Latest News
June 29th 2010 Join the mailing list.............
We now have a newsletter to keep you up to date with both festival events and other arts activities locally. if you'd like to join the mailing list please email us here.
June 2nd 2010 ANOTHER FEST OVER............
After a fantastic four days with over 40 events, Wicklow Arts Festival 2010 is over for another year! With greater numbers coming out to join in the fun and a packed programme with something for everyone, the whole event was a resounding success. Have a look at some photos from this year on our home page, or become a friend on facebook to see all the action past, present and future!
May 18th 2010 SENATOR DAVID NORRIS OPENS FESTIVAL IN STYLE.......
The sun shone, the bands played and Senator David Norris officially opened the Wicklow Arts Festival for 2010 in grand style at Tinakilly House Hotel. St. Patrick's Pipe Band welcomed guests to the elegant surroundings where they were treated to fine food and refreshments. The large crowd were entertained by Senator Norris' opening speech after which the Alex Mathias Quartet started the festival events with a swinging set. Chairperson, Geoff Kane, presented Senator Norris with a work of art by local artist Pat Dover and the evening continued on enjoyed by the many guests including local dignatories and celebrities such as internationally known artist, Rasher.
April 30th 2010 TICKETS ON SALE NOW!............
Tickets now on sale for Mairead Buicke & Degani Ensemble, Evening Serenade, "Eco Friendly Jihad" performed by Abie Philbin Bowman and Drama Behind Bars from the Tourist Office, Fitzwilliam Square, Wicklow Town. Telephone bookings (0404) 69117
April 27th 2010 WICKLOW ROCKS!...........................
The Wicklow Rocks Battle of the Bands competition is now open to all budding singers,songwriters and bands - check out the competition page for full details of how to enter. There's a great prize on offer for the winner and the gig itself will be a hot favourite at this year's festival!
April 20th 2010 YOUNG WRITERS POETRY COMPETITION LAUNCHED...........
After the tremendous response to last year's competition, the 2nd Annual Young Writer's Poetry Competition is launched for 2010. It is open to all 12-18 year olds and to coordinate with the feel of the festival, the theme for entries is "ECO-LOGICAL". For full details of how to enter check out the competition page. Have fun!
April 12th 2010 Sneak Preview of 2010 acts...........
Check out some of our acts for this year's festival........
Mairead Buicke..........Abie Philbin Bowman...........Don Conroy.............Wobbly Circus
Tickets will be available from May 1st, meantime browse our site for more details.
March 26th 2010 BE PART OF THE ART! Press release......
Be Part of the Art !
Wicklow Town’s riverside is set to come alive this May with news that the 7th annual Wicklow Arts Festival, from the 27th to the 30th May, is to include an Artisan Market and outdoor entertainment tent at Bachelors Walk in the heart of the town. The market area will feature a craft expo with demonstrations of heritage skills as well as a stage area for music and dance.
This year’s festival is planned to be the largest yet and the voluntary committee are thrilled with the acts that have been planned for the event. A mixture of diverse and popular arts will ensure a programme that will have something for everyone, so get involved and be part of the art.
In a wonderful opportunity for local music lovers one of Ireland’s leading sopranos, Mairead Buicke, will perform with the Degani Ensemble at the Church of Ireland on 30th May. Mairead Buicke has performed with great success all over the world and her appearance at this year’s festival, in association with Music Network, illustrates the growing reputation of the Wicklow Arts Festival. County Wicklow’s own classical professionals will also be showcased in a specially devised concert for organ and harp taking place in the serene setting of the Dominican Convent Chapel. With music, song and spoken word, this is another show not to be missed.
Providing the laughs this year, thought provoking comedian Abie Philbin Bowman will bring his latest hit show “Eco Friendly Jihad” to Wicklow. The show, which will be touring to the Brighton Fringe and Hollywood Fringe Festivals, will come to Wicklow on Friday 28th May for one performance only.
Once again the hugely popular Arts Trail takes place throughout Wicklow Town with a remarkable amount of interest already from artists based all over Ireland to show pieces in the windows of Wicklow’s business community. Chairperson Geoff Kane said “The Arts Trail is by far one of the most popular of our annual events and I have been impressed this year at the quantity of artists mailing the festival looking for the opportunity to exhibit.” As well as the outdoor display of paintings and photographs at the Art on the Railings, the festival’s solo exhibition will run again at Tinakilly House Hotel, this year with Aughrim based artist Eoin O’Connor. Eoin’s work is much sought after at home and abroad and following the exhibition launch on Sunday 30th May, the show will run for a further seven days giving everyone the chance to drop in to the elegant surroundings of Tinakilly House to browse or buy.
Not forgetting Wicklow’s up and coming talent, art projects and design competitions are currently being run in both the primary and secondary schools which will result in displays and exhibitions during the festival of all the fantastic artworks produced by students.
Family entertainment will be ongoing over the four festive days to include a workshop with RTE artist and environmentalist Don Conroy, a puppet show and literary events plus our Bealtaine events will be celebrating creativity in older people with film, music and poetry on offer. The art of food will also be featured this year with a demonstration by celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio using local seasonal food on 27th May.
By working together with other voluntary and arts groups like the Film Club, Drama groups and youth groups amongst others, the Wicklow Arts Festival is truly a community arts festival. It is run by volunteers and funded by sponsorship and through fundraising events. For any further information or to become involved email info@wicklowartsfestival.ie.
