Me at Music Network

I thought it would be an idea to give a brief update on why I’ve been so lax with blogging lately and what I’m up to at the moment:

With the Quiet Music Ensemble and the Music for Tipperary performances tied off I’m concentrating all my efforts on Music Network programmes (check out our spanking sparkly new website!) before jetting out to Melbourne in the new year!

Aisling Roche was appointed Acting CEO for a seven month period and I’ve taken on some aspects of the Development Programmes role. This includes taking care of Music Network’s Partner Promoters all over Ireland and also looking after some of the Audience Development work Music Network is always engaged in. We’re in the middle of the last tour of the season with amazing violinist Tasmin Little and she’s selling out all over the country. For those of you who didn’t hear her on the JK Ensemble last week, she’s a bright, incredibly intelligent solo violinist and is a vehement supporter of educational and development work. She’s doing a series of masterclasses and workshops along with the performance and has amazing energy. There are still tickets left to Music Network’s Gala Fundraiser next Sat (05 Dec) and I’ll be there with bells on so pop in and say hi! Tix from Music Network. Fidil and Trihornphone will also be there on the evening to entertain!

I’m also still primarily working on the Music Capital Scheme and with the panel discussions for the 2009 awards coming up this week watch this space for award announcements!! There was a healthy interest in the scheme again in 2009, which demonstrates the ongoing need for capital support for music in Ireland.

Another project I’m not directly involved in but will be speaking about at the Forum for Music annual plenary on Monday next is the Music Education Programme – aka the U2 Funds! U2 have come on board to support a programme Music Network have been developing for the last number of years. We are currently looking for applications for the position of Project Manager on the initiative and hope to roll out the tender process in early 2010. For more info on this call the office (01 6719429) and add your name to the mail out list!

Music Network are coordinating Ireland’s first dedicated day for music in 2010! lovelive:music takes place on Friday 16 April 2010 and will be a day of free music events all over Ireland. We’ve already taken calls from promoters, venues, centers, individual performers and groups all over the country eager to participate! The website is under development and I hope to be able to link to it shortly!

So, that’s it in a nutshell!

Gigs & trips… Part deux!

So No. 2 – Opportunities!

Just so y’all know, I’m heading on a little spin across the world in January. I’m Melbourne bound for a whole sunny month and am looking for any hints on what,who,where,where, who (did I already say that?) I should be visiting. Answers on a postcard to PO Box 22222222222222, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

The Association of Irish Choirs is looking for a new General Manager. It’s a three-year, fixed term contract in what are very hedgy times for jobs in the arts, and as such is an amazing opportunity for the right person based in Limerick. The deadline is next Tuesday 01 December.

InRes is a new resource by Create, which contains detailed information on local, regional, national and international opportunities for collaborative artists. Most of the opportunities are visual arts based but there are a number of opportunities for musicians and sound artists. Check out November opportunities.

The focus of the Seoul International Music Competition is “promoting cultural exchanges among nations through music and supporting talented musicians from all over the world”. The 2010 competition is based on vocal competition and the application deadline is 15 January 2010 and all the information is contained on the competition site.

RTÉ Lyric fm have released information on (deep breath) Diffusion Prize 2010: International Electroacoustic Music Composition Competition – a competition focused on “promoting ‘up and coming’ composers regardless of age or nationality”. A prize of €3000 will be awarded to the winning entrant in the form of a commission to compose a stereo electroacoustic work between 8-10mins in length. The deadline for entry is 22 January 2010.

The Forum for Music in Ireland holds its next plenary session on Tuesday 08 December in IMRO’s lovely new premises on Pembroke Row. The plenary is titled Grasping the Nettle and will address such questions as “What are the issues of greatest concern to musicians in Ireland?”. If you come along you’ll be treated to a presentation by Mé Féin on the U2/Music Network Music Education Scheme. I’ll be joined by Gerard Flanagan of Kylemore College who participated in the first pilot programme for the scheme.

