The Saw Doctors and other artists share the experience of making a living from creativity with school students in Tuam.
Musicians, painters, sculptors, dancers and actors share their talent and experience with students of Saint Brigid's School Convent of Mercy in Tuam. The school oganised a week long community arts festival to let students hear about a life in the arts. Regina Padden who leads a group of line dancers from Castlebar says that living can be made from doing something you love to do.
Turning the current line dancing craze into a money-spinning opportunity.
The students from St Brigid's Secondary School in Tuam teamed up with Macnas to create a pageant entitled 'Anois Teacht an Earraigh'. It is performed during the festival's opening ceremony, attended by Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Michael D Higgins.
Many people who work in the arts did not necessarily set out to work in it full time. Leo Moran and John Donnelly from The Saw Doctors believe that people should not put themselves under pressure to achieve a career in the creative sector.
If you enjoy doing something, just go for it and see what happens.
This is the second year of the festival, which aims to expose students to music, theatre, visual and performance art, and get them thinking about their own talents and opportunities that may be open to them.
Mary Farrell of the Arts Festival Committee believes the event can expose students to new experiences and help to develop a positive outlook.
Aisling Kearns who took part in the pageant appreciates this diversion from the normal school routine.
Events celebrating and promoting creativity in schools also change how people express themselves, says Padraic Stephens who with 'Mouse' McHugh of Macnas co-produced the pageant. They agree with sentiments expressed by the Michael D Higgins in his speech at the opening ceremony,
School's there to be enjoyed, not to be feared.
This report for 'Nationwide' was broadcast on 29 January 1995. The reporter is Jim Fahy
