Sarah Glennie, Director, Model Arts and Niland Gallery, writes:
Further to your review of the Sligo New Music Festival (‘Sketches of Spain’, Jul-Aug 2007), I would like to clarify a few points with regard to the future of the festival and the redevelopment of the Model Arts and Niland Gallery in 2008. As festival producer The Model is committed to the long-term development and growth of the SNMF and although the venue is indeed closing next year it is only a temporary closure to enable building works and improvements to take place. The Model will re-open in 2009 and the Sligo New Music Festival will continue to be part of our programme.

The Sligo New Music festival has been operating annually since 2001 and while we learn much each year, a specific period of reflection is much needed to ensure it’s continued success. The landscape of contemporary music in Ireland has changed considerably in the last five years, as have the goals and aspirations of the Model and the level of programming in which it engages. We feel strongly that the festival, alongside our other programmes and activities, would benefit from a period of research and development. It is our intention to use the venue closure period in 2008 to talk to the festival’s audience and artists, visit other comparable events and festivals, identify potential partners/sponsors and develop a strategy and best practice to ensure the Sligo New Music Festival’s continued growth.

In addition to this we plan to hold a single event, or a day of events in an alternative venue in 2008 to mark the Sligo New Music Festival and to stay in touch with our audience, returning in 2009 with a new space and a stronger festival. We will certainly keep you and your readers posted on future developments and would greatly welcome feedback/suggestions from musicians, composers, new music attendees and any other interested parties to aoifeflynn [at] modelart.ie