Children’s art gets local boost

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On February 18, 2016, leading business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran launched a major new partnership with the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). The sponsorship will support the children’s art education programme RHA Kids. The two-year programme includes a special series of in-house children’s art workshops by some of Ireland’s best known artists.

As part of the sponsorship, the RHA will also be running a special outreach programme with three of Mason Hayes & Curran’s local schools in Ringsend; St Patrick’s Boys National School, St Patrick’s Girls National School and Ringsend College.

The two national schools will take part in art workshops, tours of the Royal Hibernian Academy and studio visits with artists at the RHA’s school. Finally, a special exhibition of their work will be held in Mason Hayes & Curran’s offices.

The secondary school pupils will take part in similar studio visits and workshops and they will also produce art. This group will also take part in a career pathways session at the RHA where they will learn about the various roles of staff at the RHA, for example curating, admin and installation. Their tour of the gallery will be run by the RHA’s curating team, who will talk them through the decision process behind an exhibition.

The school group will then get to use what they learn – they will visit Mason Hayes & Curran’s offices ahead of the company’s annual Christmas art exhibition and will curate a section of the exhibition.

Commenting on the new partnership, Natasha McKenna, head of Mason Hayes & Curran’s Art Committee said, “we are delighted not only to continue and expand our work with local children and help them to engage with the artistic community from an early age, but also to encourage children of all ages to visit the RHA and develop their creative skills.”

To find out more about Mason Hayes & Curran’s art programme email arts@mhc.ie.

By Jennifer Reddin