South Eastern Education & Library Board
Title: Fantasy Cruiser
Artform: Visual Art
Organisation: St. Joseph’s Primary School, Lisburn, Teacher Training College, Lisburn
Creative Partners: Genevieve Murphy, John Kelly, Declan Carville (artists).
Participants: 177 students 4 - 11yrs

Synopsis: This project began with an application to the Action Zone Programme with Creative Youth Partnerships SEELB. The project involved the purchase of a sixteen foot fibreglass boat. This was to form the central structure for an interactive sculpture for the children of St.Joseph’s Primary School, Lisburn and also function as a teaching aid for the staff.

Background: The initial application to Creative Youth Partnerships was made by the Principal of St. Joseph’s Primary School, Lisburn. The aim of the project was to create an interactive boat sculpture for the children and staff of the school. A ‘whole school’ approach was implemented with every child in the school contributing to the design and creation of the sculpture. Due to the scale of the project and the fact that it would be sited in a school playground, the SEELB Maintenance Team felt that the sculpture should seek planning permission. This meant that the timescale of the project was extended from 12 weeks to six months. The planning application was successful. Four CYP artists were engaged on the project. The sculpture was designed by the children with Artists Genevieve Murphy and Jon Kelly (Genevieve Jon Designs, Enniskillen). A writer also worked with KS2 children to create many mythological and historical stories which contributed to the overall design of the sculpture. Therese Gorman, a visual artist, focused on the exterior setting for the boat with seascape wall murals and ceramic tiles with a nautical theme.

Artist in Residence: From January 2005 until June 2005 three CYP artists work with the children and staff of St. Joseph’s. The art work and writing which was created during this period were integral to the overall design concept of the boat. A nautical theme was set and the children created inscribed scrolls, sea creatures, work books and drawings detailing their investigations and observations.

Showcasing: A large showcasing event was hosted by the school to launch the ‘Fantasy Cruiser’ June 2005. Children and staff dressed as Vikings, mermaids and sailors to set the scene for launching the sculpture. The sculpture was unveiled by the Chief Executive of SEELB, Mr Jackie Fitzsimmons.