Published: Thursday, 15th September, 2011 5:30pm

September shows the art of it all in Westmeath

Catherine Kelly, Westmeath Arts Officer, with Deputy Robert Troy at the launch of Culture Night.

September is proving to be busy month for the arts, in the widest sense, in Westmeath with three major events planned for the next two weeks alone.

This Friday (September 16) sees the mayor of Athlone Town Council, Cllr Alan Shaw officially launch the new Abbey Road Artists' Studios, Abbey Road, Athlone at 4pm.

Then, next week sees the launch of three public art projects associated with housing schemes in Westmeath - Kinnegad Story Project - Memories and Stories from Westmeath by Michael Harding; EveryonE -

a collaborative project between Art Group Exquisite CoLab and members of Mullingar Travelling community and The allotments used to be here - a photographic history of County Council Housing in Westmeath by Tim Durham.

All three projects will be launched in the Atrium, County Buildings, Westmeath County Council, Mullingar on Tuesday, September 20 at 5pm - and everyone is invited to attend.

The final artistic showcase for the month is Westmeath Culture Night 2011 which will take place throughout the day and night of Friday, September 23.

This year more than 80 events have been planned for the one-day spectacular throughout the county - and every single event is free.

Events will begin at 10am and finish in the early hours in locations across the county including Mullingar, Kinnegad, Streete, Castlepollard, Milltown, Delvin, Ballinagargy, Moate and Athlone and will include everything from storytelling for children to street performance and drama and even puppet-making and cookery classes!

Children can also join in the fun with Chalk Out street drawing in Castlepollard, a children's storytelling session in the Aiden Heavey Public Library in Athlone, puppet making in Mullingar Public Library, family fun screenings in Tuar Ard, Moate as well as visit some of the county's top attractions such as Belvedere House for free.

Throughout the day and night there is a series of music events, traditional, country and modern, planned across Westmeath as well as a wealth of art exhibitions, plays and dance routines not to mention band performances, readings, boat tours, farmers markets and cookery demonstrations - to name only a few.

Catherine Kelly, Westmeath Arts Officer, said:

"September really is action-packed and we hope goes some way to show that arts and culture is for everyone and embraces a wide spectrum of events, activities and talents.

"The month culminates in Westmeath Culture Night which is a huge event in some nine different towns and villages all across Westmeath. As well as showcasing some of the arts and culture the county has to offer this one day event goes a long way to highlight the community spirit of all those involved and to all those I say thank you."

She went on to say that a new Facebook page WestmeathCulturenight2011 is now live and that she would encourage all those participating to post their latest news.

While this is the second time Culture Night is being held in Westmeath the event has been running since 2006 in other counties around Ireland including Dublin which saw more than 150,000 people attend some 100 venues last year.

The event is an initiative of the Temple Bar Cultural Trust and is part sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport and

Westmeath County Council.

See www.westmeathcoco.ie/culturenight for further information or check out the new Facebook page WestmeathCultureNight2011