Live Online Workshops for Broadband Connection Points 2025 30 Jun - 31 Aug 2025
This summer, The Ark has created three bespoke workshops for Broadband Connection Points as part of the 2025 BCP Programme.
Funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development & The Gaeltacht, The Ark presents exciting, live online workshops with music artist Ríona Sally Hartman, creative storytelling artist Dave Rudden and visual artist Laura Whelan.
- Wild Songs: a bi-lingual musical adventure with Ríona Sally Hartman
- Find The Magic Where You Live: a fantasy, storytelling session with Dave Rudden
- Mystic Forest: a magical arts workshop with Laura Whelan
Workshops are available for booking for Broadband Connection Points from Monday 30 June. Please note that confirmed workshops will be updated below under the description for each workshop. If there is a location confirmed near you, get in touch with your BCP centre to join in the fun!
If you think your local BCP would like to participate, get in touch to learn how your centre can get involved. Find your nearest BCP here.
Wild Songs with Ríona Sally Hartman
Join us for a bi-lingual, interactive music performance that celebrates your natural habitats! Artist Ríona Sally Hartman will sing songs in Irish AND English about the various natural habitats we find in Ireland - like the sea, woodlands and the bog - and the flaura and fauna that live there. Children will create soundscapes and movement that accompany the songs. Dance like the waves with ribbon while singing about the sea, or throw confetti made from leaves when singing about woodlands in autumn.
In addition to the interactive performance, Ríona will also guide the children in simple lyrics writing games, using the flaura and fauna from their area as inspiration for lyrics.
Please note that while this is being delivered bi-lingually, no Irish necessary to enjoy these songs!
Confirmed BCP Workshops of Wild Songs:
Find The Magic Where You Live with Dave Rudden
Join award-winning author Dave Rudden in a new workshop all about turning your local area into a fantasy landscape, just as Tolkien did with Glastonbury Tor and Lewis did with the lamppost outside Campbell College.
Storytellers will think about a feature of their local landscape - a tree, an old house, a river, a hill - and discover any old stories already attached to it. Dave will guide children through the process of building a story around this place, creating the backstory of the characters -even villains! - who might make the place home. Incorporating dramatic movement, the children will be able to bring their stories to life!
At the end, time will be included for children to ask Dave whatever they’d like about continuing on their writing, creativity and world-building journeys!
Confirmed BCP Workshops of Find the Magic Where You Live:
- Thursday, July 31 @ 11am, Boher Parish Hall, Co. Tipperary
Mystic Forest with Laura Whelan
Take a virtual trip to the Mystic Forest, home to some very unusual creatures, with artist Laura Whelan. Using collage and drawing, we will make our very own magical creatures inspired by the story of two little girls who fooled a nation with their magical photos.
Confirmed BCP Workshops of Mystic Forests:
- Monday, July 28 @ 11am, Boher Parish Hall, Co. Tipperary
- Monday, July 28 @ 11am, Glenasmole Community Centre, Co. Dublin
About the artists
Ríona Sally Hartman
Ríona Sally Hartman is an Irish musician who specializing in making music with and for children of all ages and abilities. Her focus is on child lead, inclusive, process driven, neuroaffirmative music making.
Ríona has been musical director of The National Concert Hall’s Education and Community Outreach ensemble (also known as the Echo band) for a decade. Sometimes she writes music for children’s TV for example music education show Bígí ag Ceol (RTÉ), and Maddie and Triggs (RTÉ, BBC).
Dave Rudden
Dave Rudden is the author of the award-winning Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy, as well as multiple works in the universe of Doctor Who. His new bestseller for 9 - 11-year-olds, Conn of the Dead, is out now.
Laura Whelan
Laura Whelan is a Dublin-based visual artist who enjoys bringing her love of art and craft to people of all ages. She is currently studying at NCAD and is excited to incorporate what she is learning into her work as a facilitator. You can find out more about Laura here.