Caroline Shimmons Art

15/04/2026

So excited to facilitate this project. We all need to think about about sustainability especially in the fashion industry and learn new ways to reuse old clothes. There is lots of courses and initiatives happening atm get involved with your community. It’s not only great for our mental health but you will pick up new skills along the way

01/04/2026

What an end to an amazing project at Marketplace theatre Armagh. Rags to runway fashion show was a huge success. All the participants from both Epicentre - Youth centre and Marketplace were an absolute pleasure to work with, such a talented and creative bunch. A Hugh thank you to Mark Revels Barker Caóilfíonn Murphy O'Hanlon & Yvonne. Sophie & Diane from ABC, Victoria Joy from Epicentre it was a pleasure working with yous all. Also to Carly Wilson- Miss Northern Ireland looked fabulous in our wedding dress transformation. Well done everyone she loved it that much she has decided to wear it as 1 of her 3 dresses to the Miss World contest…… sustainability at its finest 🤗😊👗🤩💚🌏♻️

25/02/2026

NEW PROJECT EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
In 2028 The Armagh Rhymers will officially turn 50 years old! To celebrate this milestone we are currently planning a new project entitled “Room to Rhyme” The project aims to future proof our heritage craft and traditional mask making, mumming and rhyming and the rural house visiting tradition.

If you are a community organisation, theatre group, youth group, outreach worker or a local group who want to invigorate local heritage in your area we want to hear from you!

We are currently inviting expressions of interest from groups based in Northern Ireland in the project. Expressions of Interest will close Friday 27th February.

Please complete the below form to register your interest. If you have any queries please contact Clare on [email protected]

COMPLETE THE EOI TODAY
🔗https://forms.gle/M7ZrzGtwEVHxwDQs5

20/02/2026

Join me tomorrow in Hilltown for the Repair Cafe where we will be making fabric collages of Hilltown using old clothes & recycled materials🎨👩🏻‍🎨🧶🧵🪡

Hurry to Hilltown for a quick fix this Saturday

Broken items too good to throw away can be fixed for free in Hilltown this Saturday.

So, gather up your toys, clothes, clocks, bikes, furniture, crockery and household appliances.

🪛 Started in Castlewellan in 2020, South Down Repair Cafe is part of a growing movement of repair cafes across the globe. We throw away many items that, with a simple repair, could be reused. People bring their damaged or broken items for diagnosis and/or repair by volunteer fixers and also have an opportunity to connect with others over tea/coffee and cake.

🔨 Chairperson Nigel McKinney said “We are really excited about going back to Hilltown. We've had a great response each time we visit. Our volunteer
fixers are skilled in diagnosing and fixing all sorts - hundreds of items have been fixed to date and if it can’t be fixed on the day, fixers give advice on where people can access specialist parts or repairs”.

🪡 Repairs are carried out free of charge though people can make a voluntary donation which helps cover the cost of running cafes around the county.

👓 Maybe you have old, spare or unused tools, sewing machines and spectacles that you no longer need? Bring them along on Saturday to the “Reuse Donation” collection point for the Lions Club (Newcastle). Volunteer Daniel O’Reilly says, “We
are looking for sewing machines, both electrical or trestle, broken or good and unwanted tools (hand and electrical).

🧵 The sewing machines and tools are serviced by Tools for Solidarity who bring them to Malawi and Tanzania to train people how to set up their own business. Glasses/spectacles (and their cases) are sent to France, to Lions Medico, where they are cleaned and calibrated before being sent
all over the world to help people in need.

🎨 Local textile artist Caroline Shimmons will lead art and crafts for children and young people during the morning so bring all the family.

📍 So, have you an item that’s been lying around for a while? Bring it along to the South Down Repair Cafe in Hilltown Hall this Saturday, 21st February from 10am-12.30pm.

14/02/2026

A great opportunity to get involved with St Patrick’s Day in Downpatrick. Get your creative juices flowing 😊😉💚🍀🎨

12/02/2026

✨ We’re Hiring! Join the Arts Care Team ✨

Arts Care is recruiting a Project Officer (Ignite Community Programme) to lead our contribution to an exciting social innovation programme empowering young people across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland.

