Dublin Chinese New Year Festival 2011 Brochure (EN)

DUBLIN

CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

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ar Festival e Y w e N e s e in h Dublin City C abbit The Year of the R February

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www.dublin.ie/cny

Welcome DUBLIN

CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

Building on the success of the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival (DCNYF) in the past three years, we are delighted to launch our 2011 Festival celebrating the year of the Rabbit, in the 4709th year of the Chinese calendar. DCNYF is committed to celebrating Sino-Irish relations showcasing Chinese culture and heritage to a new and wider audience while promoting integration. In 2010 a key project “Chinese Voices Dublin Lives” proved very successful and was shown to thousands at the Irish Pavilion in the World Expo in Shanghai. While we are facing very difficult times, the Festival continues to develop creative and innovative projects. We are delighted to launch a new Chinese Film Festival with the world premier of a great epic “Blood Oath”. We hope this Festival will grow into a strong annual celebration of Chinese film. We also continue to explore Sino-Irish connections in the past, to forge new expressions of culture with national institutions, to engage with emerging new media and to explore the rich and intricate connections between our nations.

During these challenging times we hope the calm, gentle, loving, but very ambitious energy of the Rabbit will support our cities and countries.

This is your Festival. This is your city. Welcome to the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival 2011. May the year bring you blessings of great fortune! . . . Xin Nian Hao!!

From all the members of the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival Committee

The official website for the Festival is www.dublin.ie/cny All details are correct at time of print.

Please check website and media for all updates and changes.

2011 Year of the Metal Rabbit

Fourth in the twelve year Cycle and a very lucky sign - the Rabbit is keen, wise, fragile, tranquil, serene, considerate, fashionable and kind. Generally the Rabbit represents people who are quite calm, they do not exhibit aggressive behaviour and avoid confrontation at all costs. The Rabbit is a symbol of mercy, elegance and worship of beauty. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are loving, and dislike any hostile act. They give others an impression of being frail because of their gentle appearance but, in fact, they are strong-minded and have strong wills. They are nimble, clever and good at avoiding harm to themselves. They are talented and like artistic ventures, such as painting and music and are generally quite present in these worlds. They are also very hospitable, good hosts and warm-hearted companions. They know the art of saving face and giving consideration to the interests of both sides. But be warned! They become depressed and withdrawn if their homes do not contain beautiful possessions to delight them and make them comfortable. Rabbit people are usually relatively careful when it comes to their finances.

The Tiger makes waves, but the Rabbit mends fences. Diplomacy reigns.

Famous Rabbit People: Albert Einstein, Fanny Brice, Joan Crawford, Edith Piaf, Orson Welles, Seamus Heaney, Tina Turner, Bertie Ahern, Anjelica Huston, Enda Kenny, Jane Seymour, Johnny Depp, Helen Hunt, Jose Mourinho Drew Barrymore, Des Bishop, Angelina Jolie, Eva Longoria, Kate Winslet, Tiger Woods and Lionel Messi.

The Rabbit gets on best with the Sheep, Pig and the Dragon. The years of the Rabbit are 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011.

“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape� Chinese proverb

Lord Mayor of Dublin Gerry Breen As Lord Mayor and First Citizen of Dublin, I extend my best wishes for a Happy New Year to the Chinese Community in Ireland. This year is especially important because of Dublin City Council’s decision in December 2010 to twin Beijing and Dublin. I believe this will be a key relationship in developing links and strong ties between our two cities. It will also deepen Sino-Irish relations and celebrate the many aspects and connections we currently share.

I am delighted to launch the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival for 2011and look forward to celebrating Sino-Irish relations in many forms. This year will see the first Dublin Chinese Film Festival. I hope this will be the first of many and build to an annual event.

I want to acknowledge the positive contribution made to our city over many years by our Chinese Community and I also want to thank and pay credit to the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival (DCNYF) Committee for their hard work in continuing this Festival.

I hope 2011, the Year of the Rabbit, brings good health and good fortune to all!

