Ban-za-Ban helps Croileagan Uig win National Arts Award
Croileagan Uig were presented with a cheque for £2000 and a signed limited edition print by the celebrated artist Julian Opie at the Artworks Awards Ceremony at Tate Modern in London on 3rd July ‘03. The ceremony was hosted by Tate Director and Artworks Patron, Sir Nicolas Serota.
The award which is in the Working with Artists category and one of 31 projects selected by the Artworks judges, is for Croileagan Uig’s interpretation of their role in An Lanntair’s Ban-za-Ban project. Here pre-school children worked with artists Iain Kettles and Susie Hunter to design an interactive Bouncy Sculpture.
"The judges felt this to be an inspirational and well-focused opportunity for children and teachers alike to engage with contemporary art in a very direct way. It was evident that the project broadened the children’s understanding of art and artists."
Croileagan Uig’s successful entry is displayed in an exhibition at Tate Modern and in a virtual gallery of winners on the Artworks website www.art-works.org. A 3min. film which perfectly captured the excitement of making Ban-za-Ban was also broadcast on Channel 4 on 30th June ’03.
The Artworks awards were funded in 1999 by the Clore Duffield Foundation to recognise inspirational teaching and learning in art and design in schools. They are open to young people up to the age of 18. Croileagan Uig faced some stiff competition - over 37,000 participants from 550 schools across the country took part this year, making Artworks the largest and most successful Awards scheme for young people in Europe.
Motiv8
With substantial funding from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Department of Sustainable Communities, An Lanntair have been able to programme an extensive series of Holiday Workshops for 5 to 16 year olds, across the island. Local Artists are leading a total of 230 hours of arts activity for youngsters at An Lanntair in Stornoway (Mon to Thurs), Taigh Dhonnchaidh in Ness (Saturdays), at Bernera Community Centre (Tuesdays) and at the Tigh Ceilidh in Uig (Thursdays). Activities have included digital photography, driftwood paintings, print-making, puppet-making, slide projections and animation. To book a place on any of the Motiv8 art workshops contact An Lanntair on 703 307.
CNES are also supporting a new initiative to take an Arts Tent and Ban-za-Ban the Bouncy Sculpture to 4 community events in the summer to include Carloway Show: Wednesday 6th August, Ness Carnival: Saturday 16th August, and Lochs Fun Day, Saturday 23rd August. Children will be able to have a bounce on the award winning sculpture, then make their own puppets and miniature "hot-air" balloons in the Arts Tent.
Nautical Storytelling
In March 03, Creative Scotland Award winner Ian Stephen, worked with children and young people in the gallery. Inspired by his nautical storytelling, the participants joined in as narrators and created the rhythm of oars slicing through stormy seas, using a driftwood percussion instrument.
Easter Holiday Workshops: Cost £2.50
10.30am to 12.30pm: Thursday 10th April: for 5 to 7 year olds
1.30pm to 3.30pm: Thursday 10th April for 8 to 12 year olds
1.30pm to 3.30pm: Friday 11th April for 5 to 12 year olds
Tour the exhibition ‘The Navigatio’ by Alan Watson - Large pastel drawings on the psychology and mythology of a sea-journey originally based on the voyage of St Brendan - then try your hand at your own large scale pastel drawings in workshops led by island based artists Moira Macaulay and John Macleod. Places are limited, to book contact An Lanntair on 01851 703 307.
Adults' Workshop: Thursday 24th April: 10am to 4pm (with lunch-break): Cost £12
John Macleod will also lead a tour of ‘The Navigatio’ and a pastel drawing workshop for adults with an interest in drawing and painting. Places are limited - to book contact An Lanntair on 01851 703 307. - special thanks to Uig Art Attack for the loan of easels and drawing boards for the workshop.
Pre-school Week: June’03
‘Ban-za-Ban’ (the bouncy sculpture) will form the centre piece for a range of arts activities targeted at the under 5’s, including coloured light and shadow games and interactive story-building. Pre-school groups will be sent dates and more details prior to the event.
Artist’s Talks
In October ’02, artist Joanne Soroka gave a public talk about her work in the exhibition ‘Unmarked Lives’. The audience was fascinated by the complex ideas which led to her tapestries, and requested more artists’ talks at the gallery. Look out for Mairi Morrison discussing a new series of paintings which she is developing for her first one-person show ‘Gaoth o’n Fhasach: Wind from the Wilderness’ in July.
Secondary Schools Project: June ‘03
We are currently in the process of planning class visits, workshops and educational materials centred on an exhibition at An Lanntair by the internationally acclaimed Brazilian artist Ana Maria Pacheco, noted for her dark symbolic imagery drawn from myth, legend and religious iconography.