May - Aug 2024 Brochure

May –August 2024

Solstice Arts Centre

solsticeartscentre.ie

Remnant

Willie Doherty

VISUAL ARTS

Sat 13 Apr – Sat 8 Jun | Third Floor Gallery

Remnant investigates the interconnectedness of place, time, and memory.

In this new exhibition by Willie Doherty, starkly atmospheric images of elemental landscapes formed by the long slow processes of geological time exist alongside disregarded urban spaces shaped by the consequences of human intervention, conflict, and neglect. Through the space of time, the histories of these places transform, becoming the fictions of memory.

Remnant explores how landscape acts as a repository of memory, as a site to construct and sustain images and myths of national identity, of self and of others. The camera examines the landscape as a site of political and ideological intervention, a place shaped by time, and natural processes of decay and renewal. The work articulates new perspectives on transgenerational trauma and our apprehension and uncertainty about the future.

Fusing voice and soundscapes with autonomous yet interconnected photographic and video imagery, the work is structured as dynamic interplay, expanding the narrative, spatial, and atmospheric connections between still and moving images. The work investigates dualities of movement and inertia, abandonment and resilience, presence and absence, permanence and impermanence, the familiar and the unknown.

The fragmentary narrative strands of the work generate temporal and spatial ruptures, animating the experience of the gallery space through the shifting dynamic perceptions of the viewer. Memory becomes a measure of time and space, of dislocation and connection, of what is real and what is imagined.

ACCOMPANYING EVENTS

Primary & Secondary School Gallery Tours using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), Various dates/times, free, booking req., more on pg. 8

Sensory Connections – for children & adult groups with additional needs, Wednesdays between 17 April – 5 Jun, 10am (60mins), €5, more on pg. 8

Creative Corner – for families, Saturdays between 20 Apr – 8 Jun, 11am – 1pm, free, no booking req., more on pg. 9

disAPPEAR - primary school workshop, Fri 26 Apr, 9:30am & 11am (60 mins), free, booking essential, see website for details

The Art of Looking at Art – VTS Social Club, Thu 2 May & 6 Jun, 2pm (60mins), free, booking required, more on pg. 10

ReTrace – adult/teen workshop, Sat 11 May, 10am – 4pm, €40, more on pg. 16

Places to Remember – primary school workshop, Thu 23 May, 9:30am & 11:30pm (90 mins), free, booking required, more on pg. 19

ENDLESS

FILM

Screenings throughout Remnant | Theatre | Free admission, no booking is required

ENDLESS, a film produced in 2020 by Willie Doherty, makes its premiere cinematic screening at Solstice. A sublimely powerful work, the film features a provocatively restrained performance by Christopher Eccleston as a man alone, someone and no-one, disappearing into shadows of black and white. ENDLESS evokes an atmosphere of restrictive containment and eternal unrelenting constraint.

ENDLESS screenings

Run time: 13 mins played on continuous loop

Saturday 13 April 11:30am – 4pm

Saturday 11 May 11:30am – 2.30pm

Wednesday 22 May 11:30am – 2.30pm

Saturday 25 May 11:30am – 2.30pm

Wednesday 5 June 11:30am – 2.30pm

Film Programme

FILM

Screenings throughout Remnant | Theatre | Free admission, no booking is required

A selection of video works that reveal the development of key themes in Doherty’s work, the programme includes: Sometimes I Imagine It’s My Turn (1998), Non-Specific Threat (2004), Passage (2006), Closure (2005), Ancient Ground (2011), The Amnesiac (2014), and Buried (2009).

Film Programme screenings

Total run time: 60 mins played on loop

Saturday 4 May 11:30am – 2.30pm

Wednesday 15 May 11:30am – 2.30pm

Wednesday 29 May 11:30am – 2.30pm

Saturday 8 June 11:30am – 2.30pm

In Conversation with Suella Holland and Emilie Pine

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Thu 23 May | 7pm (60mins) | Free, booking required

Focusing on the photographic works by Suella Holland on display in the Café Gallery, this informal discussion and Q&A will explore memory and the artistic and personal processes that led to this exhibition.

Looking at photography as a tool of documentation and self-expression, writer and university lecturer Emilie Pine will engage photographic artist Suella Holland in conversation about her choice of subject matter, questioning how she uses the medium of photography to communicate subjects that are difficult to express verbally.

Together they will consider the exhibition title

A Joining of Self, how everyday items, the familiar, nostalgic, can hold such deep meanings and memories.

A Joining of Self

VISUAL ARTS

Sat 13 Apr – Sat 8 Jun | Café Gallery

A Joining of Self is a site-specific portrait of fragmented childhood physical trauma, incorporating memories of different fabrics, dissociative experiences and phrases of manipulation that were used to threaten and enforce secrecy. Ultimately breaking a silence, A Joining of Self brings accord to both conscious and subconscious self.

Using photography as a medium to document, long withheld memories are subtly exposed. Through artistic composition and use of the familiar, Holland hints at and communicates the unsaid.

Content warning: this exhibition and accompanying talk on Thu 23 May contain references to themes of child abuse, paedophilia, and incest, which some individuals may find distressing. If affected, please contact One in Four on 01 662 4070.

Primary & Secondary School Gallery Tours using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Tuesdays – Fridays throughout visual art exhibitions | Various time available (60mins –90mins long) | Free, booking required

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an inquiry-based method of visual processing - looking, describing, and discussing what we see in a work of art. It is about listening to others, responding, and expanding thoughts and new possibilities revealed within group engagement. VTS improves oral and visual literacy, problem solving and collaborative interactions among peers.

For primary schools, gallery tours encourage peer-to-peer discussion, give an opportunity for children and teachers to learn about the artists and their work, and inspire you to create artworks back in the classroom!

