Inter-Regional Funding Programme awards �45,000 to Irish Arts Practitioners

The EU-funded programme CCAT (Cultural Touring and Co-operation), designed to develop relationships between cultural practitioners in Ireland and Wales, recently awarded a total of �45,000 in four awards to Irish artists and organisations working in music, literature, dance, the visual arts and the performing arts.

These substantial awards were made at meeting of the CCAT Artistic Advisory Panel for Round 7 applications (September 2nd 2005), and include two music touring awards, one dance touring award, one visual arts touring exhibition award.

These awards were made to:

Since 2004, CCAT has awarded over �152,000 to a total of sixteen Irish-based artists and organizations.

Before the end of the CCAT programme, in December 2006, CCAT@Temple Bar will award a further �135,866, including 12 Touring Group Awards, 2 Touring Exhibitions Awards and 2 Co-Production Awards. A further �9,354 will be available as Go See Awards to enable Irish based artists and arts practitioners to travel to Wales, meet their colleagues, and develop new tours and other artistic projects.

CCAT @ Aberystwyth Arts Centre & Temple Bar is an Interreg IIIa programme designed to develop relationships between cultural practitioners on both sides of the Irish Sea and to raise the profile of the arts of Wales and Ireland both at home and internationally. It is administered in the Irish region by Temple Bar Properties Ltd, and in the Welsh region by Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

For application forms, details and more information, please log onto www.ccat.ie, e-mail ccat@templebar.ie or call Alastar Mac Aongusa at 01.6772255

The Artistic Advisory Panel for Cultural Co-operation and Touring in Ireland are:
Siobhan Bourke (Chairperson) � Producer, Theatre Shop
Caoimhin Corrigan � Arts Officer, Carlow County Council
Enrique Juncosa � Director, Irish Museum of Modern Art
Maureen Kennelly � Arts Consultant
Dermot McLaughlin � CEO of Temple Bar Properties
Tony Reilly � Director, British Council (Ireland)

CCAT is part of Temple Bar Properties' Cultural Development Programme which encompasses cultural buildings, networks and over 100 free outdoor events. www.temple-bar.ie

Some further information on the awarded individuals and organizations:

T�ada
In just four years, T�ada has exploded onto the international touring circuit, capturing the imagination of many with a creative and spontaneous musical approach, seeking to capture the intricacies of traditional art form within a contemporary band context. While the five musicians of T�ada began perfecting their instrumental skills from childhood, it wasn't until 2001 when the freshly-formed band landed a spot on the innovative Irish television show Flosc, that they became a major presence in the traditional music scene. With lush Irish orchestration, T�ada revels in the vibrant music of its homeland, deftly playing up its structural intricacies while preserving the timeless energy of the reels, jigs, hornpipes, and other lesser-known tunes in their repertoire.

Kila
Originating over thirteen years ago on the streets of Dublin, K�la have developed from a buskers' collective to become one of Ireland's most innovative and creative bands. The street origins of the band and their unique ability to absorb other musical influences are reflected in the music they play. It has given rise to an essentially traditional line up (the seven piece play a variety of instruments including whistles, fiddles, pipes, brass and woodwind, as well as the more electric end of the spectrum) infused with a modern urban consciousness.

Ballet Ireland
Established in 1998 Ballet Ireland committed itself from the outset to producing classical ballet of the very highest calibre. From its early days the company had a policy of touring both nationally and internationally and has built a very creditable repertoire giving over 90 performances a year and earning a reputation, both nationally and internationally, for the superb quality of both its productions and dancers.

Eamon Colman
Born in 1957, Eamon Colman has enjoyed a long, distinguished career in the Irish and international visual arts field. His work has been exhibited in countries as diverse as Singapore, Hong Kong, Belgium, Spain, France, the U. S. A., and throughout Ireland. He has also held the position of Chairperson, The Artists' Association of Ireland (1993-95), was a Board Member of the Sculptors' Society of Ireland (1993-96), and wasPresident, The European Council of Artists (1995 � 2000).

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