Mieke Vanmechelen, Kerry Filmmaker in Residence with Kerry County Council, has been working with students of Tarbert Comprehensive Secondary School since late September. Armed with equipment and lots of ideas, Mieke collaborated with eager transition years and their teacher Mary Lavery Carrig to create a short film entitled ‘Does Gender Hinder?’
As a Transition Year film making project, Mieke’s work ties in with the school’s Young Social Innovator programme (YSI). The YSI programme uses ssocial innovation learning to give young people and educators a new perspective about change and their own ability to make a difference. It was a perfect theme, said teacher Mary Lavery, “we feel really lucky that Mieke was able to include us in her schedule. It brings great life, energy and creativity to our project to have a professional filmmaker involved”. Students included were, Tracy and Katie from the LCA class, Ines, Daniela, Rieke and Tashi who are in 5th year and Roisín, Rachel, Paudie and Caelan who are in Transition Year. Mieke’s visit to Tarbert Comprehensive will continue in the months ahead, as she encourages the students to express their creativity through the medium of film.
The Filmmaker in Residence is a partnership between Kerry County Council and The Arts Council. It is supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Trustees of Muckross House. As an expanded partnership it demonstrates the ethos of Creative Ireland, enabling creativity in every community.
Pictured on left is Mieke shooting her film at Tarbert Comprehensive and
Mieke is on the right
