REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE ADESTE EXHIBITION AT THE ARK, TEMPLE BAR, DUBLIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE ADESTE EXHIBITION AT THE ARK, TEMPLE BAR, DUBLIN 2 MONDAY, 6TH DECEMBER 1999
Is mór an chúis áthais dom bheith anseo libh tráthnóna chun an taispeántas iontach seo, ADESTE, a oscailt. Is tionscnamh an-speisialta é seo a dhíríonn ár n-aird ar an áilleacht agus an iontas a bhaineann le scéal na Nollag. Tá mé cinnte go mbainfaidh na cuairteoirí óga go léir a thiocfaidh anseo i rith na Nollag agus san Athbhliain an-taitneamh agus tairbhe as an ionad draíochta seo.
It gives me great pleasure to visit The Ark to open this wonderful exhibition and visual arts programme based on the theme of the Nativity. At a time when the annual panic of present-buying and Christmas parties is already in full swing, I warmly welcome The Ark’s initiative in enabling children to experience and engage with the real story of Christmas in such an innovative and imaginative way. ADESTE truly lives up to its name as an invitation – an invitation, open to all, to mark this new Millennium in a way that reflects and celebrates its true significance of 2000 years since the birth of Christ.
Over the centuries, that great story of the Nativity has been a central theme of the arts, inspiring great artists throughout the ages to produce some of the their most beautiful and thought-provoking pieces of work. It is a story which, although interpreted and re-interpreted so often, is still relevant, still has the capacity to surprise, to generate new perspectives and ideas. It is a great tribute to the 12 artists who have created new pieces of work for this that they too, have produced such imaginative and different art-works. That very diversity enriches our own experience of the Nativity allows us to see it fresh and new, to feel again the power of that simple yet extraordinary story.
ADESTE very much reflects the whole ethos of The Ark, that of putting children and their encounter with the arts, at the centre of all its activities. We all know the extent of children’s imagination and creative powers, how joyfully they can blossom given the encouragement and scope, how easily they can be stymied if denied that encouragement. As Europe’s first custom built arts and culture centre for children, The Ark has broken new ground with outstanding success in allowing that creative spirit to flourish. It is clear that a great deal of thought and hard work has gone into all of your specially designed programmes for children of every age and interest. Those programmes have allowed children not only to experience art, but to become involved, to experience the unique pleasure of creativity and of knowing that this creativity is valued. A wonderful example of that is the crib installation, made by artists Jon Kelly and Genevieve Murphy, which children will be encouraged to enhance with their own creations.
The buzz and excitement that enlivens the world of a child is very tangible in this centre, and I’m sure that there are days when this place really does resemble the original Ark, crammed full of every form of living thing – a noisy celebration of diversity.
I would like to congratulate Arthur Lappin, Chairman of the Ark and the Board of Directors for their ongoing commitment to commissioning new work for the centre, and to realising its vision so successfully. I warmly commend in particular, the Discount Scheme you have put in place to assist schools that are disadvantaged or which incur significant transport costs in coming here from outside Dublin. It is a very practical and praiseworthy way of making The Ark – and the invitation offered by ADESTE – a genuinely inclusive one. The Director, Martin Drury and all of the staff here also deserve great praise for their marvellous work. I know that the success of The Ark – and of this project in particular - is very much down to a partnership approach with several organisations – the Arts Council, the Department of Education and Science, FAS, Dublin Corporation, the National Millennium Committee and many generous sponsors. I would like to thank all of them for their outstanding support. Finally, I would like to acknowledge all those involved in Temple Bar Properties who had the vision and initiative to create this wonderful cultural centre for children.
Táim cinnte go mbainfaidh an uile dhuine, idir óg agus aosta, pléisiúir as an taispeántas álainn seo. Gura fada buan an rath ar an saothar iontach ealáine seo. Guím Nollaig fíor-shona, lán de dhóchas agus de shíocháin oraibh go léir. Go raibh maith agaibh.