ISACS return from Fira Tárrega 2017 with great news!

ISACS recently returned from 3 busy days at one of Europe's most exciting and diverse street arts and performing festivals, Fira Tárrega; the international market for performing arts. Thus, it was an excellent platform to promote ISACS as a collective Irish voice to an international market place.  Founded in 1981, the 4 day fair takes place every year in Tárrega on the second weekend in September, providing a wonderful oppourtunity to experience a wide range of the most contemporary of street arts. ISACS were present promoting our sector, artists, festivals and developing future projects with a focus on Irish artists at an international level.  

This year, we were accompanied by a formidable Irish delegation of Irish festival promoters and programmers, as well as our usual delegation of artists and ISACS members, thanks to the support of Culture Ireland, Institute Ramon Llull (London) and FiraTárrega. For the first time, we also met with representatives of the Catalan government to talk about international collaborations, which is very good news for the future and has already led us into more international meetings and discussion since we came back!

Ireland's Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle sector was represented by the following Irish delegates: Lucy Medlycott - ISACS, Charlotte Haffner - ISACS, Jo Mangan - Carlow Arts festival, Tom Swift - Performance Corporation, Kath Gorman - Cork Midsummer festival, Karen Walshe - St Patrick’s festival, Alex Allison - Cie Maleta, Sandra Gonzales Bandera - Kadira Theatre, Nick Kavanagh - Curious State, Mike Leahy - Spraoi. All of us attended an extensive amount of shows and performances to find inspiration, get a glimpse at the novelties on the  international scene and met professionals of the sector highlighting what's happening in street arts, circus and spectacle on our Irish shores. 

Our Irish delegation made many great connections and opened the discussions about local, European and international collaborations. We're particularly thankful to have a private meeting with representatives of Institut Ramon Llull and Catalan Arts facilitated by  FiraTárrega. This followed by one of the must do's at FiraTárrega, the famous Catalan Lunch where professionals gather to network and meet Catalan artists.


ISACS Irish delegation Catalan meeting | Photography: Charlotte Haffner
(from right to left)  Lucy Medlycott - ISACS, Kath Gorman - Cork Midsummer festival, Michael Leahy - Spraoi, Nick Kavanagh - Curious State,  Mar. Perez Unanue - Catalan Institute, Mike Ribalta -Fira Tarrega, Sandra Gonzales Bandera - Kadira Theatre, Estel, Marta Oliveres Tortosa, Teresa Carranza Ramos  - Insitut Ramon Llull, Jo Mangan - Carlow Arts,  festival, Karen Walshe - St Patrick’s festival.


ISACS Irish delegation Catalan Lunch | Photgraphy: Lucy Medlycott
(from right to left) Michael Leahy - Spraoi, Karen Walshe - St Patrick’s festival, Jo Mangan - Carlow Arts, Tom Swift - Performance Corporation, Charlotte Haffner - ISACS and Kath Gorman - Cork Midsummer festival


We also discovered international artists you might see in Ireland in the upcoming years. Artists all had their special ways to involve the huge audiences, with thousands of attendees, into their shows. Every day, we went from surprise, to astonishment to laugh out loud moments. We were particularly stunned by the following shows.

Ferida
D-Construction - Cie Dyptik
Silence! - Les Commandos Percu
Breaking Point - Weibel Weibel Co
La Fem Fatal - Anton i Polina

Gracies per tot FiraTárrega, Institut Ramon Llull, Catalan  Arts, Culture Ireland and Arts Council Ireland for your continual support in ISACS' work.

GALLERY - A few snaps from Fira Tarrega's magic. Check our Facebook albums of artists and pro meetings for more pictures.