Š Chester Beatty Library

Ambassador Liu Biwei On the occasion of the Spring Festival of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Rabbit, I, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, would like to extend my New Year greetings to all fellow Chinese, Chinese students and scholars in Ireland, wishing you good health, happy family, successful career and all the best. And I extend my gratitude to the Dublin City Council for your efforts promoting exchanges and friendship between the Chinese and Irish people. I wish the celebrations every success!

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland

Ambassador Declan Kelleher The Dublin Chinese New Year Festival has gone from strength to strength and is a major social event in Dublin. It brings together Irish and Chinese people, and enables Irish people to have a direct contact with Chinese culture.

It is a great way of enhancing the human contacts which are such an essential part of the close and friendly ties between Ireland and China.

The Year of the Tiger saw successful high level visits both ways between Ireland and China, notably our President’s visit to China in June for the Shanghai Expo, which was a great success; and the visit by Mr. Li Changchun to Ireland in late September.

As we move into 2011, I very much welcome the steps taken by Dublin City Council to enhance and build further the relationship between the two capital cities of Dublin and Beijing.

I congratulate Dublin City Council and DCNYF and all those involved in the organization of the Festival. I wish them and all participants in the Festival every success. I also wish all those Chinese people living in Ireland, a happy, successful and prosperous Year of the Rabbit.

Ambassador of Ireland to the People’s Republic of China

DCNYF Chinese Film Festival

DCNYF is delighted to launch a new innovative Festival for Dublin. The DCNYF Chinese Film Festival has carefully chosen and will screen twelve movies over six days during the Festival. We will launch the Festival with the film “Bodyguards and Assassins” on Friday 4th February. We are especially proud to have the World Premiere of “Blood Oath”, directed by Stephen Shin and starring Gong Li, on Sunday 13th February. Highlights will also include European premieres, the award-winning films “Ip Man” and “Apart Together”; and Feng Xiaogang’s record box-office hit “Aftershock”. The venues are the Screen and IFI in Dublin. Full details and booking info at www.dublin.ie/cny and www.eventelephant.com/dcnyfchinesefilmfestival Films will also be screened with our partner festivals at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway, on Sunday 6th February, and in Cork, in association with the Confucius Institute UCC. All films are strictly over 18’s and membership of the film festival is welcome at website.

Animation Seminar Wood Quay, Dublin City Council 4th February

Chinese animators will join Oscar-nominated companies Brown Bag Films and Cartoon Saloon to participate in an Animation Seminar on Friday 4th February, at Dublin City Council’s Wood Quay Conference Centre. The Seminar will be an opportunity to look at business practice and the legal aspects of co-production in China, and to nurture contacts that should provide innovative and rewarding opportunities in the years ahead.

Ireland and China can together gain a more competitive ground in the fast-growing animation market in China and the rest of the world.

Free to attend, register at eventelephant.com/dcnyfanimationseminar

Images on the right: Top - Film “Blood Oath” Bottom - Film “The Magic Aster”

Voices from China Chinese New Year Lectures Lunchtime Lecture Series Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

DCNYF will host a series of lectures with key institutions across the city sponsored by The Travel Department Lecture: Old China, New China - and Us Wednesdays at 1.10pm: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd February, 2nd & 9th March This lecture series with distinguished scholars Drs. Jerusha McCormack and John G Blair is organised as part of the Library’s celebrations of the Chinese New Year.

The Mandarin version of the volume “China and the Irish” edited by Dr. Jerusha McCormack will also be presented during the Festival. This specially-commissioned book, based on the RTÉ Thomas Davis lecture series of the same name brings together essays documenting and evaluating Sino-Irish connections.

The lectures are free and open to all, no booking required.

Chinese Plants - Irish Roots Education and Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Wednesday 9th February 2pm - 4pm

Images on the right: Top - Chester Beatty Library Bottom - Sir Robert Hart, Vanity Fair 1894 “China and the Irish”.

Lecture: ‘Chinese Blooms’ Garden Designer Fraser Mc Donough, winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Bloom festival in 2010 will give a lecture on contemporary gardening in the Asian style.

