Donegal goes online with World Class Culture this Weekend

Friday May 1, 2020
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Donegal can look forward to a packed schedule of online events this May Bank Holiday Weekend.

We have teamed up with The Minecraft Gallery and RCC Virtual Artist-in-Residence Joe Fahy to present a ground-breaking group exhibition which opens tomorrow (Friday); Three Lough Swilly-based poets celebrate Poetry Day with us and, of course, our RCC for Kids Youth Engagement Programme will feature activities for the younger generations.
We are proud to highlight a number of other events taking place this weekend. Letterkenny Jazz & Blues Festival presents two days of music with Lockdown Live in aid of Donegal Frontline Workers; Donegal County Library presents Spring Into Storytime with Malachy Doyle on Saturday morning and Letterkenny Comhaltas will be streaming live music and song sessions on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday. There is something for everyone in there and we hope you have a pleasant and safe May Bank Holiday Weekend.
The positive feedback keeps flooding in as new members join in the various initiatives every day and it really lifts our spirits. If you would like to leave us some feedback on Facebook, CLICK HERE

The Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny is proudly supported by Donegal County Council and Arts Council Ireland.

THE MINECRAFT GALLERY x RCC GROUP EXHIBITION

Curated by RCC Virtual Artist-in-Residence, Joe Fahy

THE RCC & The Minecraft Gallery are delighted to present works by 21 Irish and International Artists in an entire ecosystem of a virtual exhibition space built completely inside the open world sandbox game, Minecraft.

As part of Joe Fahy’s residency, the RCC and The Minecraft Gallery will co-produce two exhibitions over the month of May, the first of which opens tomorrow (Friday), 1 May. MORE INFO HERE

Presented by Poetry Ireland & The RCC

Emily S Cooper, Denise Blake and Aodán McCardle were busy organising a live poetry event in Ramelton before COVID-19 struck. They’re weren’t going to let that stop them and moved proceedings to an online venue, presented by Poetry Ireland / Éigse Éireann & the RCC.

Tonight (Friday), 1st May, at 8pm, they will present the Lake of Eye Poetry Reading, directly to your home via Zoom. For registration details, CLICK HERE!

LOCKDOWN LIVE FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS

The full line-up for this weekend’s Letterkenny Kinnegar Jazz & Blues Festival Frontline Workers Fundraiser, Lockdown Live, has been released!

We’re excited to see a host of fantastic talent feature over the two days, and don’t forget to make a donation. No matter how small, it will make a difference! DONATE HERE

All gigs will be on Facebook Live at the scheduled times listed on the festival’s Facebook Page!

MAURA LOGUE – VIRTUAL ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE – MAY 2020

THE RCC is delighted to announce actor, director and playwright Maura Logue as a Virtual Artist-in-Residence for the month of May.

This partnership is in collaboration with Donegal Arts Office and will see Maura present a number of live streamed performances from her home entitled Through the Red Door – Original Irish Stories Live by the Fire, with music by David Ison.

The performances will be streamed live on Wednesday, 6th, 13th and 20th May, at 7pm respectively. For further details, CLICK HERE!

RCC FOR KIDS YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME

WHAT started as a ‘simple’ challenge has turned into a full youth engagement programme with nearly 6,000 families now participating.

The  ‘RCC for Kids’ Facebook Group and youth engagement programme aims to entertain, challenge and educate young people with a variety of activities, such as ‘Home is where the Art is’, that are sure to bring the whole family joy during this period.

Has your family joined ‘RCC for Kids’, yet? CLICK HERE

RCC CURATED CONTENT

We have invited artists, curators and poets to take over our new RCC Curated Conten to present their work, thoughts and ideas. Each artist will present curated content for seven days.

This week, we welcome lens-based artist Éamonn Brown. Born in Letterkenny he has flip-flopped between living in Derry and Donegal.

Éamonn attended the art school in Void Gallery and has exhibited in group shows in Void Gallery (Derry), Millennium Court (Portadown), I.F.S.C.I. (Rome) and Glebe Gallery annual open exhibition where he won a prize.

Éamonn studied Broadcast Production in Kerry ETB and presently works as as art director. FOLLOW HERE

RCC SOUNDS – A COMMUNITY MIXTAPE

We tasked a mix of local and national musicians to each curate a playlist under a theme of their own choice. This community mixtape, lovingly selected by musicians to help keep us company during this period of unknown, will be released at least twice a week.

Today’s RCC SOUNDS 010, entitled Solitary Contentment, has been compiled by well-known Donegal singer/songwriter Tommy Callaghan.

Click below HERE all playlists to-date by John O’Neill (The Undertones), Gabriel Paschal Blake (The Murder Capital), John Muldowney and more.

STILL (A)LIFE ART CHALLENGE
Curated by The Glebe House and Gallery

The RCC asked the The Glebe House and Gallery in Churchill to curate an art challenge for adults.

Every Tuesday The Glebe posts photographs of a still life set up using items from the Derek Hill Collection on its Facebook page.

At the end of the week it posts photos of your artworks on The Glebe House and Gallery Facebook page.

Here’s another still life composed with things from the dining room in Glebe House. The team has added some more flowers from the garden for a little extra colour.

This is a busy still life with lots of pattern and texture and you might even notice the same ewer from last week reflected in the mirror.

Use any medium you like, have fun with this and be adventurous – e-mail jpegs of your drawings to glebegallery@opw.ie

THE REMOTE INSPIRATION CHALLENGE

We’re asking Donegal residents to help us document their experiences during COVID-19 isolation in Donegal. A selection of submissions made during the challenge will be printed and exhibited at the RCC in the near future.

Join the Remote Inspiration Challenge by clicking on the button below and start posting your photos in the group (please limit it to one submission per day).

If you do decide to leave the house please remember to observe social distancing at all time and stay local. If you arrive at a busy area, turn around and either go somewhere quiet, or go home.

CEOL AGUS QUARANTINE

With so many people sharing their talents online, the RCC team created the ‘Ceol agus Quarantine’ group on Facebook aiming to help promote musicians, storytellers and poets doing live streaming sessions during.

The team would be delighted to hear from you if you have any ideas or would like help promoting content!

Come join the other over 1,000 members in Ceol agus Quarantine!

For further information on the Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny’s Spring 2020 Online Programme, click on the above links (headlines), browse our website and follow the RCC on social media!

The Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny is proudly funded by Donegal County Council and Arts Council Ireland.