The Dragon of Shandon 2020, something different…
This year we will not be celebrating Samhain together in our streets as we typically would. The Dragon of Shandon won’t take to the streets with her cortege of ghouls, banshees, púcas and other mischievous characters to claim once more the streets of Cork for all, as the ultimate stage in town. Instead we shall leave the Lady Dragon of Shandon to sleep and dream. We are truly sorry to have to postpone the tradition this year. We are especially sad to not have the opportunity to engage with the participants who would have usually come through our doors, and are equally sad to not be able to share the experience with the public of Cork and beyond who have greeted us with such enthusiasm for many years. But we are Cork Community Art Link, an art organisation unlike most others. We have been built through resilience, solidarity, adaptability and with daring ambitions. We cannot simply do nothing. So, we have been working away within the health regulations and adapting periodically to changes in our project. We have been a skeleton crew working on this project, but we will still try to bring something special to the city of Cork this Samhain. We are proud this year to be collaborating with Meitheal Mara, another unique community driven organisation, hoping that we will be able to complete this unique project in these restrictive and challenging times. So, here we are still trying to share a little bit of our Dragon lady magic with the people of Cork. Check out our website and social networks to see how we progress and how you can still be part of the Dragon of Shandon this year. In the meantime we encourage all of you to still celebrate the “time between times” in a safe manner, be creative in your homes and share whatever you do online with us. You can also visit Berwick Lane in Blackpool and see what we have achieved with our Rebel Streets project in the last few months with a mural celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Lido building and some cool pieces created by various individuals on the theme of resilience. For all the groups and individuals with whom we work, who already in normal times have difficulty in accessing and participating in their local culture, even in making art or just having a place to come to, be part of something, and who this year are struggling to access the most basic resources and services. This year work is dedicated to all of you. 
Cork Community Art Link presents Rebel Streets 2020, which begins as an online participative street art project celebrating resilience. We will host a collaboration of works gathered to create an online gallery of art work in a diverse variety of art forms.
Ultimately, Berwick Lane, next to the LIDO will be our final canvas. We will dedicate the left lane walls , to your proposals on resilience. On the right side , we will create a mural to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lido. We invite you as individuals, as groups, as a family to send us your ideas; whatever art form you choose that can be installed at a later date. The works will be displayed online and organised to fit a virtual representation of the street . This is only the beginning; and like everything we do in Cork Community Art link it is a collaborative improvisation , it will evolve, adapt and result in something unique celebrating resilience and creativity . Google Map view of Berwick lane (Open in new window) https://www.google.com/maps/@51.9102047,-8.4736345,3a,75y,269.52h,89.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sk_kItxN6yyc9EqhJLZxNvA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 Participatory Street Spectacle
 St Patrick's day parade | 2015
| © www.openlens.ie
Creating participatory street celebrations that engage and connect with new audiences. Grounded in local contexts and with a unique artistic narrative.
Our roots are in the street - in community celebration and spectacle. From Patrick's Day and Bona night in Middle Parish in the 1990's to the Dragon of Shandon, we work in partnership with people to co-create, celebrate and imagine together. Each street spectacle project undertaken by CCAL is based on an extensive outreach programme in partnership with the community and voluntary sector. High standards of artistic excellence are encouraged as is the researching of new techniques and ways of making unique puppets and props. Voluntary participation is the cornerstone of each project with ample opportunities for adults to come along, learn new skills and make a creative contribution to the community. The Dragon of Shandon
The Dragon of Shandon | 2015 | © OpenLens.ie
One of Ireland’s biggest night time parades.
The Dragon of Shandon Parade is an urban street event which captures the spirit and imagination of people living in Cork and provides the opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities to take an active part in a major cultural event in their city. For more information, check www.dragonofshandon.com. Participatory Public Art
Voices from Shandon | 2011 | © Nicolas Bernier
What if … is a Public Art programme for creative research, exploration and project development in relation to urban Public Space.
The programme was originally founded as part of the Cork 2005 Capital of Culture. What if … works in partnership with communities and groups to develop temporary, outdoor art works which explore the dynamics of urban public space. To date the projects that have been undertaken as part of the programme are: - What If... 2005 - What If Shandon 2006 - What If Mahon 2007 - Inside Out 2008 - The Big Wash Up 2009 - Voices from Shandon 2011-2013 -The Lido : Our space, your space 2016 For more information check www.whatif.ie Community Outreach
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Click to view the Creative Process of Making our Black Lives Matter Stencil
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