In keeping with the overarching aims of Creative Ireland, a 5-year Culture and Creativity Strategy is being undertaken for County Cork, 2018 – 2022. ‘Creative Ireland is the Government’s Legacy Programme for Ireland 2016, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. It is a high-level, high-ambition, all-of-government initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, in our personal lives and in our institutions, we can realise our full creative potential. Underpinning this creative potential is an understanding of the importance of the Arts, Heritage, our Libraries, our Irish Language, our Music and Traditions, our Commemorations and our Cultural Tourism and how these can collectively promote and encourage creativity in all its forms.
The Creative Ireland Programme is an ambitious one and is based on the principles of collaboration and communication, community empowerment and internationalisation. It has five key strands; Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child; Enabling Creativity in Every Community; Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure; Ireland as a Centre of Excellence in Media Production and Unifying our Global Reputation. It is Strand 2, Creativity in Every Community, that each Local Authority across the country seeks to embrace most strongly and here in County Cork, with such a strong community sector with an unrivalled track record, the 5-year plan is one to openly embrace.
Whether you are an artist or maker, a member of your local library, a local arts groups, a local historical society, a drama club, or community group in its widest sense, or even if this is something that is purely a personal interest, this is an opportunity to share ideas, pool resources and be part of the creation of a unique and distinctive Cultural and Creativity Strategy for County Cork, as part of the Nationally aligned and fully supported Creative Ireland Programme.
With this in mind, Cork County Council will host a series of open meetings and discussions for anyone interested in participating in the development and delivery of County Cork’s 5-year Cultural and Creativity Strategy. At these meetings the Strategy will be discussed but members of Cork County Council’s Culture Team will also be on hand to offer advice and information on a range of different queries relating to Culture and Creativity locally. Your attendance at any of the following venues would be appreciated:
Location: Mallow Library on Thursday 26th October from 18:30 to 20:00
Location: Skibbereen Library on Thursday 2nd November from 14:30 to 16:00
Location: Fermoy Library on Saturday 4th November from 11:30 to 13:00
Location: Cobh Library on Saturday 4th November from 15:00 to 16:30
Location: Macroom Library on Wednesday 8th November from 14:30 to 16:00
Location: Midleton Library on Wednesday 8th November from 18:30 – 20:00
Location: Bandon Library on Thursday 9th November from 18:30 to 20:00
Location: Ballincollig Library on Tuesday 14th November from 18:00 to 19:30
Interested participants are kindly requested to register their interest to attend by emailing creativeireland@corkcoco.ie with their date/venue of choice preferably prior to Wednesday 25th October.
Cork County Council, in addition to organising this series of open meetings, is also seeking written submissions from interested parties with suitable ideas, proposals, comments and overall suggestions for the County Cork Cultural and Creativity Strategy, 2018-2022. This is a great opportunity for the people of Cork to shape the Cultural Development of the County and all comments are most welcome. Closing date for receipt of said submissions is Friday 17th November 2017, to be sent to creativeireland@corkcoco.ie
As part of the roll out of Creative Ireland in Cork County, 2017, a Culture and Creativity Action Plan was undertaken for the year, which is available to view on www.corkcoco.ie/arts-heritage-creative-ireland (or by clicking here). This plan, having benefited from dozens of public submissions, provides background information on Creative Ireland in County Cork and should be used as a practical working document to stimulate ideas for the 5-year Strategy going into the future.
Creative Ireland is an insightful legacy project that sets out to harness the country’s culture, arts and heritage over the next five years with the purpose of ensuring ‘that Ireland offers a meaningful, value driven quality of life’. It is hoped that the County of Cork will do itself proud in each and every respect.
