Local people have been invited to take part in a new initiative celebrating Dundrum’s creativity and heritage. Creative Village Dundrum (CVD) has just unveiled details of its exciting new project, ‘Dundrum 3Cs: Culture, Craft and Community’, which aims to help shape an “exciting new chapter for Dundrum.” The initiative is supported by funding from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
It aims to bring residents and visitors together through a shared celebration of Dundrum’s creativity, heritage and community spirit. The project will help to provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn new skills, connect with others, and contribute to two major collaborative art pieces – a community tapestry and an arts and heritage trail celebrating the stories, landmarks and traditions of Dundrum.
Connecting through creativity, the Dundrum 3Cs project is setting out to encourage participation, reduce isolation and foster a stronger sense of community. Through a programme of workshops, creative sessions and local heritage activities, participants will develop their own artistic creations while helping to build a lasting legacy that reflects the life and history of the village.
A range of activities is already under way, including weekly community tapestry workshops, held every Monday evening from 7.30pm to 9pm at the CVD Hub at Church View. These sessions are open to everyone. No experience is required, and materials are provided. Participants will work together to design and create a large-scale tapestry that captures Dundrum’s unique stories, heritage and natural beauty.
The project will also feature a series of walks and heritage events exploring Dundrum’s landscape, landmarks and local history. The first community walk is scheduled for this Saturday (15 November) at 1pm, offering a chance to discover the village’s past and connect creatively with its present. Anyone wishing to take part is asked to meet at the CVD Hub.
To ensure the project reflects the voices and ideas of everyone in the community, Creative Village Dundrum is hosting an open meeting next Thursday (20 November) at 7pm at the hub. Amanda Kirkpatrick, who sits on the project’s steering group, explained that the meeting will provide a fantastic insight into the initiative.
“It will be an opportunity for local residents to come along, find out more about the Dundrum 3Cs project, share their thoughts and suggestions, and learn how they can get involved – whether by joining the steering group, leading a workshop, volunteering, or taking part in the creative sessions,” she said. “Everyone is warmly encouraged to attend and help shape this exciting new chapter for Dundrum.”
Amanda added that “building a creative legacy” is a key aspect of the initiative. “As the project develops, the community tapestry and the arts and heritage trail will become lasting public art installations – symbols of collaboration and creativity that tell the story of Dundrum’s people, places and traditions. These installations will invite both residents and visitors to explore, celebrate and creatively express the culture and heritage that make Dundrum so special.”
Emphasising that Creative Village Dundrum will welcome anyone who wants to take part, Amanda added that this can include attending workshops, sharing local stories or supporting the project as a volunteer.
For more information or to get involved, call into the Creative Village Dundrum Hub, 3 Church View, Dundrum, BT33 0NA. Alternatively, email creativevillagedundrum@gmail.com or visit www.creativevillagedundrum.org. To learn more about events the group has in the pipeline, you can also visit their Facebook page.
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