Let's Talk About The Arts

This is the second part of a conversation I had with photographer Ruth Medjber about Ownership and Funding within the Arts Industry. In this episode we delve more into funding applications from the artists perspective. 

If you would like to get involved in the conversation, please contact us at [email protected] where all feedback, ideas, thoughts and experiences are welcome 

This is Part One of a two part conversation with photographer Ruth Medjber. 

In this episode, myself and Ruth discuss ownership of work and funding applications from the artists point of view. 

The Arts Council recently used Medjbers work on their socials and didn't credit or tag her. She raised awareness to this on her twitter account, and expressed that it was particularly confusing due to the photo promoting an application she had put in for and hadn't heard back about. 

Her tweet got a lot of feedback and raised awareness to the conversation we opened in this episode.

Since our conversation, the Arts Council have contacted Ruth, and she has received positive feedback regarding her application and has also been successful with another application.

However, the conversation around Ownership and Funding is an important one to have and I was honoured that Ruth was willing to have the conversation with Let's Talk About The Arts. 

LTATA aims to open up the important conversations that need to be had to highlight the areas and topics that need growth and change within the industry. This is a safe space to share, explore and discuss.

If you would like to get involved in the conversation, please email us at [email protected], where all feedback, ideas, thoughts and experiences are welcome. 

Kev Olden is a singer/songwriter from Cork. Kev relocated to Toronto, Canada just before the lockdown hit last year. He took the time behind closed doors to explore his creativity and artistry, and has recently launched his new single Hush. Kev joined me for a chat about working through creative blocks, following his instincts and to tell us more about Hush.

Kev has kindly shared with us his brand new single, Hush, and we look forward to the next instalment of music from Kev Olden.

@kev_olden

This week on A Moment with The Arts Eimear Mc Carthy Luddy from Vocology Ireland, Steve Philips from Steve Philips Management and musician/singer Bobbi Arlo join Let's Talk About The Arts to discuss the path to the roles they have found themselves in and staying creative within their roles. 

1.05 @vocologyireland

19.17 @stevephilipsmanagement

32.48 @bobbi_arlo

Ashwin Chacko and Caoimhe Walsh are two artists who have strong messages to share. It was a delight to be joined by them to talk about how they convey their own personal messages through their creativity and skills. 

1.04 @whackochacko

13.49 @fat.lemon.prints

In this weeks episode of A Moment with The Arts, we celebrate mother and daughter duo Mimi&Martha and their new project Colour your World, sister duo In the Nud, and Cellissimo presented by Music for Galway and Galway 2020.

We also have a special recording of Naomi Berrill's premier performance of Bill Whelan's 'Fragments' which was commissioned by Cellissimo for the Galway Cello. The performance is a live recording from the opening concert of the Cellissimo festival. 

We also have a shout out for the boob whisperer Jen who introduced LTATA to In the Nud.

1.05 @bymimiandmartha

5.27 @inthe_nud

10.10 @musicforgalway

13.13 'Fragments' by Bill Whelan performed by Naomi Berrill (@naomiberrillcello)

Welcome to the first episode of Let's Talk About The Arts Presents A Moment with the Arts.

Fearghal Curtis invites you to take a moment for the artists, organisations and projects that inspire, motivate and enhance our lives

Every week Fearghal will come to the mic to uplift and support some of the amazing creativity that is happening in the arts industry. I’ll finish each episode with ‘A Moment to Consider’ where I will present a thought or idea to contemplate on.

They will be short and sweet each week, and I hope will give you an opportunity to embrace what’s happening in the arts and to consider your relationship with the arts and your inner artist.

1.12 Nua Collective @nuacollective.ie

3.37 @irishnationalopera

13.27 @alankeaneart

16.57 @sophwhitewhoop

Let's Talk About The Arts Festival Conversations is an opportunity to chat to the organisers, performers and artists involved in festivals and events. 

We are joined by the music festival Cellissimo presented by Music for Galway and Galway 2020 which is a celebration of the warm and rich instrument, the cello.

In the first episode with Cellissimo, LTATA talks with Artistic Director Finghin Collins and Festival Director Anna Lardi.

Listing out Sallay Matu Garnetts accolades just doesn’t seem fitting as an introduction to one of the most mesmerising artists I’ve had the privilege of sitting across from. So, I’m going to let her take you through her journey.

My introduction for her is stolen from my first guest and a very good friend of Sallay’s, Stephanie Dufresne;

“She’s a literal angel, Fearghal, I don’t know what else to tell you, ok. She’s a magical, elfin creature and she sings like an angel. So, deal with that.”

And for the last couple of weeks I’ve been dealing with just that. Every Time I’ve come to prepare Sallay’s interview, I’ve turned on her music as a soundtrack to my research, only to fall into a rabbit hole of being swept away by a musician and artist who creates a world that I have no fitting adjectives to describe.

I actually met Sallay, who professionally goes by Loah, back in 2017 through our mutual friend, yep, you’ve guessed it, Stephanie Dufresne. The setting was the popular artist hot spot, Hughes Bar during the Galway Arts Festival, and Sallay instantly captured me with her warm energy, cool vibe and unique speaking tone.

If I mention Steph one more time, I may just have to make it Let’s Talk About The Arts with Steph and Feargh, but it was Steph the next day who filled me in on the wonderful artist and human that Sallay is.

The journey of Let’s Talk About The Arts has been a transformational one for not only my professional life, but also my personal and artistic life. And the heart and passion I’ve explored and learnt from through Loah’s online presence almost seems like the perfect way to end this first series. She is inspiring, enchanting, unique and one of a kind.

My guest today is operatic tenor Dr. Gavan Ring. And let me tell you, I have no idea where to start. This man has many strings to his bow.

Hailing from Cahersiveen in Kerry, I was exhausted after reading all of Gavan’s achievements, both in his diverse operatic career and extensive educational background.

I’ve got to work with Gavan a couple of times, most recently in The Magic Flute with Irish National Opera in 2019, where things were a little different. Not only were we performing live theatre, but Gavan was a completely different voice type and The Magic Flute marked his swan song as a baritone.

An extremely intelligent artist, the Dr. part of Dr. Gavan Ring points to his PhD, where he researched Robert O’Dwyers 20th Century Gaelic Opera Eithne. This led to the opera being performed in 2017 for the first time in 107 years, and I was lucky to play a small role opening the opera as the Taoiseach, as Gavan played the High King of Ireland. Maybe in these roles, between us, we could figure out a solution for the Arts crisis we are looking at today.

Not only having resurrected an important part of Irish opera history, Gavan consistently shows his support for the Arts in Ireland, particularly during this tough time. Scrolling through his twitter account, Gavan uplifts all parts of the Irish arts and culture industry, promoting his colleagues and the wonderful work so many do for the Arts. He also kindly shares his wonderful talent and his passion, or gra as he would put it, for music, opera and Ireland.

Lockdown has been a busy time for Gavan. He has continued to perform regularly on new platforms in events that have supported many during this difficult time, as well as being a part of many projects and collaborations, such as album releases and farewell surprises for well known radio presenters.

He also runs his own music school, Cooley Music Academy with his wife Nicola, another wonderful artist. Oh, and yeah, they also welcomed their third child, Dylan.

Truly inspiring, I’m excited to hear how Gavan has managed so many wonderful projects during a crazy time when the Arts has been struggling to survive. With his work ethic, intelligence, passion and talent, Gavan has shown us that despite a crisis, the Arts is and will keep fighting back and flourishing.