"RADE's innovative programme of combatting substance abuse through art introduces addicts to their own genius, their own best selves, it focuses on the buzz that living a positive life can bring,a buzz that is genuine and life enhancing"
President Mary McAleese
A documentary of the art practices in RADE for 2015 exploring the Easter Rising through art, drama and creative writing.
After an exciting year exploring the Easter Rising we have produced a short documentary film of our work throughout the year. The documentary has footage from workshops, outings and interviews with staff and participants. RADE Rising provides a sneak peak of what we do day to day.
is a graphic novel of 1916
Working with comic creator and graphic designer Paddy Lynch the group engaged in a number of workshops developing their stories around The Rising and learning how to present these tales in graphic format. The end result is a colourful read.
Read the full publication here: A RADE in Dublin
in The Atrium, Dublin City Council Civic Offices, July 2015
Comhgairdeachas libh go léír a ghlac páírt san taispéantais seo inniu. Ba chóir go mbeadh sibh thar a bheith bródúil. Is cúis áthas agus bród dom a bheith anseo inniu libh agus go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht an chuireadh a bheith libh.
I have had the great pleasure to view the fantastic exhibition here today and I commend and congratulate all of you who have participated in this fantastic exhibition. You all should be very proud of yourself and I am genuinely very proud and honoured to be invited here today to speak at the launch of your work. This whole area is steeped in republican history. Many ordinary men and women from Dublin 8 took part in the Rising and it is appropriate and fitting that you commemorate their heroic contribution to Irish freedom and their fight for equality, and we are still fighting for equality.
I have for many years been a supporter of RADE and believe in RADE’s approach to engage participants with the arts and therapeutic supports and provide a platform for their artistic expression. What is blatantly obvious for all to see when visiting a RADE exhibition or performance is the absolute pride, joy and sense of accomplishment that the participants express but also the pride their family and friends feel. There is no drug on earth that can give the feeling.
Sometimes it can be difficult to prove the value of Community Employment programmes such as RADE, to government funding bodies but it just takes a visit to any RADE production to fully appreciate the value of such schemes. RADE instils confidence, stability and structure into participants lives. RADE improves participant’s quality of life and addresses their sense of isolation and boredom through the use of cultural activities and make each participant believe that they have the capacity to contribute to society. Community based rehabilitation projects like RADE provide an essential service to both the participants and to the wider community.
RADE continue to produce some of the best art, poetry, theatre and film in this city. This not only contributes to the participants lives but also contributes to the culture of Dublin
The focus towards the showcasing of the art product each year not only gives a meaningful motivation to participants but also helps to change societal perception of drug-users which I believe is very important.
RADE has managed to not only stay afloat through the slashes and cuts of these austere times, but to continue their programme of quality productions demonstrating that ‘creativity is open to everyone’ and that engagement in arts activities, combined with therapeutic supports, does have a profound impact for making positive change in the lives of people affected by problem drug use. I would like to take this opportunity to call on the government and other agencies to recognize the contribution that special CE schemes make. It is vital to maintain the existing funding and to also increase the resources available to ensure all participants benefit fully from these schemes.
It takes courage to put your artistic work on show, it takes guts to get up on stage and perform and it takes everything you have to fight addiction and come through the other side. I wish you all the very best now and into the future and once again congratulations on such a great exhibition. Molaim sibh agus RADE. Ádh mór.
Kevin Bohan’s photo exhibition, in aid of RADE
In Dublin’s Fair City is the title of the Dublin urban graffiti and street artist Kevin Bohan’s exhibition. Kevin donated proceeds from the opening to RADE and Fountain Youth Project.
The event was launched in Film Base, Temple Bar, on 18th June and ran until Saturday 20th June.
was staged at Merchants Quay Ireland
John
In July RADE’s engaging production and cast entertained clients of Merchants Quay Ireland. The performance coincided with the loaning of artwork by previous participants to the MQI premises.
If you would like us to bring a show to you please contact Averyl on 01 4548733 to make arrangements.
finishes delivering a series of writing workshops
We were delighted to have professor Paula Meehan faciliate a number of creative writing workshops in 2015. Paula engaged the group in the literary works of Yeats and they explored some writing from the 1916 Rising. Paula’s workshops will blend nicely with our theme for 2015 which is the 1916 Rising.
For the fourth consecutive year
we were shortlisted for a Star Award for the Leinster region. Mick, Síne, Derek and Kevin attended the award ceremony on 23rd February in the Ballsbridge Hotel but were unsuccessful. ‘Positive 2 Work’ took home the prize for the Leinster region. We’d a wonderful day at the ceremony where we met and exchanged ideas with other nominees and winners.
Aontas Star Awards recognise organisation’s outstanding contribution to adult education. This year we were judged on our stained glass windows project and dance production ‘Source’.
Special performance of ‘Get Stoned’ was staged on Friday 13th February
Stuart was extremely generous with his time engaging in a a questions and answers discussion after the performance. It was excellent for participants to chat with Stuart about his influences and future aspirations for Love/Hate. It was particularly wonderful for those who stared in Series 5 to chat with Stuart about their scene and performances.
Stuart has agreed to facilitate masterclass writing classes with the group around the award winning TV series ‘Breaking Bad’ commencing in the summer of 2015
Health and Safety Training
Congratulations to all RADE participants who achieved merits and distinctions in their Health and Safety Fetac level 4 – Well done, a great achievement
to coincide with the 1916 centenary celebrations happening next year
RADE will embark on a historical and creative exploration of the 1916 Rising. We aim to produce a new theatre play later in 2015, an original art project and comic book showcasing the stories and events that affected the lives of those living in Dublin in 1916. This year we will work with Ireland Professor of Poetry, Paula Meehan, historian Kevin McKenna, RADE director Michael Egan, Síne Lynch and RADE artists Eoghan O’ Neill and Cathal O’ Grady.
