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Press Release – 24/03/2015
Close to 1000 students filled Ulster Hall for Poetry in Motion annual anthology launch.
Belfast’s Freeman Dr. Michael Longley presents Grange Primary School
(Kilkeel, Co. Down) with the inaugural
**Seamus Heaney Award for Achievement”
Yesterday, Monday 23rd March, approaching 1,000 children, from right across Northern Ireland, travelled
to Belfast’s Ulster Hall for the gala launch of the *Poetry in Motion (Schools) Project 2015 poetry
anthology ‘The Way with Words’ and the awarding of the inaugural Seamus Heaney Award for
Achievement.
The launch celebrated the poems the young people had created with Community Art Partnership’s team of
poet facilitators through the LaVA programme (Literature and Verbal Arts).
This annual cross-age, cross-ability, cross-community event brought together thirty schools from primary,
post primary, grammar and special schools in the largest poetry based shared event of its kind.
The Poetry in Motion (Schools) project is funded by Community Arts Partnership’s principal funder, the
Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Community Arts Partnership also secured funding from Belfast City Council and Lloyd’s TSB Foundation for
Northern Ireland. The anthology contains over 130 poems accompanied by a CD recording of the poetry
performed by schools involved.
In addition to the anthology and the CD, a new aspect to this year’s programme was the Seamus Heaney
Award for Achievement. This recognized Seamus Heaney’s immense contribution to our literary and
creative horizons, and the award is acknowledged by the Heaney family.
The inaugural Heaney Award for Achievement was presented to Grange Primary School (Kilkeel) by
internationally celebrated poet Michael Longley, CBE and the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Nichola Mallon.
Facilitated by local poet and artist Marion Clarke, the judges felt that the work of classes P5 and P6 of
Grange Primary was exemplary and showed a highly sophisticated sense of image and form.
Conor Shields, ***Community Arts Partnership’s Chief Executive said,
“Once again we have seen an inspiring Poetry in Motion (Schools) Project, with students from all across
Northern Ireland reading, reciting and performing their poetry in the Ulster Hall.”
New Belfast Community Arts Initiative trading as Community Arts Partnership is a registered charity (XR 36570) and a company limited by guarantee (Northern Ireland NI 37645).
“The depth and breadth of work exhibited, the evocative quality of the writing and the unbridled
exuberance of the performances showed that not only is poetry alive and well as an art form but that our
young poets are producing absolutely outstanding work.”
He went on to say
“Since 2000, Community Arts Partnership have been supporting young poets through the Poetry in Motion
(Schools) Project but this year was the very first that we offered the Seamus Heaney Award for
Achievement. It is a tremendous honour to have the Lord Mayor of Belfast Nichola Mallon assist us in the
presentation. And what an incredible privilege to have the newest Freeman of Belfast, Dr. Michael Longley,
a colleague and friend of our late Nobel Laureate for over 50 years, present the Seamus Heaney Award for
Achievement to Grange Primary School (Kilkeel). Everyone involved is delighted, especially the winning
school.”
“Community Arts Partnership offered this award as recognition of Seamus Heaney’s unparalleled legacy
and its inspiration for us as a society and as a creative community. CAP facilitates that legacy by having a
real poet in the class, directly assisting students and teachers to develop better poetry practice. It is also
worth noting that through this poetry project, young people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities are
brought together to celebrate the writing and performing of poetry .”
“Poetry in Motion (Schools) Project is an excellent example of how Community Arts Partnership assists
young people to become involved in the arts. Each year we prove that given the opportunity, the right
support and commitment the creative potential of people can be unlocked. Our thanks are extended to our
principal funder, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. CAP would also like to thank Belfast City Council and
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland for their support.”
Chelley McLear, project Co-ordinator for the Poetry in Motion (Schools) Project said,
“As always with the Poetry in Motion (Schools) Project, the work of the facilitators, the many hours spent in
the classrooms, the support of the teachers and classroom assistants, comes to fruition at the gala poetry
recital this year held at the magnificent Ulster Hall.”
“It was a wonderful project to be involved with and to see students from all over Northern Ireland showing
such a vast array of styles, of performances and creative approaches was breath-taking. Poetry in Motion
(Schools) Project has allowed young people the opportunity to create new and exciting poetic writing today
creating possibly the poets of the future, and with this Seamus Heaney Award for Achievement there is
further recognition of the work being undertaken.”
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For interviews:
To speak to Headmaster McKinley, Grange Primary School, phone 028 41762033.
To speak to CAP’s Chief Executive, phone 07790021754.
To speak to Chelley McLear, Poetry in Motion coordinator, phone 07738221625.
Notes to Editors
*Poetry in Motion (Schools) Project has come a long way in the fifteen years since it began as a part of the
programme from New Belfast Community Arts Initiative. Over that time, Poetry in Motion for Schools
(PIMS) became one of the most recognisable local workshop programmes with the highest participation
rates for any community arts project in Northern Ireland. Since 2011 Community Arts Partnership has
welcomed new participants from across the region. More than 14,000 young participants have made their
first poetic steps through this project to date.
**Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing (Community) and Achievement (Schools)
Seamus Heaney’s immense contribution to our literary legacy is recognized through Community Arts
Partnership’s Poetry in Motion Projects with this award as a new addition to these highly commended
projects.
The award is actively supported by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and acknowledged by the Heaney
family, and will recognise exceptional new local writing and exceptional contributions by schools. The
Award is now established with 2015 being the first year of presentation.
***Community Arts Partnership
Community Arts Partnership takes the lead in the promotion, development and delivery of community arts
practice, in the belief that the arts can transform our society at a cultural, social and economic level. We support
and collaborate with community groups, centres of learning, artists, arts centres and other organisations in Northern
Ireland and beyond.
Our mission is
To take the lead in the promotion, development and delivery of community arts practice, to affect positive change.
Our vision is
To see the emergence of a just, inclusive, peaceful and creative society, where difference is welcomed and
participation is valued.
We have a two-fold approach to arts development:
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firstly supporting access and participation by seeking to affect policy through advocacy and leadership and
secondly, promoting authorship and ownership through the active engagement in projects and
programmes.
We offer a platform for policy consultation and development, whilst at the same time, develop new creative
opportunities for artists, communities and individuals through:
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Arts workshop programme
Arts workshop services
Advocacy
Information
Research
Platforms for networking and sharing experiences
Professional training
Other initiatives to promote engagement.
CAP is supported by its principal funder, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
For more information please feel free to contact Gordon Hewitt - Information and Policy Manager - Community Arts
Partnership - Subscribe to our growing arts news network. www.comartspartner.org
3-5 Commercial Court | Belfast | BT1 2NB Northern Ireland - Tel: + 44 (0)28-90923493 - Fax: +44 (0)28-90924545