Dublin City University will reverberate to the beat of an exciting line-up of artists from the worlds of music, song, dance, drama, art and spoken word as it presents Anam on 11-12 April.

Anam is DCU’s first artistic showcase, which aims to bring north Dublin’s communities together through culture, song, poetry and social gatherings.

The two-day festival is envisaged as ‘the opening act’ in the creation of a North Dublin Cultural Quarter by DCU, which says it is placing a greater emphasis on culture and creativity in its campuses and communities as part of its five-year strategic development plan.

The inaugural event will see leading Irish artists and musicians perform alongside staff and students from DCU in a series of concerts, recitals, masterclasses, discussions and events across its three campuses in Glasnevin, Drumcondra and All Hallows.

In a statement to Metro Éireann, DCU said highlights of the festival – curated and produced by South Wind Blows, creators of RTÉ’s Other Voices – include an evening of music collaboration and celebration with renowned Irish artists Lankum, Loah, Wyvern Lingo, Jafaris, Soulé, the DCU Gospel Choir and more.

Campus Songs and Beats, a student showcase curated by John O’Flynn, will feature the vibrant musical life of DCU’s student body, while a workshop by the Discovery Gospel Choir will discuss the voice as an instrument, with the Mosney Direct Provision Choir among those taking part.

“Anam represents an exciting new chapter for Dublin City University as we warmly embrace the rich creative and cultural talents within the university campuses and the surrounding North Dublin neighbourhoods,” said president of DCU president Prof Brian MacCraith.

Other activities planned during the two days of events include the Heart of the Rowl at DCU All Hallows, where the likes of Dermot and Danny Diamond, Liam O’Connor, DCU Trad Soc, Lisa O’Neill, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Ye Vagabonds and Síle Denvir will come together to celebrate Dublin’s unique tradition in all its diversity. This event will be recorded for transmission on RTÉ Radio 1.

Elsewhere, Irish Times writer Una Mullally, Ellen Coyne of the Sunday Times, musicians Síle Denvir and Róisín Blunnie, playwright Marina Carr and set designer Lian Bell will participate in Double Take: Creative Women in Conversation.

In Writers: The Next Generation, young poets at DCU will showcase their work in front of an audience followed by a Q&A, while lunchtimes will be livened up by a series showcasing jazz and contemporary music, and Diffusion Lab will host a masterclass focusing on production, arts management, design, distribution and more.

RTÉ Brainstorm will also have a presence at Anam, with Jim Carroll in conversation with DCU’s Dr Gary Sinclair on the subject of ‘technology as human connection’.

For more on the packed schedule visit dcu.ie/anam.

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