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A major Childrens Festival will run in Newry from the 6th to the 9th of February 2014.
The event will see Newry transformed into a creative hub with over 40 professional theatre companies presenting shows from across Europe was endorsed by Roberto Frabetti the President of the EU Cultural Network “Small Size” on his recent visit to Newry.
The event will also see exhibitions and seminars on international best practice as well host a symposium on a “Child’s Right To Art And Culture” for both national and international cultural leaders.
The event will be organised locally by Sticky Fingers who have been active members of the Small Size – big citizen association since 2006.
Roberto visited Newry ahead of the city hosting the major children’s arts event early next year, which will see hundreds of international visitors flock to the city.
The Small Size- big citizen International Association is one of the most successful and pro-active international networks established within the European Union and has over 15 active countries as partners to promote and advocate the importance of a child’s right to engage in culture and the arts.
At a reception hosted by Newry and Mourne District Council on Wednesday Mr. Frabetti was delighted to officially present the city of Newry with the official event logo, marking the first time a EU cultural event for children of this scale has ever been held in Ireland or the UK.
In additional to the international programme a Northern Ireland showcase is also be developed to ensure that the city is engulfed in festival fever with a spectacular street performance planned to celebrate the opening of the event which will engage thousands of local families in a magical night of entertainment on a scale never seen in the city before.
The Small Size – Big Citizen event will be held from the 6th to the 9th of February 2014 and will take place in a range of accessible venues and public spaces that span Newry city to an estimated audience of over 30,000 families.
Grainne Powell, CEO, Sticky Fingers said “We are very excited about the event and we are confident it will be something very special for both local families to enjoy and also to show our international colleagues; local home grown talent. We also plan to involve as many local artists and performers as possible and the final performance will demonstrate a mixture of Ireland’s most celebrated sons and daughters as well as some of our best loved local talent both young and old. In addition to providing a family event on an international scale, we also hope to provide a welcome boost to the local economy and help support Newry and Mourne as a growing tourist destination as many of the visitors will be coming to Northern Ireland for the first time and we want to make sure it is not their last.
We are honored to have been selected to host this important and timely event and we are aiming to ensure that by having the Small Size- big citizen event in Newry that it will leave a lasting legacy for children today and for the future. Through the Small Size- big citizen event we are aiming to ensure that every child living within Newry and Mourne and the border region has the opportunity to participant directly in the activities planned.”
The Deputy Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, Councillor Packie McDonald said “We welcome Mr. Frabetti to Newry and Mourne. This Small Size event is one of a number of high profile events staged in Newry since the visit of the Olympic Torch last year and we are look forward to the City hosting this prestigious event in 2014”
