Bill Malone speaking at the launch of the 2015 Imagine Arts Festival.
Ashe Road native Bill Malone was proud to be invited to launch this year’s Imagine Arts Festival, which runs from October 15th to 25th, at Greyfriar’s Arts Gallery.
This celebrates the 14th year of the festival with a strong line-up of international and Irish artists representing music, poetry, fiction, comedy, dance, the visual arts and theatre.
Bill is son of the late Dick Malone. A proud past pupil of Mount Sion, he studied journalism and has worked for RTE across a variety of roles.
“I was delighted to be invited to launch this year’s Imagine Festival, which boasts a terrific line-up of events and talent from around the world, mixed with the best of Irish,” he said.
“I passionately believe in making arts as accessible as possible and the Imagine Arts Festival really is art for all – young and old, international, national and local. It is also great to see contemporary art feature so prominently.
“As Channel Controller for RTÉ2 I’m constantly on the look-out for fresh and original comedians, musicians and writers and the festival is a fantastic platform for Irish talent.”
His life in the arts began at the age of 15 when he wrote a play titled ‘Fool’s Gold’, around the time Jim Nolan wrote and staged ‘The Gods Are Angry, Miss Kerr’, which starred a young Mary Roche at the Theatre Royal.
Bill contacted Jim Nolan who duly assisted him with the 30-minute play, which was subsequently presented at Waterford Youth Arts in Garter Lane.
This was recalled by Imagine Festival Director, Ollie Breslin, who also mentioned Bill’s family connection with the Waterford Dramatic Society and the Light Opera Festival, along with the good counsel provided to him by the late Ted O’Regan of Waterford Arts. Ollie also told the gathering that televising the Electric Picnic was Bill’s brainchild; as RTE2 Controller, he is now responsible for a €20 million budget.
Bill detailed his career progression at Montrose (which included producing Pat Kenny’s Late Late Show) but it all really started in Waterford his arts connection, comparing Waterford to Berlin such is the vibrancy of our local arts scene.
And he also referenced his close shave with death in 2004, when he was caught up in the tsunami while on holiday in Thailand, which this newspaper reported on at the time. His motto, ever since that tragedy, had been to make the most of life, and he has certainly done just that.
Bill promised to attend the Festival, and also expressed regret that its Arts Council funding was cut. However, he was happy that “the show was still on the road” thanks to funding from the City & County Council and other sources.
According to Ollie Breslin: “This year, locals and visitors to Waterford for the Imagine Arts Festival can expect a bountiful and inspirational programme of arts in unexpected places celebrating art in all its forms from literature to spoken word to music to dance, comedy, visual art and theatre.
“Imagine is Waterford’s annual Arts Festival and this city has always celebrated the arts with much enthusiasm and we expect tickets to this year’s events to be highly coveted.”
In honour of Waterford being the birthplace of Raymond Chandler’s Mother; the Festival will announce details of the inaugural ‘Imagine Crime Writing Award’ in his memory; with a presentation to be made to its first recipient, John Banville during the 2015 festival.
A host of theatre productions and a strong musical line up, along with a vibrant visual art trail will all feature, as will the John Dwyer Trad Weekend.
The annual ‘Booze, Blaas n’Banter’ event celebrating the City’s Quayside and maritime heritage will also offer lots of interesting chats and craic and we’ll have lots more on Imagine in future editions.
