Aislinn Ó hEocha, the Executive Artistic Director of the Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, writes for Culture about this year's festival, which runs from Monday 5th - Sunday 18th October.
It's finally Baboró time, my favourite time of the year! While this year’s festival will feel a little different, the Baboró team was determined that the spirit of Baboró would prevail, and be a testimony to the power of the creative arts to heal and bring joy.
In redesigning the festival programme, I wanted to acknowledge the bravery of our incredible children whose social, educational and cultural lives were suddenly paused in March. We all enjoyed the arts at home by going to school on RTÉ Junior and TG4, watching movies together, reading books, enjoying music, but we’ve missed the collective expéerience of enjoying a show or exhibition together.
While Baboró will present exciting in-person events to small audiences in Galway, I've been inspired by the innovation and ingenuity of artists who have created stunning interactive experiences for children to enjoy in their homes and classrooms, wherever they may be.
The University of Wonder & Imagination will be broadcast live from Cahoots NI’s purpose-built set in Belfast. The mysterious Professor Bamberg will send participants on a self-navigated quest to interact with lively lecturers and encounter all kinds of problems and puzzles, unlocking their magical powers as they go.
Scottish composer and cellist Greg Sinclair has migrated his intimate show, A Piece of You, seamlessly into the digital world as he interacts with a family over a zoom call, composes a unique piece of music from children’s responses to some simple questions, and plays the new composition for the family.
Mountain Goat Mountain is an audio-led theatre experience that empowers families to build their own theatrical world by entering a magical space, exploring tunnels, lava pits and underwater caves without ever leaving home.
Baboró was keen to continue to reach all of our audiences this year, not least those with additional needs. Two of the country’s most celebrated artists working in this area, Phillida Eves and Anna Newell, have taken great care to adapt shows to safely meet this important audience in outdoor spaces. Sing Me to the Sea is an intimate watery adventure for an audience of three children and their carers, performed in the beautiful surrounds of the Ardilaun Hotel gardens. Galway artist Phillida Eves will be in residence in a beautiful festival tent in the grounds of St. Joseph’s Special School with Hear Our Voice!
It’s been wonderful to work closely with Galway artists such as Jojo Hynes who has created a fascinating body of work called She Crashes in and Fizzles Out, which will immerse audiences in an underwater world inspired by the stories of female water deities throughout the world. A public art project, Colour My Life: Brighten Your Day, will enliven Galway City parks with temporary art installations which families are invited to add to with their own creations such as painted rocks, land art and wishing tree messages.
The festival runs Monday 5th to Sunday 18th October and we’re really looking forward to bringing these brilliant experiences to children, their families and classmates, both in Galway and far beyond.
Find out more about this year's Baboró Festival here.
