On this episode, Mary Moynihan discusses concerns over the future of the arts in the US and takes a look at the brilliant work of the National Campaign for the Arts who are calling on all candidates in the next Irish general election to make the arts an election priority.

As part of this work the National Campaign for the Arts have organised an Election 2024 Arts Husting taking place on Monday 18 November 2024 at 1pm in the Gate Theatre, Cavendish Row, Dublin. If you wish to attend please RSVP to rsvp@gate-theatre.ie.

The Arts Husting is moderated by Hugh Linehan and gives arts spokespersons of all political parties the opportunity to address the artists and arts workers of Ireland and to answer questions about their artistic policies.

For this week’s feature artist interviews, Mary is delighted to interview Geraldine McAlinden, an actor, director and writer and Noelle McAlinden, a visual artist, creative adviser, curator and arts educator. Geraldine and Noelle are sisters originally from County Armagh in Northern Ireland.

Before becoming a professional actor Geraldine McAlinden trained as a solicitor and worked in the UK and Ireland. She initially worked part-time as an actor and as a director for theatre until 2012 when she left law to act full time. Geraldine has trained with The Gaiety School of Acting, The Focus Theatre and The Factory (Now Bow Street Academy) in Dublin. Geraldine's performance in Portrait of a Zombie led to her being long listed for an IFTA for Best Actress

in a leading role in a feature film in 2013. As a writer Geraldine’s tiny play "Knowing" was published and produced by Fishamble's Tiny Plays for Ireland. Geraldine played the role of Marian in the independent film Verdigris directed by Patricia Kelly. This film received the Best Independent Film award at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2023.

Noelle Mc Alinden is a practicing artist exhibiting locally, regionally and internationally, with work in public and private collections across the UK, Europe, US and Canada. Noelle also works as a creative adviser, curator and arts educator. Noelle was curator on Moving Canvas, a series of virtual conversations, experiences and opportunities for artists to pause and reflect upon their own creative practice and that of each other’s practise, and their own mental health and wellbeing. This project was presented as part of the annual Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival and is currently available online. Moving Canvas was originally curated and designed by Noelle McAlinden, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts Festival 2024. Artists that feature in the conversations include

Victoria Geelan, musician, Sheila Llewellyn, writer, Séamas Mac Annaidh, writer, Julie Murphy, visual artist , Rory O Loughlin, visual artist, Kate O Shea, visual artist and Margaret Stack, artist and art therapist.

Moving Canvas – Virtual Conversations curated by Noelle McAlinden is available to watch online

https://smashingtimes.ie/event/moving-canvas/

National Campaign for the Arts. https://ncfa.ie/

https://www.facebook.com/NCFAie

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