This morning, Wednesday 6th April, the Bealtaine Festival 2011 wasannounced by Irish artists Geraldine Plunkett, Eamon Morrissey and Mary McEvoy at Dublin’s’ Merrion Hotel, surrounded by works by Bealtaine ambassador Robert Ballagh.

In 2011, Ireland’s unique and groundbreaking celebration of creativity in older age is set to be even bigger with hundreds of organisers planning events and activities for this coming May. Details can now be found online at www.bealtaine.com, with programmes becoming available from mid-May.

Internationally, similar festivals have been established (Wales) and continue to develop (Scotland, Germany), inspired and modelled on Ireland’s homegrown success story. “Silver Stars”, an event which has its roots in Bealtaine 2008, is heading this year to New Zealand’s Auckland Arts Festival, having performed off Broadway and in Paris in 2010.

Dominic Campbell, the Festival’s Artistic Director, explains, “Bealtaine’s greatest achievement continues to be its ability to bring pleasure to individual lives, igniting the passion of people as they age. Increased recognition of the festival owes everything to individual enjoyment of the arts in all their variety, through all of Ireland. Our success is built from joy.”

The Bealtaine ambassadors, artists Robert Ballagh, Joanna Banks, Paddy Cole, Veronica Dunne, Jennifer Johnston, Tomás MacAnna, Eugene McCabe, Paddy Moloney, Eamon Morrissy, Derbhla Murphy, Geraldine Plunkett and John Quinn are living examples of the excellence and vibrancy of creativity in older age in Ireland.

The “Prime Years” exhibition at Dublin’s Gallery of Photography will offer a stunning photographic exploration of diverse aspects of ageing. The featured photographs depict centenarians, artists, relatives and other individuals enjoying, enduring and living their lives beyond the age of 60. The exhibition will run alongside a number of other exhibitions in Dublin galleries (Clyne, Graphic Studio, Black Church print studio) contributing to the creation of a “Bealtaine Art Trail” throughout the city, highlighting the work of older artists and encouraging all artists to engage with issues around ageing.

“Cultural Companions” is a unique initiative, beginning in May and funded by Bord Gáis Foundation. Many people would probably go to a lot more films, shows, concerts and be part of a thriving social scene if we had someone to go with who has the know-how, transport or shared interest. Cultural Companions is about creating local networks of interested people to support and accompany each other to arts and cultural events. Potential “Cultural Companion” volunteers in Dublin and Cork are being invited to get involved in their communities by accompanying older people to Arts/Cultural events. “Cultural Companions” also offers the opportunity to celebrate the contribution of older volunteers during 2011 – the European Year of Volunteering.

This year Bealtaine will be on the move across the country like never before with the Bealtaine theatre tour (“Fruitcake” starring Mary McEvoy and “Here We Are Again Still” by Christian O’Reilly), a film tour in association with access<CINEMA and the Irish Film Institute (featuring a series of new film shorts exploring ageing in inspiring and entertaining ways) and also a tour of the ”Ink” exhibition featuring the work of photographer Aidan Kelly.

On a musical note, the hugely successful “Blow the Dust” Orchestra project for older people, now firmly established in Ireland’s National Concert Hall, goes from strength to strength. Following sell-out performances during Bealtaine and Christmas 2010 and a joint performance at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall with the West Ocean String Quartet, this year for Bealtaine, the orchestra will perform a lunchtime concert of classics and favourites. In 2011, The Blow the Dust project will also take place in Cork’s Opera House, encouraging older people to take part in workshops and rediscover the joy and fun of playing instruments during a week of rehearsals in the Opera House. (If you are interested in taking part in Blow the Dust in Cork, contact Maeve Dineen 021 4924736).

The “Dawn Chorus” project will again be inviting choirs and older people’s groups to sing on waterfronts on 29 May in an inspiring and unique celebration of life, older voices and some stunning settings. (If you would like to take part in ‘Dawn Chorus’, contact Edel Ryan 01 8057709).

Last year over 101,000 participants took part in over 2500 events organised by 513 partners. Bealtaine brings people together. It unites communities and diverse organisations all over the country. It provides inspiring and innovative opportunities for older people to engage and participate in a whole range of arts events and experiences.

The full festival programme is available from 1 April on www.bealtaine.com and from 11 April in hard copy from Age & Opportunity and participating organisations.

INFORMATION FOR EDITORS

About Bealtaine

Bealtaine, the national festival celebrating creativity in older age is Ireland’s largest co-operative Arts festival and is coordinated by Age & Opportunity and includes events organised by hundreds of partner organisations locally, regionally and nationally. The festival encourages greater participation in the arts by older people as artists and performers, taking part as both event organisers and audiences, everywhere from national institutions to local parish halls. The ethos is one of fun, empowerment and exploration.

Now in its 16th year, Bealtaine is an agenda-setting cultural first, an Irish innovation. Bealtaine 2010 saw over 2500 events with an estimated 101,000 participants from 26 counties made with 513 partners (an increase of 137 on the previous year), making this one of Ireland’s biggest arts festivals.

Age & Opportunity is the national not-for-profit organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society through partnerships and collaborative programmes.  Other Age & Opportunity programmes are delivered with a range of partner organisations in areas like physical activity, educating about ageism and age discrimination, promoting confidence and empowerment amongst older people, and training staff of care centres to facilitate the arts amongst the people in their care.

Age & Opportunity wishes to acknowledge the generosity and foresight of its funders, including the Health Service Executive, and of Bealtaine investors: The Arts Council and Dublin City Council.

Further information www.ageandopportunity.ie

To get involved in Bealtaine 2011 or for more information, contact www.bealtaine.com, E-mail: Bealtaine@ageandopportunity.ie or telephone Age & Opportunity Tel: +353 (1) 805 7709. Information will also be available via local public libraries and County Council Arts Offices, and from Bealtaine at Age & Opportunity, Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9.

For further media information please contact Stephanie Dickenson at Kate Bowe PR Tel: + 353 (1) 652 0143 E-mail stephanie@katebowepr.ie Mobile: 087 993 7650