The Arts Council has commissioned a major piece of research into the harp and harping in Ireland and is asking all harpers to fill out an online survey. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 8 July 2014.

The harp has a particular significance in Ireland, as a national symbol and as a distinctive sound of the country. It has an extraordinarily rich history in Ireland having been played on the island for an estimated one thousand years.

With an increasingly vibrant harp scene, the Arts Council is keen to examine the current state of harping, to identify gaps in provision and explore opportunities for cooperation and development to secure the future of the instrument.

The Arts Council is asking harpers north and south, and of all genres, to fill out the survey and for the public to bring it to the attention of harpers they may know.

Paul Flynn, Head of Traditional Arts at the Arts Council, said ‘This is an important opportunity to document the full breadth and scope of harp playing throughout the island of Ireland. We are fortunate to have such a rich harping history and so many excellent contemporary practitioners. The Arts Council wants to engage as many harpers as possible in this research to guide our work into the future.’

 The Council has commissioned Toner Quinn to carry out the research. Quinn was formerly Project Officer for the Special Committee on the Traditional Arts, which produced the report Towards a Policy for the Traditional Arts.

To fill out the survey, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/harpcruit2014

For further information, please phone Toner Quinn at 086-8241309 or email toner.quinn [at] gmail.com

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TAIGHDE CUIMSITHEACH AR CHRUITIRÍ NA hÉIREANN SEOLTA AG AN gCOMHAIRLE EALAÍON

Tá taighde cuimsitheach ar an gcruit agus cruitireacht in Éirinn coimisiúnaithe ag an gComhairle Ealaíon agus táthar ag iarraidh ar gach aon chruitire sa tír an suirbhé ar líne a chomhlánú. Tá an suirbhé le comhlánú roimh an Máirt, an 8 Iúil. 

Tá ról tábhachtach ag an gcruit in oidhreacht na nGael, is siombal náisiúnta na hÉireann í agus tá ceol na cruite luaite go sonrach leis an tír seo. Is uirlis stairiúil, ársa í agus meastar go bhfuil sí á seinm in Éirinn le míle bliain anuas.

Is léir go bhfuil cúrsaí cruitireachta beo beathach i láthair na huaire agus tá faoin gComhairle Ealaíon scrúdú a dhéanamh ar staid reatha na healaíne seo, ar mhaithe le bearnaí a aithint agus deiseanna comhoibrithe agus forbartha a fhiosrú d’fhonn bonn a chur faoi thodhchaí na cruitireachta.  

Ba mhór ag an gComhairle Ealaíon dá gcomhlánódh gach aon chruitire in Éirinn, sa Tuaisceart agus sa Deisceart, idir fhoghlaimeoirí agus cheoltóirí oilte, an suirbhé seo. Ba mhór acu freisin, dá gcuirfeadh an pobal an suirbhé seo faoi deara na gcruitirí a bhfuil aithne acu orthu.

Dar le Paul Flynn, Ceannasaí na nEalaíon Traidisiúnta sa Chomhairle Ealaíon, ‘Is iontach an deis í seo réimse agus fairsinge na cruitireachta a chlárú fud fad oileán na hÉireann. Tá sé d’ádh orainn go bhfuil traidisiún láidir cruitireachta againn agus go bhfuil ceoltóirí den chéad scoth i mbun na ceirde seo. Teastaíonn ón gComhairle Ealaíon an méid cruitirí agus is féidir a tharraingt isteach sa taighde seo chun treoir a thabhairt dúinn maidir lenár gcuid oibre i réimse na cruitireachta amach anseo.’

Tá Toner Quinn ceaptha ag an gComhairle chun an taighde seo a chur i gcrích. D’oibrigh an tUasal Quinn mar Oifigeach Tionscadail don Choiste Speisialta um na hEalaíona Traidisiúnta a chuir an tuairisc I dTreo Pholasaí do na hEalaíona Traidisiúnta i dtoll a chéile.

Le teacht ar an suirbhé, téigh chuig https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/harpcruit2014 

Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ó Toner Quinn ag 086-8241309