A Message from Maria Fleming, CEO First Fortnight
I am delighted to be writing to you as CEO of First Fortnight, having taken up my position here in August. I already feel at home here at our Earl Street South headquarters.
Dear friend of First Fortnight,
I am delighted to be writing to you as CEO of First Fortnight, having taken up my position here in August. I already feel at home here at our Earl Street South headquarters.
I am pleased to say that work on the 2022 festival is at an advanced stage and I can’t wait to share our exciting line-up with you all on festival launch-day: November 25. Be sure to put the dates in your calendar January 2nd to January 16 as you will want the time to enjoy the many events we have in store for you.
My first months at First Fortnight have seen our work enhanced and advanced by a number of really positive partnerships:
Our CACTus outreach programme – art therapy for children and adolescents delivered where the need is – is now underway thanks to generous funding from the Late Late Toy Show appeal.
Our CACTUS offering has been further enhanced by a generous grant from Bank of Ireland and the Community Foundation for Ireland through their Begin Together fund. This grant has enabled us to purchase a range of much-needed musical instruments and equipment, crucial for delivery of music therapy sessions.
We partnered with the HSE’s Mental Health Engagement and Recovery Office for World Mental Health Day 2021. Our collaboration saw us produce an exciting and innovative video project which discusses mental health recovery through the medium of a specially commissioned of spoken word poetry by writer and actor Roxanna Nic Liam.
There is, though, one partnership I am saddened to see come to an end. Edel Doran, First Fortnight’s talented and dedicated COO has announced that she is stepping down from her role with the organisation in November. Though my own journey with First Fortnight has only just started, I feel Edel’s departure as a real loss. Edel has been unfailingly helpful and kind in facilitating my settling into my new role. I wish her all the best for her future and hope that our paths cross again before too long.
The theme of our festival in 2022 is ‘Open’. I can’t wait for January, when we will open our doors to you – our audience and supporters. In the meantime, I look forward to announcing our line-up in November and I am, of course, always open to hearing from you at maria@firstfortnight.ie
Yours,
Maria