Secondary school gallery tours broaden creative thinking through oral and visual literacy by exploring works in our current exhibition. These sessions support the Junior and Senior Cycle, placing students at the centre of the learning process. Senior Cycle students will receive specific information that embraces the three strands – Research, Create and Respond (visual and written responses), with particular focus on Content Area 3: Today’s World of the New Appreciating Art Visual Studies for Leaving Certificate curriculum.

Guided by Deirdre, our learning & engagement co-ordinator. For queries and bookings please email: deirdre.rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

Sensory Connections

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Wednesdays 17 Apr – 21 Aug | 10am (60mins) | €5 | Children & adult groups with additional needs

This relaxed gallery tour and short workshop is designed for small groups with additional needs. It will follow a slow pace of engagement, tailored to individual needs. Exploring the artworks in the gallery, participants can engage in a multi-disciplinary, sensory activity that connects to the exhibition in the gallery. Guidance from teachers and carers may be sought prior to the session and the gallery will be closed to the public for the duration of your visit.

For more information or to book please contact Deirdre: deirdre. rogers@solsticeartscentre.ie

Creative Corner

FAMILIES

Saturdays 20 Apr – 8 Jun & 29 Jun

– 24 Aug | 11am – 1pm | Free, no booking required | For families

Explore our Creative Corner in the gallery. Children and their adults are encouraged to create and engage in fun, interactive activities that respond to the exhibition. This is a free, drop in and out serviceparents/guardians must stay with children at all times.

Quintessentially Irish

FILM

Mon 29 Apr & Thu 9 May | 7:30pm | €7.50/ season pass or bundle | English | Ireland, UK | 120 mins | 2024 | Cert: TBC | Dir: Frank Mannion

Quintessentially Irish has been described by the Mail as a "lush valentine to everything great and Irish", with a distinguished cast including the former 007 Pierce Brosnan, two Presidents, a Prince, and an unconventional Irish Lord. Partly shot in Navan at Pierce Brosnan's childhood haunts (where he lived until he emigrated to London aged 11) and at Dunsany Castle, director Frank Mannion looks at the influence of the Irish diaspora with exclusive access to the White House on St Patrick's Day and the Palace of Monaco where HSH Prince Albert II discusses his Oscar-winning mother Grace Kelly’s Irish heritage.

Film Season Bundle: Book 4 or more films for €6 each

Film Season Pass: Book 10 or more films for €5 each

The State Choir

LATVIJA at St. Peter’s Church, Drogheda

MUSIC

Wed 1 May | 7:30pm | €18/€16 | Location: St. Peter’s Church, Drogheda

The State Choir LATVIJA is one of the world’s most important professional choirs. They have a distinctive sound –the glorious sound of the Latvian choral tradition, characterised by warmth, balance and precision.

With their artistic director Māris Sirmais, they present a rich programme of Latvian/ Baltic music in St. Peter's Church, Drogheda, alongside that of three Irish composers: Charles Villiers Stanford, Michael Holohan and Rhona Clarke. The programme also includes Arvo Pärt’s The Dear’s Cry, a setting of the well-known ‘St Patrick’s Breastplate’ commissioned by Louth Contemporary Music Society in 2007.

The Art of Looking at Art – VTS Social Club

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Thu 2 May, 6 Jun & 11 Jul | 2pm (60mins) | Free, booking required

Whether you are a regular visitor to Solstice Gallery or have never ventured here before, this is the social event for you. Join us for a relaxed, informal walk through the space exploring our current exhibition using VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies). Meet new people, hear different perspectives, and build a deeper understanding of ‘what might be going on in this artwork’.

For adults of all ages, and no prior art experience necessary. Find out more about VTS on pg. 8.

Irish National Opera presents: Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade

OPERA

Thu 2 May | 7:30pm | €30/€27

Four young people, one an Olympic champion. Tangled relationships. Forbidden love, twice over. An unsuccessful assassination. An execution avoided. And a royal father who has to accept his children as they are.

INO continues its award-winning exploration of Vivaldi’s operas with the work which started the 20th-century revival of the composer's works for the stage. L’Olimpiade brims with opportunities for all seven characters, showing their personalities and feelings through arias that range from the explosive and almost instrumentally virtuosic, to the slow exploration of more tender thoughts.

Running time 3 hours with interval. Sung in Italian with English surtitles. In partnership with Irish Baroque Orchestra.

Inspire Choral Group presents: Eurovision Memories

MUSIC

Fri 3 May | 7:30pm | €30

Inspire Choral Group are excited to present their latest collaboration, EUROVISION MEMORIES, with Eurovision legends Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan.

This celebration of the 30-year anniversary of Ireland’s three in a row winning streak will include all the favourite Irish & European winners & some other unforgettable Eurovision hits. Don’t miss this spectacular show before Eurovision Weekend 2024.

Impulse Gymnastics

10th Anniversary: FitKid Showcase

DANCE

Sun 5 May, 5pm | Sun 12 May, 1pm & 5pm | €16/€55 (family of 4)

Come celebrate Impulse Gymnastics' and Fit Kid Ireland's 10-year anniversary with us. You can see amazing performances from the beginner recreational level to the World Champions level. We promise you will enjoy the showcase, and the kids will amaze you.

Act Out Youth Theatre presents: INNOVATIONS

THEATRE

Tue 7 May | 8pm | €10/€8

This evening of quality live theatre will showcase the creativity & imagination of Meath's most exciting young talent.

The young theatre-makers will present innovative works challenging “What is” & considering “What if”. What if we could have the future we want, living peacefully & in harmony with our planet. Well first, we must be able to imagine it!

Sit back & enjoy theatrical works that are not only performed by the gifted members from the Navan & Dunshaughlin companies, but that have been created, developed & written by them also. In their hands, the future is bright indeed.