Lecture: ‘Travels in China - Plants, Plant Hunters and People’ Seamus O’Brien, Head Gardener at the National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh is an authority on the ornamental and wild plants of China.

He has taken part in many plant expeditions and is well-known for his interest in the culture of this diverse and wonderful country.

Places limited.

© Chester Beatty Library

Voices from China - Chinese New Year Lectures National Library of Ireland Kildare St., Dublin 2 Wednesday 9th February 7pm

Long Room Hub Trinity College, Dublin Thursday 10th February 7pm

Lecture: “The China Beat: Perspectives on reporting from the world’s rising power” Margaret Ward, RTE Lecture:“Journalist, lawyer and friend of China, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, fifth president of Ireland” Professor Colum Kenny BCL, BL, PhD, DCU School of Communications.

Lecture: ‘Marina Carr’s’ “By the Bog of Cats”: Using the practice of theatre to create intercultural dialogues - my experience with practice-based projects in China.

Sarahjane Scaife By the Bog of Cats is a powerful play loosely based on the myth of Medea, but set in the boglands of Ireland. It deals with themes of motherhood, nationhood, family and the land. This play was translated into Mandarin

by Professor Li Yuan during a residency at the Beijing Foreign Studies University funded by the Irish Literary Exchange programme.

In association with Culture Ireland and Trinity College Dublin

Lecture: Fight the Landlord, Pan Pan @ Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and Irish Pavilion.

Aedin Cosgrove, Pan Pan Theatre.

Fight the Landlord (Dou Di Zhu) was the brainchild of Pan Pan’s artistic directors Gavin Quinn and Aedín Cosgrove, along with Chinese writer and performer Sun Yue who previously wrote the Chinese version of J.M. Synge’s “The Playboy of the Western World” for Pan Pan theatre. Dou Di Zhu (Fight the Landlord) is the most popular card game in China. It is a form of Bridge or Poker. A lecture on the experience of this play in China inspired by the game will be given by Aedin Cosgrove.

Voices from China - Chinese New Year Lectures Buswells Hotel Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 Friday 11th February 4.30 - 6.30pm

Lecture: “A beginners guide to collecting antique Chinese porcelain” Professor Alan Fletcher MRIA China is the home of porcelain with the first ceramic objects made there over 10,000 years ago. By the 18th century, it was exporting huge quantities of porcelain to Europe where demand - especially for the famous blue and white ware - was insatiable. In recent years wealthy Chinese now want to buy back these treasures, which has sent prices rocketing in international auction houses. The lecture will introduce the fascinating world of antique Chinese porcelain, explain the background to recent market trends, and present examples of antique Chinese ware.

You can bring along your own pieces of Chinese porcelain to be assessed for authenticity, historical interest, and, if desired, opinion on possible current market value. Places strictly limited. Booking by email dcnyf@dublin.ie In association with The Travel Department. Full details and times of all lectures are available at www.dublin.ie/cny and www.cbl.ie

“Chinese Voices – Dublin Lives”

My City My Space Exhibition, Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council 3rd - 14th February

Fresh from the Irish pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, “Chinese Voices”, Dublin Lives is an exhibition featuring a set of five 5-min. videos presented on the lives of the Chinese community in Dublin. Four of the films are narrated by Chinese people or people of Chinese-Irish descent who are working, studying and living in Dublin.

These include the themes of Enterprise - Sunnie Sun, Culture - Jenny Siung, Innovation –Xiaojing Yue, Knowledge – ZengYu Huang and the fifth Celebration - Dublin Chinese New Year Festival DVD 2010.

Dublin City Council in association with NOHO Media.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Animation Workshops and Storytelling Dublin City Council Libraries 1st - 12th February

The Hugh Lane Parnell Square, Dublin 1 Saturday 5th February 3 - 4pm

Chester Beatty Library Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

The art of storytelling, whether in the oral tradition or more modern animation form, is held in high esteem in both Irish and Chinese culture.

