy will be
accompanied by young members
of the school performing Irish
and Scottish airs on a variety of
traditional instruments.
Tickets limited to 70 so please
book early!
Date:
Wednesday 11 March
Venue:
Down County Museum
Time:
7.30pm
Admission:
£7.50 (includes glass
wine/soft drink)
06 – 07
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Special Events
St Patrick’s Cross:
Rediscovery and
Reconstruction
St Patrick’s Day
Celebrations!
The Lecale and Downe Historical Society
present this lecture by Mike King, Curator Down
County Museum, for the St Patrick’s Festival.
Come along to the museum for a great day
of family entertainment.
For more information, visit the website:
www.lecalehistory.co.uk, or email:
[email protected]
Date:
Monday 16 March
Time:
7.30pm
Venue:
Down County Museum
Admission:
FREE
Featuring Irish dancing, traditional and folk
music, storytelling, circus style entertainment,
clowns, acrobats and jugglers. The museum’s
event is one of the highlights of St Patrick’s
Day with a fun filled programme for all ages.
Exhibitions and shop open throughout the day.
www.downcountymuseum.com
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Easter Monday
Fun Day
Date:
Tuesday 17 March
Time:
10am - 6pm
Venue:
Down County
Museum
Admission:
FREE
Our annual Easter Monday funday will feature
egg painting and other Easter crafts, magic
shows and children’s entertainment.
Date:
Monday 6 April
Time:
1pm – 5pm
Venue:
Down County Museum
Admission:
FREE
08 – 09
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Join the Friends
of Down County Museum
The Friends of Down County
Museum was established
to support the work of the
Museum by assisting with
specific projects, fund
raising and by promoting
the Museum throughout
the wider community.
Why not join today and help us
carry out this important work?
Friends can also access a wide range
of member benefits including:
• A free copy of the Down Survey every year
(this year’s The High Crosses and Round
Towers of County Down: A Field Guide
by Peter Harbison)
• 10% discount in the Museum shop
• Invitations to special launches and events
• Visits to sites of historical and
cultural interest
• The opportunity to participate in
special projects and initiatives
• Invitations to social events such as
the annual dinner.
Annual membership costs £15 for a single
subscription, or £20 for a family subscription.
www.downcountymuseum.com
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Birthday Parties at
Down County Museum
Why not celebrate your child’s birthday at Down County Museum ? We run
Viking themed, Victorian themed and craft themed birthday parties for boys
and girls aged from 6 years.
Your birthday party will include:
• Themed games and trails through the Museum
• Dressing up in replica costume
• Themed craft activities
• You can also mix and match activities from each of our themed parties.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Activities last one and a half hours and the cost is £50.
For further details or to book a birthday party
please contact Down County Museum on
028 4461 5218
10 – 11
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Downpatrick Young
Archaeologists’ Club
The Young Archaeologists’
Club is a great way to learn
more about archaeology in
your area and make
new friends.
The Young Archaeologists’ Club is great way to
learn more about archaeology in your area and
make new friends. The Downpatrick branch is one
of a UK-wide organisation managed by the Council
for British Archaeology (CBA). Membership age is
8 up to 16, and there is a small annual charge for
membership of £15, in order to cover costs.
We meet once a month, usually on a Saturday, and
activities include ‘hand-on’ events and visits to
archaeology sites.
For more information contact branch leader
Moira O’Rourke at Down County Museum, or
email [email protected]
www.downcountymuseum.com
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Down Through Time
Down Through Time, the museum’s permanent exhibition on
the history of County Down from 9000 years ago to the present,
displays over one thousand objects from our diverse collections.
The exhibition brings together objects, documents, paintings,
photographs and hands-on features to provide a fascinating
account of how County Down has developed over time.
With sections on prehistory, St Patrick, Early Christian Down, the
Vikings and the Normans, the early modern period, the Victorians,
the First and Second World Wars and modern times, the exhibition
shows how the people of Down have lived and worked in
changing and turbulent times.
Hands-on features enable visitors to undertake a range of enjoyable
activities from dressing up and puzzle solving to exploring sites in
the locality. A visit to Down Through Time is a must for all ages!
Down County Museum has a collection of over 10,000 objects and
almost 50,000 photographs. Staff from the museum are available to
visit your venue to give talks on all aspects of the collection. We can
also permit smaller community and educational groups to avail of
special ‘behind the scenes’ tours.
Contact us to find out more.
12 – 13
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
The Gaol of Down
Down County Museum is located in the restored
eighteenth century gaol of Down. This is the most
complete surviving eighteenth century gaol of its
type in Ireland and has been restored to provide
museum galleries while retaining original cells
on the ground floor of the cell block. Between
its opening in 1796 and 1830 when it closed, the
gaol housed hundreds of prisoners ranging from
minor offenders and debtors to rebels involved in
the 1798 rebellion and those convicted of capital
offences. The gaol’s most famous prisoner was the
United Irish leader, Thomas Russell, executed at the
door in 1803 and visitors can find out more about
his story in the display in the cell block as well as in
the exhibition, Down Through Time.
The gaol also housed over 400 convicts,
transported from the county to the penal colony of
New South Wales. Today visitors can find out more
about what happened to some of the prisoners
here and sample the unique atmosphere of the
gaol as they walk through the restored cells.
Guided tours of the old gaol site are available all
year round. Special walking tours of the sites of
Downpatrick’s four historic gaols are also available.
Staff from the museum are also available to visit your
venue to give talks on the history of the old gaol site
and crime and punishment in County Down.
Contact the Museum for more details.
www.downcountymuseum.com
Down County Museum Programme January – April 2015
Opening Hours:
Visitor Facilities:
The Museum is open:
Monday to Friday: 10am – 5pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 1pm – 5pm
Down County Museum is fully accessible for
families with young children, visitors with mobility
difficulties and wheelchair users. Toilets for visitors
with disabilities and baby changing facilities are
available also.
Admission:
Admission to the Museum is free of charge.
There is however a charge for some special
events and for guided tours.
Contact:
The Mall, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6AH
T: 028 4461 5218
[email protected]
www.downcountymuseum.com
Down District Council
The Museum is planning an extension to our
building to create new galleries about the
Downpatrick High Cross and farming in the
County. As a result of this work the tearoom
will be closed from May 2014 to June 2015.
The Museum shop has an excellent range
of books on local history, items of
local crafts, children’s goods
and souvenirs.
@DownDCofficial
14 – 15