Archives for the month of: March, 2013

Happy Easter

Hope you’ve all had a smashing easter and good luck to all the mums and dads who have another week of school holidays to fill! Worth having a look at PrimaryTimes.ie for ideas of whats on (sometimes free events) in your area.

MAJOR NEW EXHIBITION OF IRISH CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATION TO TOUR EUROPE AND IRELAND

Pictiúr, an exciting new exhibition of the work of some of Ireland’s leading children’s book illustrators and which has been curated by Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey, will visit four venues in Europe during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, before returning to Ireland to tour.

During March, Pictiúr will visit the Festival for Young Readers at the Palais Auersperg in Vienna, Austria, before moving on to the Bologna Book Fair, Europe’s most prestigious children’s book event. Then, in April, it will visit the European Parliament building in Brussels before moving to the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe, Ireland’s cultural centre in Belgium. Pictiúr’s European tour is being funded by Culture Ireland as part of its Culture Connects International Culture Programme to celebrate Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.

In the Autumn, Pictiúr will begin its Irish Tour with visits to Draíocht Arts Centre in Blanchardstown and the Babaró Children’s Festival in Galway and before returning to Dublin to begin exhibiting at IMMA, Kilmainham, at the end of the year.

‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to tour the work of some of our finest illustrators, both internationally and within Ireland,’ said Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey. ‘Showcasing these artists will allow us to demonstrate the range, scope and skill of Irish illustrators and will help to grow our reputation both at home and abroad.’

Pictiúr features the work of 21 children’s book illustrators. Illustrators include P.J. Lynch, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Olivia Golden, Alan Clarke, Steven Simpson and Andrew Whitson. The exhibition will comprise 42 art pieces and will include illustrations from books written in English and Irish.

NOTE FOR EDITORS
Featured Illustrators:

Lily Bernard Adrienne Geoghegan Anita Jeram Donough O’Malley
Alan Clarke Olivia Golden Chris Judge Niamh Sharkey
Michael Emberley Chris Haughton P.J. Lynch Steve Simpson
Tatiana Feeney Paul Howard Oisin McGann Kevin Waldron
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick Oliver Jeffers Mary Murphy Olwyn Whelan
Andrew Whitson

Pictiúr Itinerary:

AUSTRIA 14th -20th March 2013, Festival of Young Readers, Palais Auersperg, Vienna, Austria

The exhibition will be on show for the duration of the festival in central Vienna.  This annual festival attracts more than 8,000 visitors (schools and families) each year.

ITALY 25th to 28th March 2013, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Bologna Italy.

The Bologna fair, which celebrates 50 years in 2013, is the most significant international trade fair for children’s books and it attracts over 1200 exhibitors coming from 66 countries and 5000 international professional trade representatives. As such, it offers a unique platform for Irish illustration.

BRUSSELS 9th April – 12th April 2013, European Parliament Building

BELGIUM 28th April – 21st May 2013, The Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe

The exhibition will be on show for three weeks in the Leuven Institute.

Irish Tour Autumn 2013
Draoícht, Blanchardstown – 5th September – 5th October 2013

Babaró Festival, Galway Arts Centre – 13th – 31st October 2013

IMMA, Kilmainham, Dublin – December 2013

 

Full biographies and sample images from the exhibition are available on request and curator Niamh Sharkey is available to interview.

 

About Laureate na nÓg
Laureate na nÓg is an exciting project recognising the role and importance of literature for children in Ireland. This honour was awarded for the first time in May 2010 to author Siobhán Parkinson. Illustrator Niamh Sharkey is the current laureate, and will hold the title until May 2014. The laureate participates in selected events and activities in Ireland and abroad during their term and is chosen as a result of their internationally recognised body of high quality children’s writing or illustration and the considerably positive impact they have had on readers as well as other writers and illustrators. Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council with the support of The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Children’s Books Ireland, Poetry Ireland and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The programme is administered by Children’s Books Ireland.

For further information, contact 

Mags Walsh, Director, Children’s Books Ireland on 01/8727475 / 086 605 3888  

or Nessa O’Mahony, Project Manager, Laureate na nÓg on 087 9309670.