An Creágan’s NEW Art Programme for 2014/15

Every one of us is born a creative, spontaneous thinker. The only difference between people who are creative and people who are not is a simple belief.

The reality is that believing you are not creative excuses you from trying or attempting anything new.

An Creagán has been offering unique world class art experiences to participants within a unique setting which fails to inspire no matter what your capability.

The programme, funded by National Lottery Funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, welcomes exclusive workshops in wood carving, creative writing, blacksmithing, cultural crafts and wildlife photography. Workshops are open to everyone no matter what their experience.

Creative Writing

Author Sheena Wilkinson is taking up residence at An Creagán to offer a series of workshops in Creative Writing. Writing a book is top of many people’s wish list. It doesn’t just happen - you need to create the time and space to do it. Getting away from the demands of everyday life can help you to focus, which is where An Creagán comes in. It offers a peaceful retreat which can bring about the right climate for inspiration to flow.

Wherever you are with your writing, you’ll be further on after this intensive, enjoyable weekend course with award-winning novelist and short story writer Sheena Wilkinson. Using workshop activities and writing exercises, the course includes --

building believable characters

developing plots that work

creating believable settings

editing and improving your work

There will also be the opportunity for one-to-one mentoring sessions.

Wildlife Photography

Our wildlife photography workshops allow enthusiasts of all experience the chance to capture wildlife. They are designed to help you improve in all the aspects of wildlife photography, while learning about the environment and the wildlife that it supports. Professional Danny Gibson teaches to the very highest standard, enabling every participant to get the very best from their photographic knowledge. No prior experience or knowledge is necessary to participate.

Wood Carving Workshops

As an absolute beginner you will be given the means to finish a piece of hand carving in the two days, yet those with experience should bring your own smaller projects for advice and encouragement. Using bench and hand carving skills on locally sourced wood, the development of a design begins the process. Using marker, hand saws and drills the secured piece will then be hand carved with chisels. Knife work, chisels, rasps or sanding and polishing, as finishing, will be demonstrated. Themes and subject matter are entirely up to the participants although there will be examples of various origins to follow. Safety, tools and timber supplied, old clothes and energy required. Owen Crawford is a self taught woodcarver with over 25 years experience.

Blacksmithing and Creative Metal Workshops

These Blacksmiths Workshops are basic blacksmithing and creative metal classes. Our aim is to celebrate the ancient craft of blacksmithing in a creative and inclusive way. The classes will allow the opportunity for the students to bring home a beautiful piece of functional art that they made as well as creating a permanent group piece for exhibition. Tutor Eamonn Higgins has a distinctive style and influences the students in different ways while encouraging experimentation built on a firm base of tradition and time-honoured skills.

Cultural Crafts Workshops

Traditional Lantern Making

These beautiful hand made lanterns are made using willow, cling film and tissue paper. Designs can be traditional or modern in fashion. Lanterns can be lit up from the inside to create a magical scene which is widely seen across festivals in Thailand.

Floating Crafts

Typically a krathong is handmade by the individual from a selection of natural materials. Usually, banana tree trunks as the float and intricate folded banana leaves and various flowers to decorate. Many Thai’s will make and release a floating craft (krathong) into the river as a symbolic nature to letting go of all negative thoughts before releasing the krathong a candle and incense is lit.

Sand Murals

A mandala of colored powders consists of millions of grains of sand painstakingly laid into interlocking patterns to form a unique work of art. Unlike real sand mandalas, our small-scale version will be permanent, ready to be displayed on a shelf or hung on a wall.

For further info and bookings contact Martin on 028 8076 1112

Or email [email protected] Find out more about what is happening on An Creagán’s website at www.ancreagan.com or our Facebook page

www.facebook.com/ancreagan

Please Note: Further days are planned due to workshop demand.