February 25th 2010 FESTIVAL AWARDS TIME IN WICKLOW......
Festival welcomes award winners
The Wicklow Arts Festival team were delighted to welcome The Blood Red Mountain Band back to Wicklow Town recently to receive their Rocket Pyrotechnics Supplier Award from the Association of Irish Festival Events (AOIFE) for Best Musical Group 2009. The Blood Red Mountain Band has a strong Wicklow link with front man, Mark Flynn, hailing from Blessington and guitarist Ian Devlin residing in Rathdrum.
On presenting the award Arts Festival Chairperson Geoff Kane stated “Their performance at the festival last year was certainly one of the highlights and it came as no surprise to us that they won this national award.” Formed in 2005, they have garnered a large following of fans for their upbeat live performances. The band was thrilled with their award and afterwards went on to play an impromptu session in a local hostelry to the delight of everyone there.
Another Wicklow Arts Festival act to receive accolades from AOIFE was Sabrina Piggott who won the
award for Best Musical Individual 2009. Limerick native Sabrina is currently pursuing her musical career in England but was hugely impressed by her visit to Wicklow Town and said “Wicklow is a special place to me. It’s a beautiful location by the sea that brings out the lyric poet in us all. This award means so much to me. To be recognised by AOIFE and the organisers of such a prestigious festival is indeed an honour.”
The Wicklow Arts Festival committee have been busy recently with both fundraising and organising events for 2010. Chair Geoff Kane announced “The Festival will be taking place this year from Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th May. We feel confident that we’re putting together a festival programme that will bring to Wicklow some of Ireland’s finest arts performers. Details will be announced soon, so watch this space!”
December 24th 2009 SEASON'S GREETINGS from WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL .....
November 27th 2009 WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL ON YOUTUBE ......
You can now see video highlights of WAF 2009 on YOU TUBE
November 21st 2009 WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL picks up BUSINESS AWARD.......
The Wicklow Arts Festival team were delighted to pick up a Wicklow Town & District Chamber of Commerce Business Award at the Chamber's annual awards night held in the Parkview Hotel yesterday evening. The Festival was recognized for its contribution to the area when presented with the "Community Service " Award.
November 17th 2009 DOUBLE AWARD WIN for musical performances at WAF '09.......
At the AOIFE Festival Awards recently, two musical acts scooped the top awards in their categories for their performances at the Wicklow Arts Festival '09. The Blood Red Mountain Band were thrilled to receive "Best Musical Group" 2009 for their outstanding set at the Festival Launch which had the audience dancing all evening. Singer/songwriter Sabrina Piggott picked up the "Best Individual Musician" Award 2009 for her engaging solo performance in the Kilmantan Arts Gallery. Check out both of these superb acts on their my space pages.....
November 13th 2009 Wicklow Arts Festival nominated for another award .......
The Wicklow Arts Festival was recognized this week by Wicklow's business community with the news that it has been shortlisted for the 'Community Award', by the Wicklow Town and District Chamber of Commerce, for its good work in 2009. The winners will be announced at at the Business Awards Night on the 20th of November.
November 11th 2009 WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL Press Release .....
Wicklow Arts Festival gains national recognition for its marketing
The Wicklow Arts Festival received well-earned recognition at the Association of Irish Festivals and Events conference held recently in Ballinasloe, County Galway. The festival’s poster publicising events held in the town during the festival was shortlisted for a Carlton “Best of Festival“ marketing award for Best Poster. The poster, which was designed by Wicklow town graphic designer Helen Maher of Maher Design , was shortlisted in the final three. The Association of Irish Festivals and Events (AOIFE) comprises over 250 festival members nationally.
Geoff Kane, Chairperson of the Wicklow Arts Festival, said “ This has come as a great boost to the committee and organisers of the festival and fits well with our strategy to make the Wicklow Arts Festival one of the east coast’s premier events and a festival that all the community of Wicklow town and County can be proud of and look forward to”.
The Committee are currently programming events for next year’s festival which will run from 27th May 2010 until 30th May 2010. You can keep up to date by logging on to www.wicklowartsfestival.ie or become a friend on Facebook.
November 3rd 2009 WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL "Be Part of the Art" THEME FOR 2010....
It's a green light for go as the Wicklow Arts Festival will feature its first ever " eco-friendly " theme for 2010. Alongside a fresh and exciting programme of diverse arts activities, 2010 will include a celebration of many local arts, crafts and environmental resources that the 'Garden of Ireland' , the beautiful County Wicklow, has to offer.
October 8th 2009 FIND US ON FACEBOOK.....
The Wicklow Arts Festival is now on Facebook where you'll find up to date info and photos. Why not look us up and become a friend of the festival.
September 1st 2009 FESTIVAL 2010 DATES ANNOUNCED.....
After a successful 2009 festival last May, packed with fun and varied arts events for all ages and tastes, the festival team are already gearing up for another great programme in 9 months time!
The Wicklow Arts Festival is pleased to announce that dates for our 7th annual festival will be Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th May 2010 so keep checking back here for updates and event announcements.
If you're interested in joining us as a sponsor or as a volunteer or for any further information please email us at info@wicklowartsfestival.ie. We'd love to hear from you!
