Launching the LIFT Ballymun Youth Arts Festival 2011

 

It was a great pleasure to have been invited to open the annual celebration of youth creativity and culture that is the LIFT Ballymun Youth Arts Festival in the AXIS theatre.

Having lived all my life in the area, I know the great potential that exists in the youth of the communities of Dublin North West. For the past six years this festival has brought this positivity to the fore and, as I mentioned during my speech at the launch, it has helped the AXIS theatre become the heart of the community.

Sometimes teenagers and young adults are overlooked and are not given the credit they deserve but community festivals like this give the public a chance to see what our young people can achieve.

This year’s festival runs from 13th – 20th April 2011 and includes workshops, participation and performing opportunities for young people in a wide variety of art forms including Music, Rap, DJing, printmaking, Theatre, and much more.

I would encourage everybody to make a special effort to go along and enjoy eight days of events that will prove to be unforgettable for the participants, their families and everyone involved.



Some of the artwork on show at the "Starting For Myself" Art Exhibtion on the first day of the festival