- 29 July – Where are we now?
- 10-15 August – Transferring Perspectives by Garry Maguire
- 12-15 August – Right Up Your Street
- 15 August – Street Art Opera Double Bill – He Did What? and Two Angels
- 4 – 25 September – Justice: Never Enough by Abigail O’Brien
Having kicked off online over the June Bank Holiday Weekend Drogheda Arts Festival continues its programme of events over the rest of the summer and, as restrictions ease, activity will continue through July, August and September. Bookings and information for events are open on www.droghedaartsfestival.ie
Thirtythree-45 and Droichead Arts Centre present ‘Where are we now?’ – 29 July
For Drogheda Arts Festival 2021, thirtythree-45 in association with Droichead Arts Centre is producing a podcast sound/music series which will be broadcast on ‘thirtythree-45’s’ website, Droichead Arts Centre’s podcast platform, and internet radio over July and August. As the Covid pandemic has thrown all our lives into flux the question ‘Where are we now?’ seems even more poignant.
The programmes will be available on-demand for a time period after the festival. Invited artists include Claire Fitch, Orla Wren, Conor McMahon, Diarmuid MacDiarmada, Ogy Collins, Hillary Mullaney have been asked to make a work for radio, based on the theme Where are we now? A title inspired by the David Bowie song of the same name.
The first podcast featuring Claire Fitch and Diarmuid MacDiarmada will broadcast at 9pm on Thursday, 29 July.
Transferring Perspectives by Garry Maguire – Tuesday, 10 August – Sunday, 15 August
Transferring Perspectives is a new piece of sculptural artwork, created by artist Garry Maguire that will move from one location to another during Drogheda Arts Festival 2021, adapting and changing to suit its environment. Over a period of six days in August, the evolving work, which is made from wooden posts, rusted mild steel circles, paint, and steel bars will make its way along the banks of the Boyne changing location each day. The locations for this piece of sculptural work are various sites along the river including Baltray, Donor’s Green and St Dominic’s Park.
This event is free and exact locations are available on www.droghedaartsfestival.ie
Big Telly Presents Right Up Your Street – Thursday 12 August to Sunday, 15 August
Right Up Your Street is a live action piece of game-theatre played by entire streets, with communities working together to solve the case. The Story Destroyers have taken The Pookas and now our most cherished stories are at risk. Keeping in touch through WhatsApp and using a system of codes involving flashing lights, twitching curtains and hidden signs, participants must find a way to save the Pookas and these stories before it’s too late. There’s somebody at the door. Is that the phone ringing? Who put that note through the letterbox? Big Telly offers a game filled with chaos, community and craic and one that promises to be right up your street! Please note that Right Up Your Street is a bespoke and tailored outdoor event which will be created and planned with individual streets and estates in mind. Participants will be invited by their local residents committee.
Drive By Shooting & Two Angels Play I Spy – Sunday, 15 August
An outdoor screening of two ten-minute operas written and directed by the award-winning team of John McIlduff and composer Brian Irvine. Drive by Shooting and Two Angels Play I Spy are stories of passion and revenge, and Angels standing on high. Akin to street art, the operas will appear on the wall of Nevada Jack’s on Stockwell Street, before morphing into an animated video. Audience members wear wireless headphones which allow them to experience the orchestral soundtrack while watching imagery on the wall, intertwined with lyrics appearing as dynamic and crafted subtitles. This event is free but booking is essential.
Justice: Never Enough by Abigail O’Brien – Friday, 4 September to Friday, 25 September
Highlanes Gallery is going offsite for this year’s Festival with an exhibition of new work by artist Abigail O’Brien in the former Methodist Church, also on Laurence Street. Since 2007, Abigail O’Brien has been making work based on the four cardinal virtues, in both classical philosophy and Christian theology, of mind and character – Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, and now, Justice. Central to the show is an installation, a real purple Aston Martin DB7 Volante – totally written off and partially cannibalised. Both air bags are blown and the windscreen shattered as it lies without engine or wheels – a twisted wreck she has titled ‘Harvey’. Art is important avenue which can raise critical consciousness and stimulate social change. The #MeToo movement, a social movement against sexual abuse and harassment began to spread after the trial and conviction of Harvey Weinstein in 2017 and was an important influence to O’Brien as she created work for Justice. The question is what is Justice?
All live/outdoor/offsite events will adhere to all Covid guidelines.
Drogheda Arts Festival is supported by Louth County Council and The Arts Council.
For more details and to book tickets see www.droghedaartsfestival.ie
