Arts Council has expanded its Creative Places programme nationally to invest in places which have not benefitted from sustained arts investment before.
Expanding from its pilot programme in Tuam, the new places include Athy (Kildare), Bagenalstown (Carlow), Darndale, (North Dublin), Edenderry (Offaly) and the West Cork Islands for three year programmes, while Shannon (Clare), Iveragh Peninsula (Kerry) and Mac Uilliam (Tallaght) receive research awards to develop their Creative Places.
Creative Places is an opportunity for places which had not benefitted from sustained arts investment in the past to build local arts programmes which will benefit the people who live in these places. Each programme will have a coordinator or researcher who will begin local conversations to discuss and plan a range of brilliant creative and participatory projects for local people to take part in and enjoy.
The programme builds upon existing local cultural strengths and is based on dialogue, listening to what matters locally and reaching people who may have barriers in participating in an active cultural life.
Director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly said,
“We are delighted to be significantly investing in these places in this focused manner. It is very important to us that public investment in the arts reaches and benefits more people in a sustained and meaningful way. We look forward to seeing the ambitious new projects that these inspiring communities create together and we are excited by the prospect of supporting them to celebrate and animate new places.”
Each programme is led by different consortiums made up of local authorities, community development organisations and arts organisations, it will create employment for coordinators, artists and researchers interested in place based arts development.
A member of the Darndale community Lorraine Kenny, in responding to the opportunity said,
"After a challenging year, I am excited to see what this project can do in reviving a sense of community in Darndale. There was once a lot of activity in the area - we had a variety group for adults and kids would put on shows in the community hall, for example. I would like to see that this funding is used for everyone in the community. Young, old, whether you're working or not. Everyone in the area should see and feel the benefits of this project"
For more information on the Arts Council’s Creative Places Programme please see here
←Return to the news