REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT OPENING OF YOUTH SCIENCE & ARTS WEEK ON MONDAY 13 JULY, 1998
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT OPENING OF YOUTH SCIENCE & ARTS WEEK ON MONDAY 13 JULY, 1998
I am delighted to be here this morning to officially open the 1998 RDS Youth Science and Arts Week – and I would like to thank Liam Connellan, the President of the Royal Dublin Society – for giving me this honour of opening what promises to be an enjoyable, entertaining and informative week. I think it is appropriate that the RDS – one of the oldest institutions in this country concerned with science and the arts – should be the organisers of this annual event for young people – fulfilling their mission of encouraging and stimulating a continuing interest in the arts and sciences.
Youth Science and Arts Week is a marvellous opportunity for young people to participate in a wide range of creative activities – in an innovative and enjoyable way. The very comprehensive programme of talks, visits and workshops – and the emphasis on fun and participation – should make for a memorable experience for everyone who has come here this week. Indeed, the measure of the enjoyment and fun that this week means, can be seen in the number of who come back again and again – to join in the activities – to renew old friendships – and to make new acquaintances – as you explore the relationship between the arts and the sciences.
Of course, that relationship has always been a fascinating one – and I suppose that it is particularly true today with advances in technology and science moving at a tremendous rate – and the cultural renaissance that is going hand in hand with the economic renaissance in Ireland – giving a new impetus to the level of creativity and artistic achievement that Irish artists, writers, composers and entertainers are enjoying today.
While there are some who feel that arts and sciences are in a sense mutually exclusive – one dealing primarily with fantasy and imagination – and the other being concerned with fact, and empirical analysis and experiment - very often the initial impact of scientific development is seen by most people in the arts. For instance, the impact of digital technology on recording – on special effects in films – on television and multimedia developments – have opened up whole new horizons and opportunities for artists and artistic endeavour – so that we have a whole range of new occupations – new skills – and new forms of creative expression that were not even dreamt of a decade ago.
A career in the arts is now a much more attractive proposition than it was only a few years ago. The programme of events, visits, workshops and talks by well-known professionals - will serve to emphasise the importance of that interconnection between art and science. Those of you who have opted for the ‘Talks and Visits’ will have an opportunity to get behind the scenes in the cultural industries – to get a glimpse of what is involved in running a gallery, producing a show or making a film. In the ‘Workshops’ - the musicians among you will learn about acoustic principles – the artists will learn about, and draw inspiration from, the solar system – while the creative writers will look at examples of writers who have used science as an inspiration in their writing.
The important thing is that you can take time this week to explore and discuss the areas of interest to you – to discover your potential creativity – and perhaps to take a view on what you might like to pursue in college and in a career. It is important too that you use this week to meet and to socialise with others – to share ideas and opinions – and to exchange views. This social dimension to the week is just as important as the programme of talks, visits and workshops. It is an educational experience in itself to hear others of a different background – from a different place – and with a different outlook – give their perspective on the role of art and science in their world.
I want to commend the RDS on staging this event – for giving you the opportunity to see aspects of the arts and sciences that you would not normally see during the normal school year. Through their initiative in involving young people like yourselves – in opening up new perspectives in the arts and sciences – they are ensuring that the relevance of scientific development to the continued progress of society – and the advancement of the arts in Ireland – will be appreciated and understood by the emerging generations of young Irish people.
I hope that for each of you – this week will be an entertaining interlude in your holidays – an interesting and stimulating week of activities - that will perhaps help you in reaching the decisions that you will be facing about career choices and education options. Most of all, I hope you have a thoroughly enjoyable week.
ENDS