Dublin City Public Libraries will host a number of free Animation Workshops and Storytelling Sessions in selected branch libraries during the Chinese New Year Festival. Assisted by Eimhin McNamara, Adrian Hurtado, Kellie Bricen, Seosamh O’Maolalai and Patricia Campbell.

Animation Workshops in Coolock Library on Saturday 5th February and in the Central Library, ILAC Centre on Saturday 12th February. These must be booked in advance at the library.

Come celebrate the Chinese New Year with the Hugh Lane! This year it’s the year of the Rabbit. In China they use big bright red dragons in their street celebrations. Artist Janine Davidson will lead you in an orientalflavored workshop where you can make your very own red dragon.

Saturday 5th February 2-3.30pm Make your own lotus flower with artist Claire Crone.

Suitable for 6-11 year olds, free.

Friday 11th February 12-4pm Chinese paper cutting workshop with artist Claire Crone.

Sunday 13th February 2-3pm For everyone - mah jong demonstration with the multi-ethnic community. No booking required, free.

See www.cbl.ie for booking details Full details, times and booking available at www.dublin.ie/cny

Chinese New Year Carnival Wolfe Tone Square Jervis Street, Dublin 1 5th February 12 noon - 6pm

To welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit, DCNYF together with Dublin City Council, present a special Chinese carnival. This will include interactive craft and animation workshops at the DCC Big Blue Library Learning Bus, Chinese food and craft stalls, information booths, authentic Chinese performances with dragon and lion dances, tai chi and martial arts displays, special musical and dance entertainment performing traditional and contemporary Chinese music and acts, and a Chinese rock band.

Full details available at www.dublin.ie/cny

Sino-Irish Business Seminar Wood Quay Venue Dublin City Council Thursday 10th February 2011 8.30am - 2pm

Dublin City Council in partnership with Ireland China Association, Irish Exporter’s Association, Smurfit Business School UCD, Enterprise Ireland, Trinity College Dublin and Treasury Holdings present a seminar on Sino-Irish business, focusing on the challenges for business and emerging entrepreneurs and innovators in the present economy of both countries, and how the Chinese economy may impact Ireland with a special focus on the challenging visa situation.

Please see www.dublin.ie/cny for more details or email dcnyf@dublin.ie if you wish to attend.

Chinese Students Scholars Association Conference Centre of Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin 8.

29th January 5 - 7.30pm

Dublin Zoo

Meet our Asian Animals, Giant Baby Rabbits and Zookeepers that take care of them Phoenix Park, Dublin 5th - 6th February

The “Spring Festival of the Chinese Rabbit 2011” Gala will be organised by Chinese Students and Scholars Association Ireland (CSSA-IE). The theme of the gala is ‘Love and Friendliness around Us’ to celebrate the spring lunar festival. The wonderful performances are cherry-picked from the best programmes of Chinese students and scholars in all Irish higher education institutions.

CSSA-IE is a non-profit organisation and an official representative of all Chinese students and scholars in Ireland.

Keeper talks as well as special Asian enrichment activities, which will showcase our Asian animals’ most natural behaviours will take place throughout the weekend of February 5th & 6th. These special talks will focus on our Asian residents such as Sumatran Tigers, Chinese Red Pandas, Asian elephants, Asian Otters and of course Dublin Zoo’s recently arrived New Zealand Giant Rabbits. Don’t forget to stop by the Family Farm to visit them while they are still small bunnies!!!

Follow the Asian Trail Get ready to discover some amazing facts about the Asian animals.

A self-guided trail will be available to all visitors throughout the week. (visit www.dublinzoo.ie to download trail) Meerkat Restaurant The Meerkat Restaurant will feature some delicious Chinese menu options throughout the weekend of February 5th and 6th.

To learn more about the DCNYF 2011 at Dublin Zoo and find out what else is happening log on to our website www.dublinzoo.ie Alternatively please call 01 4748900, Email: info@dublinzoo.ie

Gala Night: Confucius UCD National Concert Hall 7th February 7.30pm

Nanjing Little Red Flower Youth Troupe and Supporting Acts.

