ENNISTYMON School of Art students are to present an end of year exhibition with a difference due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
The school, which is run through Limerick Clare ETB from mid-September until May, offers QQI awarded PLC courses in level 5 and 6. The current students were looking forward to the annual exhibition at the Courthouse
Gallery in Ennistymon, which will launch on this Friday, May 8, but the Coronavirus put paid to that and have had to think of alternative arrangements.
PLC tutor Rachel Gleasure said they are now in the final process of mounting an online exhibition and hoping to reach wider audiences through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
“We offer students a chance to improve their artistic skills and the course caters for all levels from beginners to advanced. Learners can learn new skills such as painting, sculpture and ceramics and it’s also an employment-oriented programme, which prepares students for degree courses in art,” she said.
Rachel, who is assisted by Grace O’Hara in running the course, said the standard has been exceptionally high this year despite the setback with Covid-19.
“Working from home has presented its challenges. Our students have certainly pushed boundaries in thinking of alternative ways to engage audiences and there is some amazing and talented work on showcase.
“The Courthouse Gallery has been supportive in this also and we hope to showcase our work on their website and possibly get our own up and running. The exhibition is due to launch on Friday and it will run for a week,” Rachel
said.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.