Stephen O’Driscoll and Eoghan McConnell represent the Two Suitcases project at Arts Council YES ‘Making Connections’ event

Eoghan McConnell and Stephen O’Driscoll represented the Two Suitcases project at the Arts Council’s Young Ensembles get-together in Kerry on 5-6 April 2013. The event entitled ‘Making Connections: young artists’ mobility and networking across the EU’ saw a number of ensembles that have been funded through the Arts Council’s Young Ensembles Scheme come together for a weekend of performances, networking and round table discussions.

‘Making Connections’ focused on Mobility and European Exchanges. Stephen and Eoghan had the opportunity to see presentations from youth ensembles who had collborated with peers in Europe and to learn more about these projects through round table discussions.

There were fantastic performances by a number of youth ensembles, including ‘Tocht’, a dance performance programme by five youth dance companies; music from Sonic Strings and the Young Dublin Symphonia; a piece of socially engaged theatre from County Limerick Youth Theatre which drew on their experience of exchange with a Finnish Youth Theatre; and a Galway Community Circus performance.

Stephen and Eoghan said the different performances and wide-ranging media had inspired them to think of new approaches, themes and subject matter for the next phase of the Two Suitcases project. We were delighted that they came to Kerry to represent the project and that the experience has been a positive one in developing their own artistic practice.

Two Suitcases is a film and technology ensemble project produced by Helium which supports the creativity of teenagers with chronic illnesses through the development of film-making and animation skills. The second phase of the Two Suitcases project was funded by the Arts Council’s Young Ensembles Scheme.

View the first film the Two Suitcases ensemble made here: http://old.helium.ie/wordpress/index.php/two-suitcases-wins-best-film-at-two-festivals/