Culture and community thrive in Bantry’s new co-working space

A NEWLY-opened coworking space in Bantry is proving to be a vital cultural space for the entire community to enjoy.

BY TILLY ROBERTS

On Culture Night, Friday the 19th of September, a gorgeous sunset slipped behind the mountains as a crowd of artists, musicians, and dancers made their way to Corecreative at 5 New Street Bantry was previously a card shop and has been transformed by designer Megan Clancy Hayes into a co-working and creative space with a design and print business.

Its covered courtyard was the venue for performers of all kinds to showcase their talents on the recent Culture Night.

The night’s programme included live music, visual art, a vocal improvisation workshop, a swing dance workshop as well as a music video premiere, all created through local collaboration. Musicians, dancers, videographers, and facilitators came together to showcase work made in West Cork and from travels further afield.

‘Art should be accessible to everyone,’ said professionally trained dancer Rebekka Simon from the Per.form Dance Studio in Bantry, ‘because it’s part of our daily needs. It’s inspiring, it brings people together, it’s healing and connective.’

The Diving Bell, a trio made up of Katrina O’Kane, Claire Supervie, and Margaux Banderier, opened the line up for the evening.

With layered harmonies from voices, guitars, flute, and saxophone, the group created a dreamy, melodic sound that blended jazz and folk influences.

Locally based band The Bella Coolas (Katrina O’Kane, Dale Holland, Claire Supervie, Margaux Banderier, Adam Harrington and John Belcher) took to the stage next with a neo-soul and funky set of two original songs and covers of Cleo Sol and Moses Sumney.

Their music video, for the song ‘Who, What, Where?’ filmed at Fritz’s in Ballyrisode was also shown for the first time; a vibrant visual piece combining 1940s swing-style choreography by Rebekka Simon who performed it with Dale Holland. The song was written by musician Katrina O’Kane, and filmed by Joe Chapman.

‘It was really lovely to see people smiling and cheering throughout the video showing,’ said Katrina O’Kane, ‘such a great reward for all the effort that went in.’

Earlier in the evening, multidisciplinary artist specialising in illustration Claire Supervie led a workshop called ‘Song for All’, an open invitation to anyone wanting to explore collective vocal and body improvisation.

The workshop was inspired by the ‘Chant pour Tous’ practice in France and the work of Bobby McFerrin around circle songs; the workshop used only melody, movement, body percussion, and beatboxing–with no words.

‘I know that words and language can sometimes create borders between people,’ Claire explained. ‘With vocal improvisation, you take away the need to make sense, and replace it with playfulness. I think singing is an amazing tool to weave people together, create community.’

‘To hear someone say, “I haven’t sung in front of people since I was 11 and felt safe to do it today” brought me a lot of joy,’ said Claire.

‘Too often, the price of cultural events excludes students, working-class people, single parents, or refugees,’ said Claire. ‘Culture shouldn’t belong only to the people who can afford it. At the same time, artists deserve to be paid. That’s why funding and spaces like Corecreative are vital.’

As the night came to a close and the crowd headed on to Ma Murphy’s pub next door, the feeling was of community, support, and delight in sharing a cultural moment together.

Katrina O’Kane concluded: ‘I just love what’s happening in the Corecreative space — creative people coming together, creating a buzz that’s been building in the community since it opened just a few months ago.’