Oppenheimer

FILM

Wed 8 May | 7:30pm | €7.50/ season pass or bundle | English | USA, UK | 180 mins | 2023 | Cert: 15A | Dir: Christopher Nolan

Following rave reviews and seven Oscar wins including Best Picture and Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer returns to Solstice. Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic focuses on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, both during his time leading the US effort to create the atomic bomb during World War 2, and in the aftermath of the nuclear bombings of Japan.

Meath Move: Open Practice

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Wed 8 May & 12 Jun | 11am – 2pm | Free, booking required

Selma Daniel invites artists of all disciplines who are interested in movement.

Open Practice is a series of improvised sessions open to professional artists across all art forms, with an aim to inspire and build an arts network within Meath. Artists are invited to bring a selection of materials from their practice, and dancers can bring a movement task. Artists will be offered time and space to reflect and/ or work on their personal projects. Open Practice will be led by Selma and a guest dance artist.

Take Me to the River

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT

A collaborative vision between Solstice Arts Centre and Cineál Research & Design Architects, Take Me to the River is a creative public engagement project bringing communities together in the fostering and long-term preservation of our local waterbodies in County Meath.

Join us with a network of artists and environmental experts in a series of free workshops this summer to celebrate our rivers from a creative perspective. Engage within your local areas of the Boyne River. Collectively respond by mapping these sites through various artistic mediums, creating a visual, sensory, and audio display to celebrate and expand our knowledge of our natural water resources.

GET INVOLVED

PROJECT LAUNCH & INFORMATION

SESSION Wed 8 May | 6pm - 7:30pm | Free, booking required | Solstice Arts Centre

Join us at Solstice with an exciting array of speakers, artists, and activists to hear more about this immersive project, and how you can get involved.

WORKSHOP 1 – The River Nanny: Water, Soil, & Sculpture Sat 25 May | 9:30am – 2pm | Free, booking required | Staffordstown Farm, Co. Meath

Staffordstown House invites you to follow the River Nanny as it runs through the surrounding farmland. Take a sensory ‘art walk’, exploring the relationship of watercourse, soil, and agriculture.

Artist Penelope Lacey will lead participants with Fionnuala McCabe of Inland Fisheries Ireland; passing through fields, crossing the river, and discussing the rich biodiversity that surrounds the river. Landowner Michael Monaghan will join the workshop to bring a unique perspective on sustainable cohabitation of nature and agriculture, observing the conditions that allow both to thrive.

Pausing at the banks of the river, touch and gather natural clay and materials, abundant at this time of year. Under Penelope’s artistic guidance, participants will be encouraged to explore texture, form, and colour, producing creative responses to the land and water. Local anglers will share their knowledge of the river, fishing stocks, and surrounding habitats.

WORKSHOP 2 – The Boyne Ramparts: Ecology, Sound, & Spoken Word Sat 8 Jun | 8pm – 10pm | Free, booking required | The Ramparts, Navan

Your guides on this late evening walk are Eimear Clowry Delaney (Wild about Navan), actor/writer Grace Collender, Terence Cassidy (Bird Watch Ireland), and design practice Cineál. Surrounded by the dusk chorus, explore ecology along the Ramparts, Navan through sound and spoken word.

Using listening and field recording exercises, explore the surrounding natural ecologies with Cineál, while Terry Cassidy identifies the birds, their song, and their meaning. Sharing collected stories from the local waterways, Grace Collender will guide us in creative writing exercises connecting us to the Ramparts. As we walk along the river, Eimear Clowry Delaney will identify Irish language names of flora and fauna, evocatively describing the biodiversity of this bountiful watercourse.

WORKSHOP 3 – The River Boyne: Above, Along, & Within Sat 6 Jul | 9:30am – 2pm | Free, booking required | Swift’s Wave, Trim Guided by artists Cosette Olohan, Jules Charlton, and Ronan Colcannon, experience a series of photographic processes, creating with and of the water. Using key photographic developments - cyanotype, 35mm film photography,

and high-definition digital imagingparticipants will study the river from the surface and above, experiencing the documentation of ecology from the 1800s to the present day. Enhancing this workshop, Environmental Scientist Goska Wilkowska will share knowledge of the species and habitats that are present and absent from the river.

Introducing the origins of cyanotype print, Cosette Olohan will lead a workshop to produce artworks capturing the silhouettes of the surrounding waters vegetation. Jules Charlton and Ronan Colcannon will engage techniques in digital imaging using drone and underwater photography. These unique perspectives will enable us to analyse the human impact on natural habitats within close proximity to the area.

EXHIBITION & CELEBRATION

To conclude and celebrate our rivers, a public conference and exhibition will take place at Swift Cultural Centre in Trim later this year. The ‘Creative Map’ will be on display, which will be collated by Cineál and incorporating our Take me to the River participants’ artistic responses to our waterways.

To get involved and for more information, please contact Deirdre at: deirdre.rogers@ solsticeartscentre.ie

Still from 'The Ocean Floor is a Green World', film by Jules Charlton & Ronan Concannon

ReTrace

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Sat 11 May | 10am – 4pm | €40

Investigating our connections to memory and place, examined by Willie Doherty in his exhibition 'Remnant', join photographer Brian Cregan to explore these themes through digital photography.

This daylong event begins with a tour of Remnant at Solstice, followed by an interactive workshop where participants learn composition skills and how to make the most of their smartphone’s cameras. Moving down to the Ramparts on foot, use your phone to capture imagery along the river that inspires you, and evokes a connection to the landscape. Returning to Solstice for lunch, enjoy a theatre screening of Doherty’s short films. The workshop will resume in the gallery, exploring the photographs taken outdoors, and learning how to manipulate them into forms of atmospheric expression.

Anne Gildea: How to Get the Menopause and Enjoy It

COMEDY

Fri 10 May | 8pm | €22

Anne Gildea’s phenomenal hit show returns to Solstice Arts Centre this May following a sellout show in 2023. Come along and find out what all the fuss is about!