The Kuenstlerdorf Schoeppingen Foundation is taking applications for it’s 2010 residence stipends at the moment. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2010 and the residency is open to artists working with “experimental music/musical compositions”. I’d actually love to be a practicing artists so I could go on these amazing residencies! Bah!

quick post

I’ve missed a load of gigs I wanted to flag because I’m up the walls in prep for the QME gig in DEAF09 this weekend. The QME are performing on the last day of the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival and we’re in the middle of rehearsals at the moment. They’re going really well and after listening to them rehearse Alvin Lucier’s Shadow Lines yesterday I’m really excited about Saturday evening. The performance lasts from 5pm -10pm; drop in at any stage during the evening, there is no obligation to stay for the full 5 hours. The tickets for that gig are on sale at www.tickets.ie from a very reasonable €15/10!

I was very sorry to hear today that this year’s DEAF is going to be the last festival. Organisers Eamonn Doyle and Karen Walsh are gearing up for a big blow-out party on Saturday night to give the festival the send-off it deserves. After eight years running DEAF both Karen and Eamonn have other projects they want to start. It’s a shame that a festival as great as DEAF will come to an end as the organisers move on, but this is the case in a small country such as Ireland where great events are dependent on a few key individuals.

Also – something sweet and non-music related: Temple Bar Chocolate Festival is this weekend!! Yum!

I’m not sure if he’s still doing it but Damien Mulley was putting together a list of interested bloggers to go on the mail out lists of PR company mailouts.

When I originally made the note to blog about the new Tom Waits album you could listen to it for free online. I did. It’s great. Sorry…….

Global Irish Economic Forum Report from the Dept of Education

Culture Notes

Just in the door from Waterworn as a part of Absolute Fringe and it was really, simply the most elegant work I have laid my eyes on. A shadow play based on a tale of sea adventure, the play revolved around one character and his day at sea, hunting whales. I haven’t seen shadow puppets since I was a child and my Dad used to make them to entertain us before we went to sleep and this was a treat and a half. On entering the darkened tent space, we passed a hunched over figure playing an out of tune piano that managed to sound charming without grating on the ears. The lights came up behind the sheet and there was an instant engagement with the silhouetted figure. There is something lonely and poignant about shadow plays that lent itself perfectly to the tale of loneliness and tragedy at sea; enhanced by the Michael Nyman-style repetitive rhythms of the piano. I went with my friend Niamh and after the play she remarked that the haphazard tuning and creaks of the old piano made perfect sense in the handmade tone of the production. If you get a chance, please see it – it made us want to run home and create our own shadow play theatre, and we might just do that yet!

I also got a chance today to drop into the Douglas Hyde at lunch for a short talk by the curatorial assistant Barry White about the current exhibition of Paki Smith works. I hadn’t actually seen the show at that point and was delighted to be introduced to some of the works within the context of Paki’s work. The show is brilliant – there’s an awful lot of work displayed, supplemented by a load of his workbooks and journals, but its well worth taking the time to see everything. I found the imagery, ideas and imagination in the work really inspiring and have a small idea for a wee craft project after spending time in the space.

I have a ticket in my pocket for the Synth Eastwood gig at the Spiegeltent tomorrow so very much looking forward to that and in particular to the spatial mc two-hour pre-show gig! Spatial mc emailed out a list  “eye-catching facts about the show”:
• Sadly this is the last year The Spiegeltent is in Dublin
• This is the best priced show in The Spiegeltent (€15!)
• Free Absolut reception!
• 5 minor Irish celebrities may be in attendance
• 6 different music styles on offer
• Multi speaker dancing is the equivalent of 2 triathlons
• Free Absolut reception!

Culture Night is only a few weeks away at this stage and because it’s taking to the road and going national this year there are a few serious decisions to be made. For the past few years it was just a matter of trying to decide which of the many, many events to attend in Dublin, however this year we’re faced with the option of heading home or to other parts of the country to sample the cultural events on offer there. I’ve decided to head for west and will be spending the night in Sligo taking in all they have to offer. More anon…

One last quick note – google give grants to arts and not-for-profit organisations looking to use their Ad Words facility. Get in touch people!

Music Network rocking out with U2!

Music Network, the national music development organisation with whom I work on the Music Capital Scheme, have long been advocates of increased support and recognition of the huge value of music in education. Today sees the fruition of a 2003 study analysing the benefits of music in education as rock legends U2 come on board with €5million to finance the Music Education Scheme.

