Cultural Fusions inspires local students

The day-long event, which was held on Friday 11th June, was delivered by Causeway Museum Service and included a visit to two exhibitions in the Braid Museum & Arts Centre in Ballymena, an artist talk and a DVD screening on peace building and democracy in South Africa.

Cultural Fusions*, which is funded under the European Union's PEACE III programme managed on behalf of the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership, offers exciting opportunities for local groups to develop culture and arts programmes with the assistance of the Cultural Fusions consortium. The overall aim of the programme is to promote a greater understanding and awareness of the rich cultural diversity of the North East, including ethnic minority and indigenous cultural traditions.

The programme of sessions delivered with Our Lady of Lourdes students was action packed. In the morning Mid Antrim Museum Service hosted the schools' visit to the Braid where the students explored objects and archival material from the 'Images of Ireland' exhibition, many of which illustrate fusion of identity in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Artworks on loan from the Arts Council in the 'Art of the Troubles' exhibition especially made an impact on Year 10 art students who are currently working on a collective mural project exploring the Troubles and the diversity of identity and cultural tradition in contemporary Northern Ireland.

After lunch students met with local playwright and storyteller Damien Gorman who spoke of his own experiences as a young man growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Damien discussed the development of his writing practice and how it has helped him deal with different types of conflict experienced in his youth and adult life. Damien made a huge impression on the students who valued his openness and excellent story telling talents.

To round up the days programme, students then viewed a film which took them on a 'Tour of the Constitutional Court' in Johannesburg, South Africa which highlights the role art and architecture has played in shaping a more democratic society here while also enabling South Africans to acknowledge their long history of conflict. Exploring South African in this way enabled students to draw parallels between the history and nature of conflict there and in Northern Ireland.

In September, Damien Gorman will return to Our Lady of Lourdes High School to facilitate a day long creative writing session with some of students who participated on his programme. These students will then participate in an informal event to be held in the school which will showcase the learning and creativity which has occurred as a result of the schools participation in the Cultural Fusions programme.

The overall Cultural Fusions Programme is being delivered across the North East and will run until December 2010. For further information please contact Causeway Museum Service on 028 7034 7234.