September 29th sees the beginning of the latest two-week workshop hosted by the National Print Museum, in Beggars Bush Barracks, Haddington Road.
This programme, the Creative Community Workshop is aimed at elderly community members and Active Retirees who live in the vicinity of the Museum and the Aviva Stadium: Ballsbridge, Irishtown, Ringsend and Sandymount.
The two-week period, from late September to early October, is designated internationally as Positive Ageing Week. We spoke with Greta Halpin, Education Officer of the National Print Museum for more details.
“The workshop came about through the contribution of the Aviva Stadium Community Scheme. We knew they supported educational efforts and had done so for us in the past, such as our free self-guided tours. We had wanted to offer more for the elderly or the active retired and to alert them to us as a cultural resource.”
This upcoming workshop is divided into five sections – an introductory meet and greet, with a tour of the museum and refreshments to follow in Press, the museum’s café. The second, a full day, is an Introduction to Letterpress printing. Next, an Introduction to Calligraphy, then an Introduction to Book Binding, Finally there will be a Coffee Morning and Exhibition day, where participants can invite friends and family to view the finished works that result from the two weeks of hard graft and enjoyment.
Greta explains that there had been a similar event in 2009 which was focussed on Letterpress and Creative Writing called Creative Expression for Older People. The new programme is more ambitious and if successful, the first of many.
For more details, contact the National Print Museum on 01 660 3770 or email info@nationalprintmuseum.ie
By Rúairí Conneely
