Since its launch in 2006, Culture Night has grown from being a Dublin-only phenomenon to expanding this year across the country. On Friday September 25, arts and cultural organisations will throw their doors open beyond normal closing hours, and welcome visitors of all ages for a taste of free culture for one night. Ballina Arts Centre will be open until 10.30pm that night and is presenting a programme of events and activities aimed at all ages, with something for all tastes. Culture Night is an initiative co-ordinated by Temple Bar Cultural Trust and supported by the Department of Arts, Sport, and Tourism in partnership with Mayo County Council and participating venues.
Altered Images exhibition at Ballina Arts Centre
Throughout September, Ballina Arts Centre will host Altered Images, an exhibition of works from the collections of South Tipperary County Council, Mayo County Council and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition included works by Thomas Brezing, David Creedon, Alice Maher, Caroline McCarthy, and Abigail O’Brien, as well as specially commissioned works by Amanda Coogan and Daphne Wright.
Altered Images aims to introduce new ways of seeing and experiencing art for both disabled and non-disabled people alike, and will be accessible and interactive to engage a wider audience, in particular disabled people. An interactive website, www.alteredimages.ie, has been developed to provide access for a wider audience using a multi-sensory approach. Please note: Altered Images will be exhibited in Ballina Arts Centre’s new temporary location in the Ballina Civic Offices on Arran Place (beside Dunnes Stores ).
Altered Images: Gallery talk
On Thursday September 17, starting at 7pm, Ballina Arts Centre will host a gallery talk on the Altered Images exhibition. Anne McCarthy (arts officer, Mayo County Council ), Sally O’Leary (arts officer, South Tipperary County Council ) Damien O’Connor (disability arts co-ordinator, Mayo County Council ) and Georgie Thompson (national programme, Irish Museum of Modern Art ) will be joined by a number of the artists involved in the Altered Images exhibition, for this informative talk about how the exhibition was conceived and developed, as well as the many questions the exhibition raises about access and display. The talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Ballina Arts Centre is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays. For further information, please contact Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina Civic Offices, Arran Place, Ballina, Co Mayo. Tel: 096 73593; e-mail: [email protected], www.ballinaartscentre.com