UCD Confucius Gala Night.

The UCD Confucius Institute is delighted to present a Spring Festival Gala featuring different aspects of Chinese culture and folk arts. To celebrate the year of the Rabbit, the Spring Festival Gala welcomes the Nanjing Little Red Flower Youth Troupe to play the main role of the evening on the stage of the National Concert Hall. The Little Red Flower’s artistic performance provides an opportunity for both Chinese and Irish people to enjoy each other’s cultural traditions and have a great time together in the very special atmosphere of warmth and happiness that comes with this time of the year.

Tickets free, Places limited, Contact UCD Confucius Institute 01-7164747 or email china@ucd.ie

Chinese State Circus The Mahony Hall, The Helix, DCU, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 14th & 15th February, 8pm Tickets: €30, €25, €20 (Conc. €25, €20, €15) Family Ticket: €90, €75, €60 (2xAdults 2xChildren) www.thehelix.ie

Gandey World-Class Productions presents THE CHINESE STATE CIRCUS “A show of daunting athleticism” The Observer From the land of legends and warrior Shaolin monks comes the incredible new Chinese State Circus production MULAN.

A breathtaking fusion of precision acrobatics, Shaolin martial arts, dazzling circus skills, colourful characters from Peking Opera, physical theatre and drama choreographed to an original music score, MULAN is based on the legend of one of China’s greatest heroines. Although the tales of how a peasant girl led an army to save her nation from invasion have spread over the world in poems, songs, books, and films, this is their first incarnation in the all-action world of international circus. Entertainment for all the family- from the world’s leading Chinese acrobats.

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Acknowledgements DUBLIN

CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

DCNYF Committee would like to express its sincere thanks to all the institutions, organisations, groups and individuals who have been an enormous help in bringing this Festival into being.

While we cannot mention all here in name, a full acknowledgement list is on our official website www.dublin.ie/cny We wish to express special thanks to our main sponsors: Dublin City Council, Treasury Holdings, Custom Ireland, Kildare Village, Enterprise Ireland, Irish Film Board, Western Union, Tesco Mobile, The Travel Department, IFI, Screen Cinema, Buswell’s Hotel, BANG Restaurant, Harmonia Publications, Helix DCU, Trinity College Dublin and Musgraves Wholesale, The Church Bar & Club and Chris Ryan Solicitor.

A special word of thanks must go to the following individuals and institutions for their support, patronage and dedication: His Excellency, Mr Liu Biwei, Ambassador at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland together with his officials, Dublin City Council especially Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Dublin City Libraries, Events Unit, Press Office, Community and Enterprise Section and the Office for Integration, Office of the Minister for Integration, Lord Rosse, Birr Castle Demesne, Chester Beatty Library, National Library of Ireland, National Botanical Gardens, National Concert Hall, Ireland Chinese Information & Cultural Centre, Confucius UCC, Sun Emerald News, Chinese Scholars and Students Association, Irish Exporter’s Association, Ireland China Association, Chinese Chiu Chung Lung Ying Academy, Down to Earth Events, Geoff Power, Dr. Jerusha McCormack and Prof. John Blair, Prof. Alan Fletcher, Margaret Ward, Eimhin McNamara, Adrian Hurtado, Kellie Bricen, Seosamh O’ Maolalai, Patricia Campbell, Cathal Gaffney, Jennie Stacey and Gillian Higgins, from Brown Bag Films, Paul Young and Catherine Hehir, from Cartoon Saloon, Damian Farrell, from Caboom Jimmy Murakami, Clerkin Lynch Solicitors, Jason Leigh and Lucy Freeman from Crystal CG, Yao Guanghua, from Shanghai Animation Film Studio, Daniel Spencer, Pegbar, Patrice Poujol, Box Promotions, Dublin Zoo, Limelight Design, NOHO, Shining Emerald Media, Silver Hill Foods, and UCD Smurfit Business School.

The information in this brochure is correct at time of printing but is subject to change.

Please check the website www.dublin.ie/cny and follow us on facebook and twitter for updates and information.