Anne not only creates a night of outrageous laughter, but you just might learn a thing or three, as she brings her keen comedic skills to a topic that affects 51% of us yet is still treated like a mystery. What is it? Why does it happen? Is the moustache inevitable? And what superpowers come with this unavoidable phase of lady life? Anne answers all these questions and more, as she brings TMI to a whole new level.

Maestro

FILM

Wed 15 May | 7:30pm | €7.50/

season pass or bundle | English | USA | 129 mins | 2023 | Cert: 15A

| Dir: Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper directs, co-writes, and stars in this lovingly crafted film about the life of iconic American composer Leonard Bernstein. Cooper frames the film in the context of Bernstein’s relationship with his wife Felicia Montealegre (a superb Carey Mulligan); a loving marriage complicated by Leonard’s promiscuity and gay relationships. Maestro is a vibrant portrait of creativity, fame and – above all else – love.

Music Generation Meath Summer Showcase

MUSIC

Sat 18 May | 7pm | €10/€8

Music Generation Meath proudly present their Summer Showcase.

Look forward to an evening of entertainment by children and young people who take part in the wide variety of programmes offered by Music Generation Meath. This is a great opportunity to hear the talented young musicians, choirs, and bands that they work with weekly.

The Zone of Interest

FILM

Wed 22 May | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | German with English subtitles | Poland, UK | 105 mins | 2023 | Cert: 12A | Dir: Jonathan Glazer

On the grounds of Auschwitz, commandant Rudolf Höss and his family live a luxurious life. As unspeakable horrors unfold around them, they go about their everyday lives ignorant to the ever-present atrocities happening just over their garden wall. Winner of Best International Feature at this year's Oscars, The Zone of Interest is a deeply unsettling, remarkably directed feature from filmmaker Jonathan Glazer.

Places to Remember

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Thu 23 May | 9:30am & 11:30am (90 mins) | Free, booking required | For primary, 2nd – 6th class (SOLD OUT)

In this workshop, pupils will create mixed-media selfportraits considering their identity and relationship with a place, specific land, or location.

Guided by artist/educator Sarah Edmondson, they will look at the works in Willie Doherty's exhibition, Remnant; identifying the different mediums and art elements used by the artist to create a specific mood and atmosphere.

The Holdovers

FILM

Wed 29 May | 7:30pm | €7.50/ season pass or bundle

The Holdovers follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New

England prep school as he remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them – a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) – alongside the school’s head cook, who has just lost her son in Vietnam (Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph).

Elite Dance School presents: Pure Imagination

DANCE

Sun 2 & Mon 3 Jun | 2pm & 7pm | €17/€15

ELITE School of Performing Arts is thrilled to be back at Solstice! The super students from ELITE are so excited to get on stage for their magical end of year show ‘PURE IMAGINATION’. Ranging in age from 3-18 years, these talented young people from Kells and the surrounding areas guarantee an uplifting performance to kick off the summer. Wonka, Les Mis and lots of surprises in between, there is something for all the family to enjoy!

Four Daughters

FILM

Wed 5 Jun | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | Arabic with English subtitles | Tunisia, France | 108 mins | 2023 | Cert: 15A | Dir: Kaouther Ben Hania

In this astonishing and poignant film, director Kaouther Ben Hania blends documentary and fiction to tell the story of Olfa and her four daughters. One day, her two eldest daughters disappeared without a trace. To fill their absence, Hania calls upon professional actors and sets up an extraordinary film mechanism to try to unveil the story of this family. The result is an intimate yet devastating journey of hope, rebellion, violence, and sisterhood.

Redmond O’Toole: Classical Guitar Music from Italy and Spain

MUSIC

Fri 7 Jun | 7:30pm | €20

Join us for a summer evening of wine and tapas in Solstice Café with 8-string classical guitar maestro Redmond O’Toole. He will perform classical compositions from Tarrega, Torroba, Albeniz, Scarlatti, Domeniconi, and Cimarosa. O’Toole has been hailed as one of the most interesting players of his generation, renowned for his atmospheric performances and dazzling virtuosity using the Brahms guitar, a ground-breaking instrument and technique that uses an 8-string guitar in the position of a cello.

Legends of American Country 2024

MUSIC

Sat 8 Jun | 8pm | €25

The Legends of American Country returns for another fantastic night of toe tapping

country nostalgia! The 2024 tour will showcase highly acclaimed tributes to likes of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Garth Brooks, and many more, with countless well-known singalong songs in this must-see musical extravaganza. Accompanied by a superb live band with that authentic Tennessee sound, this show will transport you all the way to Nashville and back in one night.

Perfect Days FILM

Wed 12 Jun | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | Japanese with English subtitles | Japan, Germany | 124mins | 2023 | Cert: PG | Dir: Wim Wenders

Middle-aged Hirayama (a fantastic Kôji Yakusho) leads a modest existence, balancing his work as a Tokyo public toilet caretaker with his love of music, reading and photography. But when a young woman appears on his doorstep, it leads to revelations about Hirayama’s past and the simple life he cherishes is disrupted. Wim Wender’s Japan-set latest is moving ode to modest living.

Pilgrim St.

MUSIC

Fri 14 Jun | 8pm | €25

Strongly influenced by Bluegrass, Old Time Country and Folk music, Pilgrim St bring a warm and lively atmosphere to their music and have garnered glowing reviews with their powerhouse live performances. This show follows the release of their second album “Folk Bones” in early 2024, recorded live in Black Mountain Studio over a few weekends in January.

Cruinniú na nÓg

FAMILIES

Sat 15 Jun | 10am – 4pm | Free, booking required for all events (excl. Music Generation Meath)

Join us at Solstice for Cruinniú na nÓg, a day of free creativity for children and young people! The following events for families will be happening throughout the day. See further details on our website.

