Westside celebrates creativity of its writers, artists and craftspeople

The Westside Arts Festival, now in its ninth year, opens tomorrow (Wednesday) and runs until Satuday.

The annual festival is a community based event which aims to promote and celebrate the spirit and people of Westside through the arts. It aims to bring local people together by showcasing art and a range of educational activities in local community spaces.

The Festival has always had a very strong community focus and this year the central theme is ‘Growing Our Community’, promoting the principle of caring for all age groups, from the young to the old, who live side-by-side in the community.

This year’s festival programme includes a wide range of events and workshops celebrating the creativity of local writers, artists and craftspeople. Activities will include arts & crafts, storytelling, music, flower arranging, patchwork quilting, gardening and face painting to name but a few! There will be something for all age groups and all festival activities are free of charge.

The festival has been organised by Westside Resource Centre, Galway City Partnership, Scoil Chroí Íosa, Westside Family Services, Westside Age Inclusion and Westside Library and is supported by many local community groups and individuals.

Full programme details available at www.facebook. com/westsideartsfestival

Wednesday

Open Mic. 6-8pm Westside Library.

Thursday

Art Exhibition 7pm Westside Resource Centre;

Live Music in ‘Community Café’ 7:30-8:45 Westside Resource Centre.

Friday

Children’s Film 4pm cinemobile (Children to be accompanied by an adult);

Music by Amazing Apples 5:30 outside Westside Library;

Arts Festival Official Opening 6pm outside Westside Library, followed by Ignite Gospel Choir;

Children’s Talent Show 6:30 Westside Community Centre;

Classic Film 6:45 Cinemobile.

Saturday

At Westside Family Services: Arts & Crafts with Karen McAndrew, 1-2pm and 2-3 pm;

Crafty Owls Workshop with Sylwia Gryczuk, 3-4pm and 4-5pm;

Storytelling with Matthew Noone, 1-2pm, 2-3pm and 4-5pm.

At Westside Community Garden: Children’s Gardening Workshop with Kay Synott, 2-3pm and 4-5p;

Garden Workshop with Transition Galway, 1-2pm and 3-4pm;

Herb-growing Workshop with Fergus Whitney, 1-2pm and 3-4pm.

At Westside Resource Centre: Cookery with Delia Greally 1-2pm and 2-3pm;

Crafts & Recycling with Tina O’Rourke, 3-4pm and 4-5pm;

Handmade Garden Signs with Anna Bak, 1-2pm, 2-3pm and 4-5pm;

Music Workshop with Jenny Groarke, 1-2pm and 2-3pm;

Patchwork Quilting with Celia Comber 1-3pm;

Zumba Dance Workshop with Arisa Parandyk 3.30-4.30pm.

At Westside Community Centre: Dance Workshop 1-2pm and 2-3pm;

Grafitti Art Workshop with Youthwork Ireland 1-2pm, 2-3pm and 3-4pm I(also at community garden);

Hip-hop Workshop with Kasia Votter,  3-4pm and 4-5pm;

Samba Drumming Workshop with Aoife Kane, 3-4pm and 4-5pm;

Scarecrow Making Workshop with Bernie Smith, 1-3pm (also at community garden);

Youth Disco (Under 12s) 7.30-9pm.

At Westside Library: Flower Arranging with Nora Ward, 1-2pm and 2-3pm;

Theatrical Performance with The Gombeens, 3-4pm;

Wall Mural Painting with Ruairi O’Byrne, 1-2pm and 2-3pm.

Outside Westside Library: Face-painting with Caroline O’Connor 2-3pm and 4-5pm;

Urban Arts Workshop with Michael Holohan, 1-2pm.

At Westside Astro Pitches: Soccer Skills with Corrib Rangers, 1-2pm and 2-3pm.