Irish organisation Express Events announces new charity status

May 16, 2010 - PRLog -- Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland  - Express Events is proud to announce its new registered charity status, Irish tax exemption no. CHY19189. Founded to advance education in the arts by organising and hosting local cultural events in the community with an emphasis on poetry and music from all sectors of the community, Express Events is the organisation behind Kids Express and Poets Express.

With its registered office, Executive Committee, and Events Director all located in the West Cork region, Express Events' focus is the Sheeps Head Peninsula and surrounding area. The West Cork Region, in particular the Sheeps Head Peninsula, is in desperate need of festivals that are local and offer a wide variety of art forms for free and/or reasonably priced admission, featuring all ages events, cultural diversity and platforms for unpublished/unsigned artists. Many festivals have disappeared from the area due to lack of sponsors. The rugged terrain of the area makes it difficult for residents to attend festivals outside their local communities. Events and activities geared to children are few and far between. Unemployment is up, and tourism is down.

"None of these statements are news to any resident in the area," according to Events Director Kylyra Ameringer. "In the years leading up to the current economic downturn, many festivals in the area closed down due to lack of sponsorship. With one or two exceptions, the remaining festivals in the area do not focus on the arts or cultural events, do not offer activities specifically geared towards children, and do not offer unsigned or unpublished artists an opportunity to share their work with the public." Festivals and events hosted by Express Events will feature poetry and music, include activities and performances for and by children, and highlight the works of unpublished/unsigned artists. Kylyra Ameringer further stated, "We want to keep admission to our festivals and activities free. A lack of personal disposable income should not bar anyone, young or old, from opportunities to explore and enjoy the arts."

Express Events' 2010 calendar includes:

Kids Express, 2 July 2010, Bantry Boys' Club, Bantry, West Cork
This is a free admission all ages event focusing on children's poetry. All short listed entrants in the Kids Express 2010 International Poetry Competition will have the opportunity to perform their poem on stage in front of a live audience. Xpressions Drama School in Bantry will have two performances of skits written and performed by children, 'Sweet and Sour' and 'Fake Friends'. Wordmusic from Manchester, UK will give a special set just for kids. Host Kylyra will be performing two special children's pieces from her Poetry 101 show, supported by a grant from the Arts & Disability Awards Ireland scheme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion, administered by the Arts & Disability Forum. Her opening number will be a special musical presentation of Roald Dahl's 'Little Red Riding Hood', and her second number is planned to be a cover of 'An Irish Airman Foresees His Death' by Yeats (poem part of the 2011 leaving cert programme).

The Rural Transport will provide a bus route from the Sheeps Head Peninsula to Bantry for the event. A face painter will be on hand and there will be games and refreshments available. The evening is scheduled to be video taped and audio recorded for free Internet release.

Poets Express, 3 July 2010, Bayview Inn, Kilcrohane, West Cork
This is a free admission adult event focusing on performance poetry. Three rooms will be going this year; the main stage room, the acoustic room, and the visual room.

Main stage performers include Cah-44 (Dublin), Antonionioni (Manchester, UK), Tomás Ó Cartháigh (Tullamore, Co. Offaly), Dale Mawhinney (Belfast), Wordmusic (Manchester, UK), Mags Treanor (Galway), Andrej LeSaint (Dublin), and the band Shaky Dawg (West Cork). Host Kylyra will be performing two pieces from her Poetry 101 show, supported by a grant from the Arts & Disability Awards Ireland scheme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion, administered by the Arts & Disability Forum. Her opening number will be 'The Jester's Court', a new performance piece in her repertoire written specifically for Poets Express. Her second number will be 'Chronic Jazz with a sombre element I just can't put my finger on', a very special piece focusing on her disability from rheumatoid arthritis.

The acoustic room will feature poets, musicians, and storytellers, and will be hosted by Eric Rhodes, Ahakista author, poet, and Poets Express volunteer. Eric is the author of 'The King, Father & Mother' and 'Oasis of Love'. Tom Jordan, poet, musician, and photographer, will be coming in from Cork city to perform. Acoustic guitar group Future Dialogue give a live rendition of their music. The Lonely Schizophrenic, a comedic acoustic group from Dublin, will be on hand with their unique brand of entertainment.

The visual room will run contributed videos and films from artists around the world. Award winning Italian pioneer of video art and art-Electronic Caterina Davinio has agreed to allow several of her pieces to be shown. 4 Seasons Productions from the US generously donated their complete 'Moving Poetry' series. Additional showings include works from Canadian video poet and animation artist Nichola Ward; French experimental film and video director Sophia Balestri; 'Walking Home', an experimental film about women ritually facing street harassment directed by Nuala Cabral;  'Unfed', an experimental poetic dance film of loneliness and alienation by Jason Lam from Australia; 'love, death&poetry', a collaborative work from Naomi Hamilton (UK), ReadyMade777 (US) and Valery Pasanau (France); 'Spoken Word Poem Dream' by US video poet Muermajica; and 'Dragonfly' from US poet, musician, and video artist Ozzy Skateboard.

The Rural Transport will provide a bus route from Bantry to the event. An afternoon writing workshop and poet's network meeting will be held. A local BBQ will be on hand, and a raffle will be held to help raise funds. The evening is scheduled to be video taped and audio recorded for free Internet release.

Estimated total need for Express Events' activities and on-going administrative costs this year is €9,500. All donations are welcome. For a donation of €100.00 or more sponsors will receive a gift of a Poets Express t-shirt designed and donated by JackieBlueWear.com. These high quality, 100% cotton Hanes t-shirts sport the Poets Express logo in full, vibrant colour and are available in large or extra large. Supplies are limited. For a donation of €50.00 or more sponsors will receive a gift of a Poets Express 2009 CD, produced by Dark World International. Containing live recordings from Poets Express 2009 as well as the 2009 Guest Studio Sessions, this CD is the perfect audio introduction to Poets Express and performance poetry. Cheques and money orders should be made to Express Events, and may be posted to:

Express Events
Desmond's
Cahir, Kilcrohane
Bantry, Co. Cork
Ireland

All sponsors donating €50.00 or more will have their name listed on Express Events' website at http://www.darkworld.com/ExpressEvents/index.html.

For further information, visit Express Events at http://www.darkworld.com/ExpressEvents/index.html, e-mail PoetsExpress@darkworld.com, or contact us by post at our office in Kilcrohane. We welcome your comments and questions.

Contact:
Express Events
PoetsExpress@darkworld.com
http://www.darkworld.com/ExpressEvents/index.html

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Express Events is established is to advance education in the arts by organising and hosting local cultural events in the community with an emphasis on poetry and music from all sectors of the community.