Draíocht Children's Arts Festival

Draíocht Children's Arts Festival is part of Féile an Phobail’s annual programme of festivals which also includes the main August Féile and Féile an Earraigh, as well as other smaller events throughout the year. Initially the festival was held in March to coincide with St Patrick’s Day. However in 2007 it was changed to Halloween to coincide with the Celtic New Year, or Samhain. In a collaboration with Partizan Artisans, headed by artist Jim Hughes, the festival took on a new venture and built a life size Celtic Roundhouse, in the Falls Park on the Falls Road. Over the Samhain (Halloween) people could visit this authentic recreation and experience life within an ancient Celtic setting, witnessing enactments, cooking, arts and crafts workshops, as well as singing, story telling and music.

The festival is organised by Kevin Morrison who is the Youth Arts Development Officer for Féile an Phobail. Having worked in the youth sector for many years, Mr Morrison felt that the community in West Belfast had a lot to offer, and to benefit through the arts. “West Belfast is a vibrant and very skilful society with immense potential throughout its community, but none more so than its youth. The energy and curious enthusiasm of our youth needs to be positively harnessed and opportunities provided for them to express themselves, learn, develop, and show what they have the capability to produce. One way for young people to articulate their emotions and their talent is through the medium of art. Art often appears to be outside of the realms of young people, particularly those living in areas of economic and social deprivation, but when presented with opportunities young people excel, with some amazing results”.

Kevin Morrison (Youth Arts Development officer) [http://www.feilebelfast.com/youtharts.php]

Draíocht 2008

This year the festival will involve a larger scale Celtic encampment in the Falls Park, with performances, enactments, and art workshops; as well other events including a Lantern Parade, Story Writing Competition, Workshops, Music Performances, Street Theatre, children’s parties, and story telling. The festival will run from Tuesday 28th October to Sunday 2nd November 2008 throughout West Belfast.

References

*cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13538937_ITM|title= Shared vision includes theatre, dance and art|date=July 26, 2004|work=Europe Intelligence Wire P|quote= Youthful Belfast includes funding for the Young at Art International Arts Festival for Children and Draiocht Children's Arts Festival, organised by West Belfast festival.|accessdate=2008-10-04]

External links

* [http://www.feilebelfast.com/youtharts.php Draíocht Children's Arts Festival]