Kells looks at 'The Bigger Picture'

Minister of State Aodhain O’Riordain is to give the keynote address at a major conference on developing the arts in Kells on Thursday night.
Organised by Kells Local Heroes and titled, ‘The Bigger Picture, how Arts and Culture can transform a town’, other high profile speakers on the night will include film producer Arthur Lappin, author and playwright Peter Sheridan, and Raymond Keaveney, former Director of the National Gallery of Ireland.
Kells Local Heroes Chairman Ken Murray said: “We are delighted to have Minister O’Riordain in Kells on Thursday night. He will speak at length about the Government’s new policy on developing the arts which is titled ‘Culture 2025’.
“He will outline in detail how the Government plans to grow activity in the arts community across the country and his words will be listened to with great interest by those in the sector not only in Meath but across the North-East who rely on State funding to exist and promote what they do.”
Kells native Arthur Lappin, who has worked on award-winning movies such as ‘My Left Foot’ and ‘In the Name of the Father’, will also speak about how Kells can develop into an arts hub for the region. He will be joined by author and playwright Peter Sheridan who has family connections in nearby Mullagh.
“Peter Sheridan, a brother of movie Director Jim, was a co-founder of the Project Arts Centre in Dublin in the 1970’s and has vast experience in the area of developing the arts in urban centres,” said Mr Murray.
Also joining the panel of speakers on the night will be Raymond Keaveney. A native of Carlanstown, he spent 23 years as Director of the National Gallery of Ireland before retiring in 2012.
The event will be hosted by Eddie Shanahan who is a business developer in the area of crafts and fashion.
Representatives from a range of other arts disciplines will also be in attendance and will contribute to the audience discussion following the presentations.
Thursday night’s conference is open to the public. It takes place in the Church of Ireland, Church Lane Kells and commences at 7.30pm. Admission is free.