This article is from page 31 of the 2007-09-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
IN A striking departure from its nor- mal role the Hector Street Centre in Kilrush will open its doors to the lo- cal community with innovative day courses.
The weeklong daytime classes will cover the arts, crafts, media and re- ED e leone
From September professional tui- tion in pottery, weaving and dyeing, art classes, theatre skills and film making will be available with begin- ners and intermediate classes in Tai Chi and specialist exercise and re- laxation classes for wheelchair users or those with mobility challenges.
This open public access communi- ty based education programme rep- resents a dramatic change in the use of the workshop, which up until now followed a “disability only” ethos.
As more and more programmes come on stream to integrate disabled people with the general community, these buildings originally designed for disabled clientele are becoming places where all can meet and min- gle, develop and learn new skills. Irish Potter’s Association instructor Jackie Maurer will offer throwing, coil and pinch pot making at the state of the art potter’s facility in the Hector Street Centre on Tuesday.
Internationally regarded Artist, Trudi Van Der Elsen will be devel- oping her home studio based classes in a course entitled Painting with Acrylics. Starting with still life sub- jects and moving on to more person- ally developed imaginative pieces, Trudi’s classes are on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
On Fridays Suzanne Anker, a pop- ular tutor on the school’s alternative activity circuit, introduces the sourc- ing and applying of natural dyes and
the development of basic weaving techniques, creating home made looms and making attractive hand crafted products.
She will be sharing the Friday slot with well-known Dublin Actor Mick Daly who is expanding his Tiger Box Theatre Company along with song- writer Dave O’Brien. They want to invite anyone with an interest in de- veloping theatre skills, acting, stag- ing, production, lyric and script writ- ing on Friday afternoons.
The group will also be collaborat- ing with Documentary Film Maker Paddy O’Connor who will work at Hector Street in partnership with the Galway Film Centre under the Arts Council Sponsored “Artist in
the Community Programme”. Pad- dy will provide training and hands on experience in all aspects of film making from story boarding through camera work, sound and lighting to post production.
“This programme offers a great op- portunity to cement a growing satel- lite relationship between ourselves and this nationally credited commu- nity film maker which already has strong links with Clare,” said Rob Hopkins of the Brothers of Charity.
Three film projects will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 4 pm, at three monthly intervals from September 20 to May 2008.
Finally to provide mind, body and spirit balance recently arrived Span-
ish national Francisco Lerdo de Te- jada, better known locally as ‘Paco’ will be extending his Tai Chi classes from the golden sands of Kilkee to the shifting sands of Hector Street beginning Monday September 3 with classes designed specifically for wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges followed by a Tai Chi beginners class on Wednes- CP hYapneleyuspentcace
For further information contact Hector Street at 065 9052299.