Create a Creature Pot! Pottery Workshop with Anita Reynolds

10am (120mins) | Suitable for children aged 7-11 years

Enjoy this pottery workshop where each child will learn to make a pinch/thumb pot with basic sculpting techniques, using pottery clay and creativity to create a chosen creature or monster of their own imagination. The pots will need a couple of weeks to go through the glazing and firing process in Anita’s kiln, before then going on display in Navan Library! After the exhibition, participants may take home their pieces to keep. As this is a messy event, we recommend either bringing an apron/overall or wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

MAKE!

11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm (40mins each) | Suitable for children aged 3-12 years

Join us for MAKE!, a series of creative, artistic workshops throughout the day. EXPLORE a range of exciting materials. STRETCH your imaginations to the limit. MAKE something magical together to bring home.

Little Folk – On the Road

12pm (60mins) | Suitable for children aged 2-7 years

Nobody gets the kids jumping, stomping, and singing like Kyle Riley does in his fun family concert ’Little Folk - On the Road’. Featuring his award-winning children’s music, catchy kids tunes and proper sing-along songs, it’s super fun for the whole family. The fun doesn’t stop when the show ends either, as each child gets a little musical goody bag so they can join in during the show and take the music home with them.

Music Generation Meath

1pm – 3pm | Suitable for all ages

Enjoy some live music entertainment from the children and young people of Music Generation Meath outside at Solstice plaza!

Fantastical Flower Pot! Pottery Workshop with Anita Reynolds

1pm (120mins) | Suitable for young people aged 12-17 years

In this fascinating pottery workshop, participants will learn how to build coils and make a functional flowerpot in clay and will decorate the pots with creatures emerging from the walls in relief. The pots will then need a couple of weeks to go through the glazing and firing process in Anita’s kiln, before going on display in Navan Library. After the exhibition, participants may take home their pieces to keep. As this is a messy event, we recommend either bringing an apron/ overall or wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Migration (Sensory Friendly Film Screening)

2:45pm (82mins) | Cert: PG

A family of ducks decides to leave the safety of a New England pond for an adventurous trip to Jamaica. However, their well-laid plans quickly go awry when they get lost and wind up in New York City. The experience soon inspires them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends, and accomplish more than they ever thought possible.

In Search of Hy-Brasil

VISUAL ARTS

Sat 22 Jun – Sat 24 Aug | Solstice Gallery |

Opening reception: Sat 22 Jun, 2:30pm

Curated by a team of five architects; Peter Carroll, Peter Cody, Elizabeth Hatz, Mary Laheen and Joseph Mackey, Ireland’s national pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, In Search of Hy-Brasil, derives from an intense engagement with the islands of Ireland and is a direct provocation to all of us to reimagine the vast combined territory of land and ocean we call our home.

We are an island nation facing an uncertain future. The challenges of climate change, renewable energy, ethical food production and biodiversity must be met quickly, with purpose, renewing the lost equilibrium between ourselves and the natural world. In making this adjustment, our islands’ inventiveness in the face of adversity and creativity in response to having less provides us with the necessary tools and narratives to inspire more sustainable ways of living.

In bringing the installation to Solstice, the curators hope to share their project with an Irish audience, and through a related supporting programme of events, initiate a series of conversations around a shared vision for a more sustainable future.

A supporting programme of cultural events, Island Narratives, takes place around the content of the installation. The programme takes the form of supporting exhibitions, film screenings, related talks, and symposia.

Image: © Ste Murray

In Search of Hy-Brasil: ISLAND NARRATIVES

In Search of Hy-Brasil Opening & Curator Talk

Sat 22 Jun | 2pm – 4pm | Free, booking required | Gallery

Key Address by Dr. Lucy Collins & Curators’ View | 2pm – 4pm

A key address will be given by Dr. Lucy Collins, Associate Professor at UCD School of English, Drama, and Film. Collins will then chair Curator’s View, a roundtable discussion of local arts practitioners including Niamh McCann, and the Curatorial Team of Ireland’s Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023; Peter Carroll, Peter Cody, Elizabeth Hatz, Mary Laheen, and Joseph Mackey.

Film: Wanderlands – Time, Earth, Story | 2pm – 4pm (on loop)

Recordings from Venice - a joint initiative between Ireland, Scotland, and Australia. Unspooling the themes of place, resources, and temporality.

Mind the Earth

Sat 20 Jul | 11am – 4pm | Free, booking required | Theatre

Key Address & OCEAN + LAND | 11am – 1pm

This series of talks will explore issues of ocean and land management connected with our islands to include mapping, fisheries, soil, landscape rehabilitation, regenerative farming, and improving biodiversity. Contributions include BothAnd Group discussing their study of the Rundale System on Clare Island, Infomar at the Marine Institute, and Matthew Jebb, Director of the National Botanical Gardens of Ireland.

Film: A Turning Tide in the Life of Man | 2pm (Runtime: 106mins)

This film follows John O'Brien, a small fisherman from the island of Inis Bó Finne who embarked on a European campaign to try and regain his ancestral right to fish the seas around Donegal.

Image: © Ste Murray

Linguistic Contours

Sat 24 Aug | 11am – 4pm | Free, booking required | Theatre

Key Address by Manchán Magan & LANGUAGE + LANDSCAPE | 11am – 1pm

The richness of the Irish language is closely tied to the natural landscape and afforded our ancestors a more magical way of seeing the world. Magan’s work considers the sublime beauty and profound oddness of our ancient tongue; a language spoken on this island for almost 3,000 years.

