Tracton Arts Festival Is A Kaleidoscope Of Entertainment Writes JJ Hurley
The organising committee for the upcoming Tracton Arts Festival 2017 can certainly take a bow for unveiling a programme that encompasses a spectrum of disciplines from the world of the arts. Indeed, two of the hardworking committee members, Victor Richardson and Sara Roberts will both be hosting individual workshops during the course of the festival. Sara, who is one of the country’s top ceramic artists, will open her studio to the public on Saturday, July 8th at 10am.
While Victor Richardson, whose work adorns many public arenas around the country, including the exclusive Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, will give an insight into his successful career on Saturday, July 8th at 2pm. Getting underway on Thursday July 6th, at 8.30pm with the legendary voice that is Luka Bloom, the festival will run until July 9th, at the Tracton Arts and Community Centre in Minane Bridge.
In addition to Luka Bloom taking to the stage of the ever more popular venue – The Ink Well Theatre, well- known musician, Jack O’ Rourke, will also feature on Sunday July 9th at 7pm. Sandwiched in between the two solo artists is two cabaret performances, featuring some wonderful jazz sounds from Les Temps des Cerises, Snatch Comedy and MB Soul Review on Saturday July 8th at 8pm and Sunday 9th at 12 noon. In a festival that really has an impressive line-up of entertainment, it’s difficult not to be overawed by the programme that has something for everyone.
The less traditional arts forms are also featured – with a lecture by well-known photographer, Daragh Muldowney, a master class of the visualisation of music through light, with David Goulding – as well as a workshop on animation, introduced by Avril O’Brien, the three respective lectures take place on Saturday afternoon.
Over the past number of months, the venue has introduced a monthly screening, which has proven to be extremely popular, so much so, the festival organisers have included not just one screening, but three – as well as adding a documentary on Vermeer to the line-up, in the upcoming festival.
If it is trying to escape the world of popular entertainment, including the big screen, and introduce a more serene pace to your life, then the two Yoga workshops, taking place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th, at 10am are more than worth a look in. If this does do not have the desired effect, maybe festival goers might like to take a stroll at the Gort na Nain farm on Sunday July 9th at 11.30am.
Other interesting items in the programme include a seaweed talk and cookery demonstration on Sunday, July 9th at 12 noon, followed in the afternoon at 3pm with a Raku pottery workshop with Julian Smith.
The organisers deserve huge credit for stitching together a very impressive schedule, at a venue, which is attracting ever-increasing praise for its efforts to promote the broad spectrum of arts.
For more information on the festival log onto http://www.thetractoncentre.org
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