The 5th Annual Open Call Exhibition
Online exclusive Preview
20th march - 8th may 2020
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With the realisation that a pandemic was sweeping the world, The Presentation Arts Centre joined every cultural institution in Ireland and temporarily shut down operations for the good of public health and safety. As this emergency happened right in the middle of our submissions week for The 5th Annual Open Call Exhibition, we made the decision to create an online exclusive preview of artwork that will be shown in our gallery when our doors finally reopen. The online exclusive preview ran for 8 weeks straight in a consistent blaze of colour and creativity with national media recognition for our little idea and our incredibly talented artists. Because there is always a way to #CelebrateCreativity... no matter what!
Please enjoy the slideshow of gorgeous artwork that was submitted. Keep reading for a transcript of a speech specially written by Lucy Medlycott, CEO of Irish Street Arts, Circus & Spectacle Network, in response to our shift to the virtual world. And hopefully we will see you all soon at the official opening. What a party that will be! |
Creativity - Does It Matter?
In these strange times, when we are stripped back to the bare essentials for survival, and we collectively realise and appreciate the great life-saving work of the health services, the responsibility on decision makers, the patience of the supermarket worker, the importance of our bin services, the necessity of farmers, of bakers, of toilet roll makers... one might be forgiven for asking oneself does creativity matter?
Is creativity an ‘Essential Service’?
When I was initially invited to open The Presentation Centre’s Annual Open Call for Creativity 2020 at the beginning of February, I was both deeply honoured and also extremely nervous. What could I say about creativity, that hasn’t already been said. Why should my words on this subject matter? What approach could I take that would somehow shed some light/relevance on the need for creativity in today's fractured world? Little did we know, that that fractured world was about to be presented with a whole different challenge in such a short space of time. How futile now does all the political posturing and deal making look of recent times. To put it simply - everything has changed.
Yet as we find ourselves ‘cocooning’, and staying close to those whom we love, we also find ourselves in need. In need of hope, of inspiration, of ideas, of entertainment, of information, of sharing, of caring and of expression of feelings. Indeed, it is in times of adversity that perhaps creativity is at its most relevant.
We are collectively engrossed, distracting ourselves with films, music, books, gardening, painting, baking, cooking, handcrafts, poetry, you-tube, writing, sewing, zooming, knitting, dancing, skyping, cycling, moving, thinking, rethinking, imagining, singing, walking, talking, telephoning, sharing, playing and thinking again. Sharing our days small achievements with the world, through the power of the internet. Proclaiming each creation as a personal triumph, a stroke of genius, or just out of pure pleasure in the knowledge that we did something worthwhile today. It is this creative output which holds the possibility to feel human, to feel connected, to feel valued and most importantly to stay sane. This is the stuff of creative thought, of creative process, of idea formation, of regeneration, of new possibilities. Who can say that this does not matter?
Creativity is our survival tool at this moment, those who stay most creative, will blossom, preserve and enrich us all.
• Teachers - becoming ever more creative, attempting to engage their unwilling students remotely.
• Organisations - finding creative ways to reinforce their team and achieve their goals focusing on creative output, not hours worked.
• Government Departments - learning to support, sustain and work with each other through creative, open sharing thought, thinking of the greater good, over point scoring.
The world is faced with an enormous challenge to protect humanity, and yet the world has given us an enormous opportunity to recognise the things that really matter….and it is through creativity undoubtedly, where we will find the means to do just that.
NOW Is the TIME to be creative, to appreciate the creative and to recognise the role of creativity in all of us and how creativity will keep us ALIVE!
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A massive congratulations to everyone presenting their creative work through this the fifth and most novel Open Call Exhibition at The Presentation Centre Enniscorthy. A huge acknowledgement to Lisa Byrne, Larry Dunne, Elizabeth Whyte and all the team of The Presentation Centre in partnership with Wexford Arts Centre for their imaginative way of presenting everyone’s work across ages, barriers, divides and beyond COVID19. Every single person living is a creative being. Share your creativity with the wider world. Here is your chance. Creativity Matters!
By Lucy Medlycott | Director | Irish Street Arts, Circus & Spectacle Network | www.isacs.ie
Is creativity an ‘Essential Service’?
When I was initially invited to open The Presentation Centre’s Annual Open Call for Creativity 2020 at the beginning of February, I was both deeply honoured and also extremely nervous. What could I say about creativity, that hasn’t already been said. Why should my words on this subject matter? What approach could I take that would somehow shed some light/relevance on the need for creativity in today's fractured world? Little did we know, that that fractured world was about to be presented with a whole different challenge in such a short space of time. How futile now does all the political posturing and deal making look of recent times. To put it simply - everything has changed.
Yet as we find ourselves ‘cocooning’, and staying close to those whom we love, we also find ourselves in need. In need of hope, of inspiration, of ideas, of entertainment, of information, of sharing, of caring and of expression of feelings. Indeed, it is in times of adversity that perhaps creativity is at its most relevant.
We are collectively engrossed, distracting ourselves with films, music, books, gardening, painting, baking, cooking, handcrafts, poetry, you-tube, writing, sewing, zooming, knitting, dancing, skyping, cycling, moving, thinking, rethinking, imagining, singing, walking, talking, telephoning, sharing, playing and thinking again. Sharing our days small achievements with the world, through the power of the internet. Proclaiming each creation as a personal triumph, a stroke of genius, or just out of pure pleasure in the knowledge that we did something worthwhile today. It is this creative output which holds the possibility to feel human, to feel connected, to feel valued and most importantly to stay sane. This is the stuff of creative thought, of creative process, of idea formation, of regeneration, of new possibilities. Who can say that this does not matter?
Creativity is our survival tool at this moment, those who stay most creative, will blossom, preserve and enrich us all.
• Teachers - becoming ever more creative, attempting to engage their unwilling students remotely.
• Organisations - finding creative ways to reinforce their team and achieve their goals focusing on creative output, not hours worked.
• Government Departments - learning to support, sustain and work with each other through creative, open sharing thought, thinking of the greater good, over point scoring.
The world is faced with an enormous challenge to protect humanity, and yet the world has given us an enormous opportunity to recognise the things that really matter….and it is through creativity undoubtedly, where we will find the means to do just that.
NOW Is the TIME to be creative, to appreciate the creative and to recognise the role of creativity in all of us and how creativity will keep us ALIVE!
------------------------------------------------------------------
A massive congratulations to everyone presenting their creative work through this the fifth and most novel Open Call Exhibition at The Presentation Centre Enniscorthy. A huge acknowledgement to Lisa Byrne, Larry Dunne, Elizabeth Whyte and all the team of The Presentation Centre in partnership with Wexford Arts Centre for their imaginative way of presenting everyone’s work across ages, barriers, divides and beyond COVID19. Every single person living is a creative being. Share your creativity with the wider world. Here is your chance. Creativity Matters!
By Lucy Medlycott | Director | Irish Street Arts, Circus & Spectacle Network | www.isacs.ie
