New-Bridge Integrated College are involved in a very exciting ‘Cross Border Arts Project’. Following the visit of the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to New-Bridge Integrated College last year, Mrs Anderson, Principal, secured a grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs to fund a cross border initiative involving New-Bridge Integrated College and two schools from the South of Ireland, St Louis in Dundalk and St Colmcille’s in Dublin.
Fifteen students from each of the three schools are currently working on a collaborative Art project. The students will participate in the project over the next few months which will include workshops in each of the three schools in addition to visits to two reconciliation centres, Corrymeela Peace and Reconciliation Centre and Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliations.
During the school based workshops, the students will be involved in mini art projects based on the theme of ‘peace’ and ‘celebrating identities’ to create a design for a permanent sculptural art piece for each school. There will be a final Showcase in the Autumn where the students will meet up again and the art works will be revealed.
This creative project will explore the theme of ‘Our Identity’ and has been entirely funded by the Irish Government’s Reconciliation Fund and the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore further, different identities within a variety of cultural backgrounds and all three schools are very excited about the project.
Today, Monday 20 May, the students are attending an event in Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. The theme of the event is ‘British Irish Relations’ and a number of VIP’s will be in attendance along with students from New-Bridge, St Louis, and St Colmcilles.
Mrs Dawn Clarke, Art Department, project co-ordintor is very excited to be involved in the venture: We are thrilled to be part of such an exciting Cross Border project. The students have all bonded and are enjoying making new friends and exploring each other’s identity through Art.