Drawing on the installation, this symposium (chaired by Magan) explores the complex relationship and interdependency between language and the environment. The local Irish speaking community, along with writers and

ACCOMPANYING EVENTS

Sensory Gallery Tours, Various dates/ times, free, booking req., more on pg. 28

Sensory Connections – for children & adult groups with additional needs, Wednesdays between 26 Jun – 21 Aug, 10am (60mins), €5, more on pg. 8

Creative Corner – for families, Saturdays between 29 Jun – 24 Aug, 11am – 1pm, free, no booking req., more on pg. 9

landscape historians are invited to participate in an exploration of how the Irish Language structures our idea of landscape and the environment. The Meath Gaeltacht, which has its roots in the West of Ireland, consists of two adjacent villages of Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib, (linguistic islands) which are located close to Navan town in County Meath.

Film: The Tribe of Gods | 2pm (Runtime: 96mins)

Patsy Dan Rodgers is the last King of Ireland, who lives on Tory Island, Ireland’s most remote inhabited island. A small rock in the Atlantic with a hundred and a fifty strong Irish speaking community. Diagnosed with cancer, the King leads the islander’s constant efforts to secure their rights and unique way of living.

The Art of Looking at Art – VTS Social Club, Thu 11 Jul, 2pm (60mins), free, booking req., more on pg. 10

Traditional Craft: Contemporary Context, Sat 29 Jun, 10am (120mins), €15, more on pg. 29

Artistic Explorers Summer Camp, Wed 3 – Fri 5 Jul, 10am – 1pm each day, €80, more on pg. 30

Tour with Mythical Ireland, Sat 13 Jul, 10am – 4pm, €30, more on pg. 34

Sensory Gallery Tours

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Tuesdays – Fridays throughout In Search of Hy-Brasil | Various times available (40mins) | Free, booking required

As part of In Search of Hy-Brasil, we are hosting sensory tours to enhance all visitor experiences to our gallery. An

St. Oliver’s presents: Pirates of the Curry Bean

MUSICAL

Wed 19 & Thu 20 Jun | 7:30pm | €10

immersive installation composed of drawings, models, film, and sound; explore a number of works through touch, smell and visual description. These relaxed experiences are audience-led, allowing for a deeper connection and understanding of the works on display.

For queries and bookings please email: deirdre.rogers@ solsticeartscentre.ie

Set sail for adventure in this swashbuckling musical, performed by the sixth-class students of St. Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Navan! Young twins Jack & Liza Periwinkle yearn for adventure, so imagine their joy at discovering a real-life treasure map. But when the infamous Redbeard steals the map and kidnaps their mother, the race is on to rescue her and find the treasure!

Route 66 Big Band MUSIC

Route 66, the fabulous 16-piece Big Band with a difference, are delighted to bring their amazing show back to the Solstice as part of their 25th Anniversary Tour. Taking audiences on a musical tour from

Sat 22 Jun | 8pm | €25

the 40's right up to today, hear numbers made famous by Frank Sinatra, Glen Miller, Tom Jones, Adele, Tina Turner, and many more. It’s a great mix of music played with a brilliant big band sound!

Meath Music Academy Summer Concert

MUSIC

Sun 23 Jun | 3pm | €15/€50 (family of 4)

The Taste of Things

FILM

Wed 26 Jun | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | French with English subtitles | France, Belgium | 135 mins | 2023 | Cert: 12A | Dir: Tran Anh Hung

Immerse yourself in an afternoon of musical brilliance at Meath Music Academy’s Summer Concert! Join them as their talented students, guided by passionate instructors, showcase a diverse range of musical genres. From classical to rock, experience the magic of their performances. Don't miss this chance to be captivated by the extraordinary talents nurtured at Meath Music Academy.

For over 20 years, skilled cook Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) has worked for gourmet chef Dodin (Benoît Magimel). As they reach middleage, they can no longer deny that their shared passion for cooking has become something more. The Taste of Things is a romantic delight, capturing the culinary artistry of the dishes produced on screen in exquisite detail.

Traditional Craft: Contemporary Context

WORKSHOP

Sat 29 Jun | 10am (120mins) | €15 | Adults/students

Celebrating the collective resourcefulness and beliefs of island communities as depicted in our exhibition In Search of Hy-Brasil, join artist Maria McKinney for a group workshop in straw-weaving, an ancient form of handcraft used to create both functional and symbolic objects.

Participants will have the opportunity to weave with AI and Oat straws, learning the four-strand spiral and other patterns. No artistic and craft making experience necessary.

Musical Theatre Summer Camp

SUMMER CAMP

Mon 1 – Fri 5 July | 10am – 1pm daily | €80 (sibling rate available) | For: ages 6 – 12

Caithriona Mongey-Madden leads a fun musical theatre camp where children and teens can learn their favourite pieces with qualified teachers in musical theatre. Includes a showcase on the stage on the final day of camp.

Booking | ph: 087 9658850 or email: mongeymaddenmusic@gmail.com

Baltimore

FILM

Wed 3 Jul | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | English | Ireland, UK | 98mins | 2023 | Cert: 15A | Dir: Joe Lawlor & Christine Molly

Baltimore follows the true story of Rose Dugdale, an English heiress who rebelled against her wealthy upbringing amongst the political turmoil of the 60s and 70s. Rose’s sympathy towards the IRA’s conflict in Ireland evolves into radicalisation, culminating in an armed raid on an Irish estate with three comrades. However, when her simple heist takes a violent turn, is Rose prepared to face the devastating consequences?

Artistic Explorers Summer Camp

SUMMER CAMP

Wed 3 – Fri 5 July | 10am – 1pm daily | €80 | For: ages 7 – 12

Inspired by the mythical island of HyBrasil, believed to exist off the west coast of Ireland, delve into a world of creativity and artistic exploration. Surrounded by a range of materials and soundscapes in the galler, we will travel on our own artistic search for Hy-Brasil with fun activities, traditional crafts, and inventiveness as our guide.

