European Mobility Week is a campaign to encourage young people to walk, cycle and use public transport to get to school. Administered by Dublin City Council, the campaign is asking each of the national schools in Ranelagh to hold an art competition and exhibition based around walking and cycling. In return, Dublin City Council has promised three new state-of-the-art bicycles to each participating school as prizes for the competition. This is a great opportunity for the three winners in each school to get brand new bikes. We are grateful to Dublin City Council and, in particular, to Community Arts Officer, Ronan O'Donnell, for this generous offer.

Dublin City Council, Cultural Department, will hold a digital photography course in Ranelagh during November at a venue to be announced. There are approximately 20 places on the course, which will take place over a weekend. This is a fantastic opportunity for residents of Ranelagh to improve their photography skills. If you are interested, please call the Festival office at 085 743 7212 or contact a committee member. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

It's a Basic Introduction to Digital Photography Course with emphasis on Creativity and Digital Technology. The tutor will run through the technical aspects of the camera (resolution etc.), how to download, work on the image, printing etc. and then deal with composition of the picture, how to take better photos, improve images, tips etc.

The very raison d'être of the Ranelagh Arts Festival is to interact with the community and to involve as many aspects as possible of community life in the various events organised. In this regard, we are pleased to announce that a number of artists have agreed to hold masterclasses and workshops in local secondary schools. Among those who have agreed to take part are legendary fiddler Ciarán Tourish and guitar maestro Anto Drennan.