The Sirius Arts Centre
The Sirius Arts Centre is a new member in our skills exchange. It is a multidisciplinary non-profit centre for the arts in the East Cork area. Founded in 1988, is dedicated to facilitating artistic expression in Ireland. Our yearly programming is focused on raising artistic awareness, and providing opportunities for participation in and enjoyment of the arts.
This is achieved through a mix of activities including visual arts, a prestigious artists-in-residence programme, music, community arts and literature programmes. The Sirius Arts Centre building, which is currently being restored, provides the organisation with a unique environment, and the cultural programme gives continuing life to a heritage building of architectural and historical importance
The Centre exhibits some of the finest national and international artists throughout the year and has a long history of exhibiting a wide range of artists from photography to sound, painting to installation.
The Centre also ran a regular literature programming in the past which focused on workshops and readings. However, due to funding restrictions they have had to scale back their literature programming, but still organise events as often as possible.
In the past Sirius has hosted a number of readings by well known authors from Ireland and beyond such as:
Annie Proulx, Claire Keegan, Dave Duggan, Arthur Japin, Eddie, Stack, Rody Gorman, Jamie O’Neill, Mark Patrick Hederman, Patrick Galvin, Gerry Murphy, Gaye Shortland, Michael Davitt, Ken Bruen and others.
Since 1995 Sirius Arts Centre has hosted regular series of contemporary and traditional music concerts in the West Gallery. Performers have included: Damien Rice, Hugh Tinney, The 4 of Us, Freddie White, Interference with Paul Tiernan, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Charlie Piggott, Juliet Turner, Ronnie Drew, Damien Dempsey, Glen Hansard, North Cregg, Declan O’Rourke, Sharon Shannon and many others.
These evenings are unique acoustic events, rarely do artists need any amplification. Musicians appreciate the opportunity to play at Sirius and the public enjoys the intimate setting with a view of Cork Harbour.
Sirius Arts Centre also hosts the Cobh Maritime Song Festival annually – this international celebration of Maritime and Shanty music is unique in Ireland. The event is organised for the June Bank Holiday weekend and hosts performers from Ireland, England, America, France, Poland and other countries. Forthe latest information on the Maritime Song Festival go to our site
Sirius Arts Centre recognises the importance arts practise has on local communities and, as part of their programming throughout the year, they organise Community Arts events; workshops, lectures and exhibitions. Many of the projects are in partnership with their artist in residency programme.
Past programmes have included the following project partners:
St. Patrick’s Correctional Institution, Dublin, Cobh Youth Services, The Park Road Centre, Cobh YMCA, Midleton Youth services, Cobh Family Resource Centre, Cork County Council, The Arts Council, Southern Health Board, East Cork Area Development, Irish Youth Foundation, Local Schools, Day Centres, Młodzieżowy Dom Kultury, Bytom, Poland and other arts organisations.
Sirius Arts Centre has been developing its Artist in Residence programme for over a decade. The programme is funded by the Arts Council and Cork County Council and is recognised internationally. The residency apartment is located in the basement of the Sirius Arts Centre’s building in the centre of Cobh – 20 minutes by train to Cork City: a four bedroom two bathroom flat with it’s own kitchen and work area, within walking distance of transportation and Cobh town centre. The Artist in Residency programme at Sirius provides residential and some work space to visual artists, either individuals or groups.
For more information on the Sirius Arts Centre go to www.siriusartscentre.ie
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