Dirtbirds: Girls World Tour

COMEDY

Fri 5 Jul | 8pm | €30

Ireland's queens of comedy return with their brand-new show “Girls World Tour”. After their last sell out tour across Ireland and the UK, DirtBirds are bringing their spot-on observational comedy back to the stage with a mix of stand-up and sketches. Come along and make it a girl’s night out! Go on… you deserve it.

Beyond the Horizon –Irish Pink Floyd Tribute

MUSIC

Sat 6 Jul | 8pm | €29

Highly regarded Irish Pink Floyd Tribute, with a reputation for recreating the instrument and album sounds from Pink Floyd's iconic back catalogue. Played by genuine Pink Floyd fans for Pink Floyd fans.

Navan School of Ballet Summer Camp

SUMMER CAMP

Mon 8 Jul – Fri 12 July | Camp 1: €40/€35 for 2nd sibling | Camps 2, 3 & 4: €70/€65 for 2nd sibling

Camp 1: Ages 3 – 4 years, 9:45am – 10:45am daily

Camp 2: Ages 5 – 8 years, 11am – 1pm daily

Camp 3: Ages 9 – 12 years, 11am – 1pm daily

Camp 4: Over 12 years (must have ballet experience), 2pm – 4pm daily

Navan School of Ballet Summer Camp has been designed to inspire budding ballerinas of all ages. It includes preparing choreography and working on a performance for parents at the end of the week, designing sets, choosing costumes, and deciding together on face painting. We also explore Pilates, jazz, arts, and crafts. Each year the camp gets more and more popular, so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment!

Navan Pride 2024

Navan Pride 2024 is a week-long festival of events celebrating diversity and emphasising solidarity with our LGBTQ+ family, friends, and neighbours in Navan town. There will be an array of events commencing on the week beginning July 8th, with an event planned for every day of the festival and a parade through the town.

For further event details & other events throughout Navan town, keep an eye on the website: navanpride.ie

Navan Pride: Breaking Down Barriers

TALK

Tue 9 Jul | 7pm | Free, booking required

Breaking Down Barriers is a panel discussion taking place as part of Navan Pride 2024 at Solstice. The panel will discuss topics surrounding the importance of visibility in the LGBTQ+ community.

Navan Pride: All of Us Strangers

FILM

Wed 10 Jul | 7pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | English | UK | 105mins | 2023 | Cert: 16 | Dir: Andrew Haigh

Adam (Andrew Scott) lives alone in a near-empty tower block. His secluded life is interrupted by an unexpected reunion with his parents - both of whom died decades earlier. Back at the tower block, he meets a neighbour, Harry (Paul Mescal), and they begin a passionate romantic relationship. Adam’s past, present and imagined lives intertwine as his grip on reality loosens.

Navan Pride: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

FILM

Thu 11 Jul | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | English | UK | 101mins | 1975 | Cert: 18 | Dir: Jim Sharman

A loving couple, a few lost monsters and a sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania sing and dance through a campy, sassy salute to horror movies and sexual liberation. Dress up is encouraged!

Navan Pride: The Bród, the Bold, & the Beautiful

THEATRE

Fri 12 Jul | 7:15pm | €18/€16

Inspired by true stories, The Bród, the Bold, & the Beautiful is an original, raucous new comedy drama spanning 30 years of Irish LGBTQ+ experience and exploring the challenges and joys of living as a young LGBTQ+ person today.

Using their innovative physical ensemble storytelling techniques, Quintessence Theatre examine and celebrate the lives of 3 LGBTQ+ people: each born into a different generation, and each navigating new and ongoing issues of prejudice, pride, identity, love, and legacy.

Created in association with Outcomers LGBT Support Service, Dundalk.

Tour with Mythical Ireland

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Sat 13 Jul | 10am – 4pm | €30

Inspired by the installation In Search of Hy-Brasil that provokes us all to reimagine the land we call home, travel back in time and learn from our ancestors and their deep connection with the land, sea and sky, evident in these ancient remains.

Guided by Anthony Murphy from Mythical Ireland, we begin within the stone walls of Fourknocks, a Neolithic passage tomb built about 5000 years ago. Then, driving west to the Hill of Tara, hear about the ancient monuments on this sacred land, their significance, and how the ancient High Kings came to power.

The Teachers’ Lounge FILM

Wed 17 Jul | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | German with English subtitles

| Germany | 98mins | 2023 | Cert: 12A | Dir: Ilker Çatak

When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her.

Image: © Anthony Murphy

Evil Does Not Exist

FILM

Wed 24 Jul | 7:30pm | €7.50/season pass or bundle | Japanese with English subtitles | Japan | 106mins | 2023 | Cert: 15A | Dir: Ryusuke Hamguchi

In an idyllic rural Japanese village, Takumi and his daughter Hana live a quiet life. Takumi makes a modest living from the surrounding land but is always determined to keep everything pristine. However, that balance is disrupted when a Tokyo company proposes building a ‘glamping’ site for tourists in the area; something Takumi believes will have disastrous consequences for the local environment.

AUGUST

St. Mary’s Musical Society: Summer Cabaret

MUSICAL

Thu 22 – Sat 24 Aug | 7:30pm | €19/€70 (family of 4)

HERITAGE WEEK

Walls of Medieval Navan

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Sat 17 Aug | 2pm | Free, no booking required

Join us for the launch of Tony Foster’s model of the walls of medieval Navan. This is an aerial view model of how the medieval wall of Navan encircled the town and fits into the modern landscape.

St. Mary’s Musical Society present a refreshing summer cabaret programme of uplifting melodies from all your favourite musicals!

Navan & District –Rediscovered Images from the Hanly Collection

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

Sun 25 Aug | 2pm (120mins) | Free, booking required

Navan & District Historical Society presents an afternoon featuring the rediscovered images of Navan and its surroundings from the Hanly family's glass plate collection.

