Posted on: 26 March 2009
An exhibition of books illustrated and written by children from three Dublin primary schools opened on March 24th last in the Long Room, in the Old Library, Trinity College Dublin. The children also received a certificate at an awards ceremony on the occasion of the exhibition opening. The ‘Book of Kells’ inspired the school children in creating the books and the initiative forms part of the Bookmarks programme involving TAP-linked schools which are designated as disadvantaged. Bookmarks, which is a joint project of the Trinity Access Programmes and The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children, is a workshop series designed, developed and presented by The Ark.
The Bookmarks programme engages the school children in a series of workshops during which children create their own adventure stories and become authors, illustrators and publishers of their own handmade books.
This year’s Bookmarks programme involved 63 children from Our Lady of Lourdes NS, Goldenbridge, Scoil Cholmcille NS, Ballybrack and Marist NS, Crumlin who visited the ‘Book of Kells’ in Trinity’s Long Room in January. They also took part in a reading and questions and answers session with children’s writer, Aubrey Flegg, who offered them expert advice on creating their own stories. Over six weeks, Ark artists Laura de Búrca and Liz Smith facilitated workshops where the children, using various materials, planned an adventure story, and created their own books. The children had the opportunity to gain new skills through visual arts media such as using visual imagery to depict the written word as well as book cover illustrating using media such as fabric, hand-made paper and gold-leaf, and book binding. The workshops aimed to inspire children at all levels of ability to become illustrators, authors, and even bookbinders.
As the timing of the project coincided with the release of the animated film ‘The Secret of Kells’, which is based on the ‘Book of Kells’, the school children were also invited by Disney to attend a special screening of the film earlier this month.
Children received certificates of achievement at the awards ceremony and their books were displayed in the Long Room as public recognition of their work. Families and teachers were also in attendance, to share in the children’s achievement.
Commenting on the significance of the Bookmarks Programme, Director of the Trinity Access Programmes, Cliona Hannon said: “Bookmarks is the first TAP programme in which children in our link schools participate and it is a really significant, in-depth engagement with the students. It aims to develop each pupil’s sense of creativity, through writing and illustrating their own book, and to give them a sense of achievement, through showcasing that book in one of Ireland’s oldest libraries, the Long Room. Both pupils and their parents love this activity and I think it gives the pupils in TAP schools a real feeling for their own emerging potential and the place Trinity can play in developing that with them. Furthermore, The Ark has a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise in supporting children to explore their own creativity and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to work alongside them again this year.”
Commenting on the success of the cultural partnership, Eina McHugh, Director of The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children stated: “The Ark believes children as citizens have the same cultural entitlements as adults and encourages all children from all backgrounds to access creativity. Working with other key cultural institutions brings us one step closer to this aim and we are delighted to be working again with Trinity Access Programmes on Bookmarks.”
The Bookmarks programme is one of a suite of TCD outreach activities for primary schools, which aim to build a positive relationship between Trinity College Dublin and primary school students and their families and to raise aspirations regarding third-level study.
The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council.
For further information on the Bookmarks programme, please contact Melanie McArdle, Student Activities Cooordinator, Trinity Access Programmes, [email protected]. For further information on TAP, click on: http://www.tcd.ie/Trinity_Access/
