IMAGINE….A Way Forwards.

Today we say CONGRATULATIONS to ALL Imaginers! We have created a phenomenal success. With 4200 Members, this ever-growing group was dreamt up at the start of lockdown 18th March 2020 as a means of connecting creatives in challenging times. With a starting membership of just one person, Imagine has grown beyond all expectations and hopes. We have successfully created a safe-haven and space of growth for Artists and Art-Lovers and are growing hugely still with new members over the last week coming in at 200. What we are doing is REALLY SPECIAL and needs constant nurturing and care.

We have therefore created a group of IMAGINE ADVISORS who are pictured below with a brief introduction. The IMAGINE ADVISORS will meet regularly to bounce ideas and grow our IMAGINE group. We met for the first time yesterday evening and we look forward to sharing the great outcomes of our discussion with you later today.

IMAGINE ADVISORS

Image 1. Ciara Hambly. Owner & Director of Hambly & Hambly Art Gallery and Cultural Hub, Ciara is a curator and gallery director with a long history in education. She has a passion for growing creative initiatives and making Art real, meaningful and accessible to all. The idea for IMAGINE and the formation of the group IMAGINE came from her.

Image 2 Noelle McAlinden is an Arts Activist, Artist, Advisor and Curator. She is a founding member of IMAGINE. She is a champion for The Arts with a great history in education. Noelle is involved in many initiatives within the Arts and works across many organisations. She is passionate about making Art core to enhancing our wellbeing and protecting our mental health.

Image 3 Harry McMahon is a retired Professor from The University of Ulster and a life-long Artist. He is a founding member of Imagine who has continued to support and advise all initiatives within the group. He is passionate and considerate in his vision for progressing Imagine. His contribution to Imagine has been key to developing our initiatives.

Image 4 Billy Moore.is a founding member of Imagine and a long-standing Artist with H&H. He is a supremely talented sculptor and painter. Billy is exceptionally supportive and involved with all H&H initiatives. He has sponsored the Award in an Imagine group exhibition for The Greatest Imaginer and contributed a beautiful bronze sculpture to the Winner. He is entirely committed to developing opportunities for Artists.His approach is visionary and exemplary.

Image 5 Rikki van den Berg is an Artist, Curator and Educationalist. A founding member, she alongside Ciara now forms the administrative team behind Imagine. She is exceptionally enthusiastic about the future of Imagine having appreciated all opportunities afforded by the group since joining at the very start. She curated the Imagine Christmas group show.Rikki is a long-standing Artist at H&H who contributes valuably to our initiatives and development.

Maria Noonan McDermott is a poet and visual Artist. She is founding member of Imagine whose exceptional enthusiasm and long-standing commitment to the group has steered forward Imagine initiatives. Maria is a greatly valued mentor to fellow Artists. She is a long-standing exhibiting Artist at H&H and has been involved in consulting our gallery initiatives and progress. We value her input greatly.