With the support of The Arts Council and the Department of Education, two pilot schemes ran in Donegal and Dublin and gaps within music education provision were highlighted as a result. Significant gaps were found in access to instrumental and vocal tuition, which, according to the report, has remained the preserve of the wealthier classes (I know my mother reading this will retort “You and your siblings all received instrumental tuition, despite not belonging to those so called “wealthier classes”.” and I can only say that my parents are both incredibly far-sighted individuals who recognised the fact that the early sacrfices would have huge benefits in years to come). The scheme intends to work in tandem with local partners and applications for the scheme will be made on a competitive tender basis. U2 and The Ireland Funds will provide financial support for the scheme and applicants will be expected to demonstrate an ability to provide matching resources locally and detail plans for the sustainability of the scheme in their area.

For more information on the initiative contact Music Network on 01-671 9429

Culture Notes

Loads of quick notes for today:

Crash Ensemble are offering a part time administrative internship from September 2009 to June 2010. More information here

Music Network are taking applications for two programmes:  Deadline for applications to Making Overtures, the professional development course for musicians and composers, is Monday 15 June. The course takes place from 13-17 July and is well worth the week.  Young Musicwide 2009 is open to applications from young musicians at the beginning of their professional career. Printable application form here and deadline for applicaitons is Mondaty 6 July.

Artsounds is  a new Liffey radio show, and is looking for Irish artists to contribute to the station, in both recorded and live broadcasts. Interested parties should email lindasartsounds@hotmail.com

I meant to mention in my last post on the Leitrim Equation collaboration between Lunasa and traditional musicians from Leitrim that the residency is continue with Dervish taking over the reins from Lunasa.

New project, Dark Night of the Soul, from the hugely talented Danger Mouse is scuppered by EMI but have a listen to the album here. David Lynch on visuals!

More Music Network news: Triocca launch their new album on the Lyric Label Wed 27 May, 6.30pm in Airfield House followed by a performance by the trio.

I’m hoping to pop into the next installment of The Fold in St Audeon’s later tonight. Triple Piglet and Electronica Sensoria Band at 8pm. See you there!

A good friend of mine Aisling Jones is performing with Blind Yackety in Break for the Border tonight at 8pm. If you’re about town drop in!

Is that enough for now? a

Culture Notes

SPACE – Supporting Performing Arts Circulation in Europe is a pilot project supported by the EC which has just issued an open call to performing arts managers. “We are providing a professional and mobile European training programme to improve knowledge and understanding of the distribution of performing arts throughout Europe.” Application form here

Music Network will soon be accepting applications to their Young Musicwide programme for 2009. Aimed at supporting the development of young musicians at the beginning of their professional career, the award has supported groups such as Organics, Trihornophone, Fidil and soloists such as Carol McGonnell. Application form here as soon as the deadline is announced.

Cultural Notes for today

Instead of detailed everything in separate posts I’m stealing Damien Mulley’s fluffy links idea and posting a few items together. Well, maybe with a little more detail…

Arts Management Ireland blog mentions the new opportunity from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in partnership with the British Council for young visual arts curators. Applications from the ACNI site here. Shame there’s not the equivalent on offer for music programming… Watch this space!

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Denise at Virtual Existence has started a list of all Irish arts and cultural organisations on twitter.

I’m twittering away too –  @samadhya

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I followed the “picturegate” incident with my jaw on the floor today and was thrilled with Pat Kenny’s interview with FF TD Michael Kennedy (podcast possibly at this link tomorrow). So thrilled in fact, I emailed Pat congratulations on an excellent interview and he read it out on air! This is the body of what was in the email:

I would like to offer my congratulations to Pat Kenny on his interview this morning with FF TD Michael Kennedy. It was a brilliant interview in defence of freedom of speech and non-censorship of our public broadcaster by policital parties. The apology offered on RTE TV last night was atrocious and a disgrace to the democratic process.
 
Well done Pat, you have my newfound respect

Pat read it out and added “Aisling! I’m sorry that I didn’t have your respect before and I’m glad to have it now”

Nice

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The deadline for Waterford Youth Arts Ted and Mary O’Regan Bursary for arts practitioners is Friday 29 May 09. Application forms available here