University College Cork has announced its most ambitious programme of cultural and educational events ever to mark European Capital of Culture Year, Cork 2005.
Throughout the year, UCC will host a series of high profile conferences, seminars, exhibitions, concerts and theatrical performances which will make the university a significant focal point for the Cork 2005 celebrations. Details of the programme were unveiled yesterday (Wednesday, January 5th) when the President of UCC, Professor G.T. Wrixon, launched a 2005 events calendar.
Professor Wrixon said: "UCC has long been at the forefront of cultural activity in the city and we are very excited by the eclectic programme of events that is planned. The recently opened Lewis Glucksman Art Gallery will have a pivotal role to play in the celebrations but the University in general is a wonderful setting for events. We believe our programme will make a significant contribution to Cork 2005 and we hope it will encourage a high level of public participation. We would also very much like to see graduates of UCC who may have lost touch with the University over the years use the programme to re-kindle their links."
University College Cork's 2005 celebrations will begin on the 9th of January with the formal opening in the Glucksman Art Gallery of the "40 Shades of Green" an exhibition which analyses the work of 40 artists and crafts people. This will be followed by a performance by the RTE Vanbrugh String Quartet in the Aula Maxima on the 12th January. The end of January will see the world premiere of Jamais Vu by Anne Seagrave in the Granary Theatre. In February Peter Sutherland will be a guest speaker at the History Conference titled The World After 9/11.
The Summer School run by the English Department in July will concentrate on the work of Cork writers. In October the students of the Department will perform a specially commissioned Medieval Mystery Play. The connections between the arts and science will be highlighted in a series of lectures entitled " The Last Lecture Series". These will include titles such as " Has Science Supplanted Religion"; "Darwin's Dangerous idea: Evolution from Cosmos to Culture"; and " Cattle, Culture and the Consumer".
Professor Wrixon said that UCC was making a special effort to mark European Capital of Culture Year and to involve graduates, staff, students and members of the general public in events on campus. The variety in the ambitious programme ensures that everybody's cultural and educational interests will be met. The programme is extremely wide-ranging and includes:
* Publication by Collins Press of "Cork through European Eyes- a multilingual anthology" edited by Joachim Fischer and Grace Neville (February)
* An Leabhar Mor- an exhibition celebrating the work of 100 Gaelic and Scots Gallic poets and artists (February-March)
* European String Quartet Festival Week (27th March-3rd April)
* Publication of the Atlas of Cork City by Cork University Press (March)
* Cork City Sports International Athletics Meeting (July)
* "Through the looking Glass", a contemporary photographic exhibition featuring the work of internationally established artists from Europe and the US (October)
* A performance by Micheál Ó Súilleabháin and Mel Mercier in the Aula Maxima (November)
* Madrigal 75 Recital, followed by Compline by Candlelight in the Honan Chapel (December)
Twenty five thousand calendars in poster form are being distributed throughout Cork city and calendars are available on request from the President's Office, UCC. Information will also be available on
cork2005.ucc.ie