communiqué (1) Audited Accounts and AGM
Strategies for Social Change. This event, organised by The Advocacy Initiative, Claiming Our Future and Blue Drum continued with much wider reach our initial workshop called the Art of Campaigning See www.advocacyinitiative.ie
The Company AGM took place May 28, Annual Accounts for 2013 wrere presented. Core funding of €65,290 came from the Family Support Agency. In the Company’s Articles of Association our aim is “to enable (…)the community and anti-poverty sector to use creative methods.”
Blue Drum also won a post conference evaluation response gift which means we receive the services of Eimear McNally who is a Visual Harvesting facilitator for a half day! So you see, it is worth filling out those post conference evaluation sheets.
(2) The Agency of Community Culture Promoting Cultural Rights involved an indepth discussion about how to influence the review process of the international Covenant on Economic, Social and Political Rights especially with regard to cultural rights. Blue Drum and the Equality Rights Alliance found a shared agenda to be work with in association with the Children’s Rights Alliance and Free Legal Aid Centres Interesting, in 2015 the Ireland will report on its progress to the UN. We also ( ERA and Blue Drum) jointly prepared a submission to the Shadow Report. Read here: Issuu
(iii) Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today was a one-day London symposium focused on reminiscence in dementia care. Mark McCollum, Chair of Blue Drum and who was involved in developing a reminiscence network in Ireland took part and delivered a workshop. Other events during the symposium included the launch of a new theatre archive and a plan for accredited training.
(3) Connections / Seminars
(4) We Are Family: Faces of Family
Support and Community Culture Dublin Castle, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014
(i) Meeting with Eastern Region took place on May 13th, St. Kevin’s Kilnamanagh. Eleanor Phillips and Gillian Keogan met with FRC’s from the Eastern region flagged up the possibility of running a ‘train the trainer – art in group/family work.
Open Call for Showcase of Community Arts Work with Specific Groups This event is designed for those involved in family support and who are part of TUSLA Child and Family Agency. During this startup phase we want to initiate a series of conversation involving FRCs and TUSLA
(ii) Eleanor Phillips and Ed Carroll took part in Visualising Advocacy: Creative
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communiqué about the culture of community development and creativity and how this can meet the objectives of the new Agency. This first showcase and workshop event will bring together board members and staff from Family Resource Centres, and the wider TUSLA Child and Family Agency to talk about Meitheal while taking part in a workshops of the diverse faces of family support work.
(6) City (Re)Searches: Pamphlets In May 2014 we launched the Pamphlets which were a result of this research project. Each researcher wrote-up their reflections following short inquiry visits to Cork, Belfast, Kaunas and Rotterdam. We are immensely appreciative of the 12 artists and researchers who contributed their practice, ideas and experience over the last two years. These are: f marquespenteado, Jeanne van Heeswijk, Mary Jane Jacob, Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas, Susanne Bosch, Vagabond Reviews, Fiona Woods, John Mulloy, Niall Crowley and Niall O’Baoill. All pamphlets are available to download here: Issuu and an archive website will hold a lot of documentary material too here: City (Re)Searches
We are looking for Demonstrations of work with -Children -Young people’s -Disability Forum Theatre organised by Peter Kearns (DESSA) -Unemployed -New Communities Zone -Travellers Cultural Rights -LGBT -Lone parents -Older people and active age
(7) www.ReCreate.ie Are you aware of ReCreate? Its a Dublinbased group that sources unwanted, end-ofline surplus materials and makes them available to members for creative activities. ReCreate’s mission is to inspire! _______ Issue 6 / July 2014
If your group are interested to showcase and to give a face to your work please get in touch with Eleanor at 0833063066 blue.drum@yahoo.com (5) Project Bud – Exchange with St. Louis Community Arts Institute. We will launch a call for an eight week exchange opportunity soon. This exchange for a development/family worker and/or community artist from/to St Louis, USA requires local fundraising. Any group that might consider taking part in 2015 please get in touch with us.
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