Catalyst appeal / Rwanda commemorated in Belfast-Bray art cooperation (Wednesday, 21 April 2004)

Appeal after burglary at Catalyst

compiled by Suzy García

Catalyst Arts in Belfast was forcibly broken into and burgled in the early hours of Friday 15 April.

The majority of a large amount of new equipment, recently purchased, was stolen. Catalyst are now appealing for support. They will be holding fundraising events in the near future, which the Catalyst membership will be informed of through mail-outs. Attendance at these events would be greatly appreciated.

The committee at Catalyst are also unable to gain access to their e-mail account due to the theft of computers and are currently trying to amend the situation. In the meantime, they can be contacted by post or telephone.

Catalyst's details:

Catalyst Arts, 2nd Floor, 5 College Court, Belfast, BT1 6BS. Tel: +44 (0)2890313303 Fax:02890312737 E-mail (when it's functioning again): info@catalystarts.org Web:www.info@catalystarts.org

Genocide on the wall

Mural created by students from Belfast and Bray; courtesy 80:20

A new wall mural, three posters and a 'resource' designed and developed as part of an educational project by students from Bray and Belfast and based on the theme of genocide, will be officially launched tomorrow evening, Thursday 22 April 2004 at 5pm.

"Education directly focused on the reality and consequences of genocide is one of the most urgent and necessary lessons of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda," said Dylan Haskins (student at Presentation College, Bray), according to the press release.

"While it is incomprehensible to people throughout the world as to how 800,000 Rwandans could be killed in 100 days in 1994, so too is it incomprehensible that 3,636 people could be killed in Northern Ireland in 30 years. These realities and the educational implications of them, have been at the heart of our work over the past three months," said Chris McClelland (student at Orangefield High School, East Belfast), again from the press release.

The mural, posters and resource examine the human dimension of genocide as well as the methods used to kill. The work has involved young people exploring the nature and consequences of violence, looking at the issue from the viewpoint of the conflict in Ireland and how such issues can be explored through art.

The Wall Mural (measuring 32 feet x 8 feet), posters and educational resource have been developed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. The launch, which takes place at 17.00 hours, Thursday 22 April, at Presentation College, Putland Road, Bray, will be attended by students and teachers from Presentation College and Orangefield High School, East Belfast.

Further information from Valerie Duffy, Education Officer, 80:20 Ü Tel: +353 (0) 86 807 4410; Colm Regan, Co-ordinator, 80:20 Ü Tel: +353 (0) 87 289 4312.

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