Well, yesterday the young editors of the first Euroteen anthology, STEALING SHAKESPEARE'S PENCIL, accompanied myself and Eoin Hurley (the old editors!) to Aras an Uachtarain and presented the book to President Michael D. Higgins! The president said that the book was 'really excellent' and had a great chat with all of us about poetry and the issues facing young people today, which he felt were very honestly and skillfully explored by the young poets from all over the world in the book. Young poet Mary Bracken read her poem to him (while sitting on Marie Antoinette's couch!) and then we all had a tour of the Aras. After that, the young editors went to the Arts Council office where they presented the book and partook in a discussion on the future of young people and the arts - and then they presented the book at Poetry Ireland too.
The day went really well, and I think that we really brought young voices to the forefront of the arts. The young people were so impressive, and did the project proud. I hope we have many more events like this, and much more involvement of young people in their own arts projects in Tigh Fili in the future.
As you can see below I took the opportunity to give the president my own collection while I was there, so hopefully he'll enjoy it!
The day went really well, and I think that we really brought young voices to the forefront of the arts. The young people were so impressive, and did the project proud. I hope we have many more events like this, and much more involvement of young people in their own arts projects in Tigh Fili in the future.
As you can see below I took the opportunity to give the president my own collection while I was there, so hopefully he'll enjoy it!