Dragon of Shandon 2018

description

She’s back, she’s hungry and she’s brought friends. Emerging once more from the underworld, the 36 foot Dragon made using 'Tape sculpture' techniques, will prowl the streets escorted by her legion of over 500 loyal ghouls, beasts, misfits and demons to celebrate the ancient tradition of Samhain in a thrilling nighttime parade and finale show attracting thousands of spectators, young and old, to Cork City on the 31st of October.
Growing bigger and better as it reaches its 13 year, the Dragon of Shandon Parade is the highlight of CCAL’s annual arts calendar, the result of a 3 month outreach and community engagement programme with local artists, over 50 groups and support services working in partnership with local artists, groups and support services to create a cultural hub and provide a friendly, safe, festive atmosphere within the entire city on Halloween night.

Money from crowdfunding will go towards paying Community Workshop facilitators (€1000) and Materials for floats, props and costumes (€2000).

In 2018 Cork Community Artlink celebrates 25 years of working with a wide range of communities and groups in Cork including the disability and health sectors, youth sector, active age groups, schools, artists, arts institutions and higher educational bodies. We work closely with partners in the community, statutory and arts sectors to develop high-quality and socially inclusive participatory arts programmes. Core areas of work include the St Patrick’s Day Parade, 'What If' public art programme, the Dragon of Shandon and a World Book Day programme. All our programmes support participatory and community development processes.

With so many participants - many of them minors, we have strict child protection measures. All event management staff and facilitators are highly experienced having worked on the Dragon in previous years. We maintain close communication with all stakeholders throughout the lead-in to the event to ensure smooth operations.

Despite this huge success and proven positive social impact, the project is still badly underfunded comparable to the growing demand for group participation and production costs which are currently sourced from national grants and local contributors. CCAL are determined that the Dragon of Shandon remain wholly inclusive and open to anyone who wants to get involved.

The Dragon of Shandon is unique. It puts people at its core and relies on the goodwill of people like you to make it happen. We thank you for taking the time to find out more about it and hope that if you can help, you will.

Check us out on Facebook for Dragon of Shandon updates: https://www.facebook.com/CCArtLink/