PR Unit

Press Release issued 21^st July 2008

INCONTEXT3

South Dublin County Councils Per Cent for Art Programme 2006 -2009

Young people from Tallaght and New Orleans connect through artists project at County Hall, Tallaght on Tuesday 29^th July at 2.30pm

Young people from Tallaght and New Orleans are collaborating to create a virtual world which reflects their own values, ideals and experiences. This unique cultural exchange, A=AGHT*, is led by Jackie Sumell, internationally renowned artist currently participating in South Dublin County Councils public art programme. A group of 10 teenagers from opposite sides of the Atlantic have developed ideas for A=AGHT through creative workshops led by Jackie and a team of dedicated cultural workers, exploring the social, cultural and historic issues that affect their lives.

A=AGHT is a place of creative resolve, a virtual space & website: www.AequalsAGHT.org

All participants have gained a host of new skills and learned that creativity and collaboration make anything possible. Five young people from New Orleans will join participants from Tallaght at the County Hall on Tuesday 29^th. The Deputy Mayor will present a commemorative gift to the group to celebrate this unique project.

*The name A=AGHT comes from the idea that exactly the same sounds can be represented by entirely different spellings. This serves as the concept for exploring sameness in seemingly different communities: NOLA=TALLAGHT,New Orleans, LouisianA and TallAGHT

images attached:

A=AGHT news broadcast: Tanollaght Tonight participants from Tallaght Foroige creating news broadcast

to explore the notion What is ignored by your media?

A=AGHT parade: A=AGHT participants taking part in the St. Patricks Day Parade in New Orleans, showing crests combining Irish style family crests with their own family history, made in A=AGHT workshops led by Irish artists.

A=AGHT homepage: the world of A=AGHT online

A=AGHT is commissioned by INCONTEXT3, South Dublin County Councils Per Cent for Art Programme, and supported by Forige Youth Services Tallaght, West Tallaght Film and Video Programme, Cow House Studios Co. Wexford, Young Aspirations Young Artists & Black Star Academy from New Orleans

Press Contact: Rachel McAree, Project Manager, In Context 3,

p: 086 3881153+353 (0)1 414 9223

e: rmcaree@sdublincoco.ie

http://incontext.southdublin.ie

For information on all South Dublin County Council Arts Services please see: http://arts.southdublin.ie