Life Drawing with artist Cáit

Moloney

Tuesdays 30 Apr – 4 June | 7pm – 9pm | €80 (block of 6) | adults

Guided by artist Cáit Moloney, these relaxed, social sessions are an opportunity to flex your life drawing skills and improve your drawing practice. Over 6 sessions, engage at your own pace, focusing on different elements of drawing the human figure with a variation of models and props.

Artists of all levels are welcome. Participants are asked to bring their own drawing materials of choice. Chairs, drawing boards and light refreshments will be provided.

Silver Swans - Over 55’s Ballet

Wednesdays from 1 May | 10am & 11am (60 mins) | €54 (block of 6) / €10 (per class)

Specially designed for older learners, Silver Swans Over 55's ballet classes will help improve your mobility, posture, co-ordination and energy levels. Classes are led by Royal Academy of Dance licensed teacher Michelle Kehoe A.I.S.T.D. who has been teaching ballet for over 25 years.

Sightless Cinema: workshops for blind and visually impaired adults

Fridays | 10am – 1pm | free

Sightless Cinema aims to empower people with sight loss as artistic collaborators and creators in the medium of audio theatre. The project has proved an excellent platform for personal development and social inclusion,

while also raising awareness of sight loss in the broader community. Creative Director Ciarán Taylor works with the participants to explore, devise, perform record and present a radio drama.

The project is funded by Meath County Council Arts Office & Creative Ireland

Children’s Speech & Drama Classes with Penelope Moorhead

Mondays (as per school calendar) | 3pm – 5:30pm | bookings: 087 289 9404

Penelope Moorhead is an experienced speech, drama and communication teacher who travels throughout Ireland as an examiner and adjudicator of speech and drama. Penelope’s classes offer an encouraging, fun and inclusive approach to speech & drama. Suitable for Junior Infants to 6th class.

Act Out Youth Theatre @ Solstice

Tuesdays (as per school calendar) | 6pm - 9pm | bookings: 087 237 9893 / ActOutMeath@gmail.com

Act Out is a fresh youth theatre company established in 2017 in partnership with Solstice, under the Artistic Direction of Anthony Kinahan. It is a forum for young people of secondary school age in Meath to learn more about theatre & performance through fun & engaging workshops. The company is guided by the students and involves them as active participants in the running of the theatre.

Swift Cultural Centre

Upcoming Events

A sister venue to Solstice, there are a variety of shows and events coming to Swift Cultural Centre in Trim, Co. Meath this season. See the full line-up and details for each of the shows below at www.swiftculutralcentre.ie

Dunshaughlin Players present: Bedtime Stories

by Norm Foster | THEATRE | Thu 16 & Fri 17 May | 8pm | €18

Eimear Crehan – Grá Mór Tour | MUSIC | Sat 18 May | 8pm | €20

Bealtaine Festival: Belinda McKeon | TALK | Tue 21 May | 7pm | Free, booking required

Life Drawing Days with artist Cáit Moloney | WORKSHOP | Sat 8 & Sat 29 June | 10:30am –4pm | €60 per workshop

Pilgrim St | MUSIC | Sat 15 Jun | 8pm | €25

Trim Youth Theatre: Murder Mystery Summer Camp | SUMMER CAMP | Mon 1 – Sat 6 Jul | 10:30am – 3:30pm each day | €75 (for 6 days) | Ages 13 – 17

Leah Barniville in Concert | MUSIC | Fri 5 Jul | 8pm | €27

Information & Booking

Box Office: 046 909 2300

www.solsticeartscentre.ie

Tickets can be purchased in person, over the phone, or online at www. solsticeartscentre.ie. Call our box office on: 046 909 2300 or email: info@solsticeartscentre.ie

Box Office Opening Hours: 10am - 4pm, Monday to Saturday and 1 hour before performances. All card transactions are subject to a €1 booking fee (for in person and phone bookings). All online bookings are subject to a €1 booking fee per ticket.

Refund Policy: Tickets are non-refundable once purchased unless the event is cancelled. If an event was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, you are entitled to either i.) full refund, ii.) credit note, or (if possible) iii.) a rescheduled date.

Access: The Solstice foyer (Box Office, Café and Bar) is fully accessible with a lift to specially adapted toilet facilities and our Level 3 Gallery. The auditorium has six wheelchair spaces in row X, which is level access from the foyer. Backstage is also fully accessible for performers with accessibility requirements. Please contact box office at time of booking if you have any special requirements. There is an Induction Loop system in place for hearing aid users. To use, please turn your device to the ‘T’ setting. Guide dogs are welcome at Solstice. Please let the Box Office know when booking your ticket so that we can arrange an aisle seat.

Contact Us: Meath Arts Centre Company

DAC Ltd. trading as Solstice Arts Centre. Railway St, Navan, Meath, Ireland, C15 KWP1. Registered in Ireland No. 387393. Charity No. CHY 97588

Where to Find Us: Parking is available at the Fairgreen Car Park, off Circular Road or in the old County Council grounds, Railway Street. Please note that you may be required to pay for parking. PARKING IS PROHIBITED IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF ST FINIAN’S TERRACE BESIDE THE CENTRE.

Covid-19 Measures: For full up-to-date information about our protective measures, please visit the ‘Visitor Info’ section on our website. As part of our continued commitment to the well-being of visitors & artists in preventing the spread of Covid-19, we adhere to all Government Guidelines and implement enhanced protocols and procedures. Our staff are here to assist you with a safe journey through the venue, so please ask for assistance if necessary.

Stay In Touch: For the latest news, updates and new event announcements, sign up to our email list and follow us on social media @solsticearts.

Solstice Arts Centre solsticeartscentre.ie

Solstice Arts Centre

solsticeartscentre.ie

@solsticearts

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