📍 Location: Belmont Office Park, Belfast
🕒 Full Time: 37.5 hours per week
📅 Fixed Term: Until 31 August 2028
💷 Salary: £29,123 (annual incremental review)
🗓 Closing Date: 5pm, 9 March 2026
🗣 Interviews: Week beginning 16 March 2026

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a leading role in delivering arts programmes that help young people co-create innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges. The post holder will coordinate workshops, exhibitions and showcases, manage project artists and admin staff, liaise with consortium partners, and contribute to monitoring and evaluation for this PEACEPLUS-funded programme.

If you have:
✔️ At least 2 years’ project coordination experience
✔️ Strong organisational and stakeholder engagement skills
✔️ Budget management experience
✔️ A passion for arts, young people and community impact

We’d love to hear from you.

🔗 Full details and application information:
https://www.artscare.co.uk/jobs/post-arts-care-project-officer-ignite-community-programme/

📧 Please return completed applications to: [email protected]

04/02/2026

🎨 OPEN CALL: Artist in Residence Programme 2026–2027
📍 Armagh City
⏳ One-Year Residency
🗓️ Deadline: Monday 16 February 2026 at 4.00pm
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, is inviting applications for an exciting year-long Artist in Residence programme.
If you’re a professional artist aged 18+, living and working in Northern Ireland, and ready to take your practice to the next level, this residency offers the space, support and inspiration to do just that. This opportunity is open to artists in any discipline, including visual arts, craft, digital arts, performance, dance, music, photography, creative writing/poetry, socially engaged practice, or interdisciplinary work. (Film cannot be funded under this programme)

✨ What this residency offers:
• Dedicated time and space to develop your creative practice
• Opportunities to collaborate with local schools, community groups and residents
• A chance to contribute to a vibrant, diverse cultural landscape
• Support from two major arts bodies committed to artistic excellence and community engagement.
This programme places the artist at the heart of the borough, its people, its stories, and its creative energy. It’s a rare opportunity to shape a year of meaningful artistic activity and leave a lasting impact on the cultural life of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.
If you’re ready to create, connect and inspire, we want to hear from you.
For further information on this programme and the application process, please follow the link:
https://visitarmagh.com/news/open-call-artist-in-residence-programme-at-the-market-place-theatre/Open
🔗 Apply now and be part of something extraordinary.

01/02/2026

Last night we had a beautiful Bridget’s celebration and unveiling of her cloak at Turniphouse Knitwear near Castlewellan. Over the past couple of months we have been litter picking on local beaches and weaving what we found with recycled t-shirts into an eco conscious clock to mark St. Bridgets Day. It can be viewed at Castlewellan library for the whole of February.
Thank you to Community Arts Partnership and our funders for this opportunity and thank you to Elaine McCombe, Mary McNaulty & all at Interwoven - Dolmens Climate Action Network Group. An amazing project.

31/01/2026

12/01/2026

An exciting opportunity for 15+ year olds for a Trash Fashion Project at Market Place Theatre for anyone in ABC council area. Facilitated by myself & Caóilfíonn Murphy O'Hanlon. You will learn designing, up-cycling ,sewing machine techniques + more with a final Fashion show.
Starts Saturday 25th for Charity shopping trip to Hollywood Belfast then 5x workshops
Starting Wednesday 28th January
7.00pm - 9.00pm

Got a passion for fashion? 👗👒👖💖

‘Rags to Runway’ is a creative, eco-conscious initiative that inspires participants to transform discarded materials into stunning, wearable fashion - celebrating creativity, sustainability and community collaboration.

Commencing on 28 January, with a planning day taking place on 24 January, this 5-week initiative will run at the Market Place Theatre, Armagh and is open to young people aged 15+ living in the ABC Borough.

To find out more visit: 👉 https://bit.ly/49Hk8AY

11/01/2026

Great opportunity for artists 🧑‍🎨

🎨 Calling Artists! 🎨

Down Community Arts is looking for creative artists to help deliver workshops designing and building community floats for Downpatrick’s 2026 St Patrick’s Day Parade.

If you’re interested in working with communities and bringing bold ideas to life, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 For further details, contact [email protected]

06/01/2026

A great project happening on Wednesday mornings at Turnip House near Castlewellan with Dolmens Climate Action Network Public Page Interwoven Group

Home » CAP News, News » Caroline Shimmons and Elaine McComb are working on the CEMENT project with the METIS Initiatives CIC in Castlewellan