On Thursday the 25th at Greyfriars Gallery Redmond O’Donoghue officially launched the new Imagine Arts Festival Brochure for 2008. Redmond spoke about how exciting the programme is and commended the local voluntary group of arts lovers, arts workers and local business people who put-in such hard work to bring it all together. He praised the scope and breadth of the programming and suggested that there is something for everyone within the festival.
Redmond O’Donoghue was recently appointed as the Chairperson of Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority. He outlined the importance of festivals for both the local economy but also for the morale, image and identity of a City. He spoke about the major investment that Failte Ireland spends annually on festivals approx. €600m this year.
Redmond also spoke about the need that the arts fulfil especially when we are faced with an economic downturn. Ireland has a very strong arts identity and we are known throughout the world for our artistic excellence and how names such as Shaw, Joyce, Wilde, Beckett and many more have brought such excellence to the artistic world.
Redmond finished by speaking about how we could be inspired by the words from John Lennon’s Imagine Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man, Imagine all the people, Sharing all the world...
Ollie Breslin (Artistic Director of Imagine) also spoke and thanked all of the artists and performers who are taking part. He thanked all the volunteers and crew and spoke about how its only possible to put on such an exciting programme with limited funding through such effort and commitment.
He was full of praise for the many local organisations who have gotten involved this year including Christ Church, WIT, Waterford Youth Arts, Red Kettle, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford City Arts Office and all of the venues rowing-in behind the festival. “This festival can only develop with the full relationship and partnership between Imagine and the local arts, cultural and community groups” he said.
He thanked all the sponsors, friends and advertisers and encouraged the public to support them also.
He was delighted that four theatre premieres were taking place, a number of new art exhibitions, the emergence of Waterford’s first Contemporary Dance Company, the launch of a new poetry book, the premiere of a new film short , and a new album launch were all taking place as part of the local contribution to the festival.
Ollie also mentioned the idea of many smaller festivals here in Waterford getting together to create one decent major Arts Festival but that this may not be possible until 2010 and obviously will depend on other groups seeing the merit of such a development.
He finished by asking everyone to spread the word about Imagine 2008 and encourage people to go see events and participate in workshops. For full listings of Imagine 2008 go to www.imagineartsfestival.com
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Events