New arts officer for county council
LIZ Burns will take up the role of the new Arts Officer for Wexford by Wexford County Council this October.
Following a previous stint as Arts Programme Manager for Fire Station Artists’ Studios in Dublin, Liz will take up the role with Wexford County Council. The announcement of her appointment comes 13 months after the post was made vacant following the departure of Sinead Barden.
Liz is currently the Chair of Arts and Disability Ireland. Her previous role in Fire Station Studios involved supporting socially engage arts practice through art commissions, talks and publications. It also included the management of a skills training programme for artists, artists’ awards, and residencies, a mentoring programme in partnership with Arts and Disability Ireland, the promotion of international opportunities for Irish artists and an international curator in residence programme. Prior to Fire Station she worked as Outreach Officer with Tallaght Community Arts Centre Dublin and sat on numerous arts panels including Arts Council, Dublin City Council Arts Office and OPW.
‘I am delighted to take up this appointment withWexford County Council,’ said Liz. ‘Wexford County Council has a proud and widely acknowledged record in supporting the arts and I very much look forward to working with the members and staff of the Council in further developing and promoting the arts throughout the county.’
Director of Services at Wexford County Council John Carley welcomed the appointment saying:
‘Ms Burns’ impressive track record speaks for itself and her appointment confirms the Council’s commitment to our on-going Arts Services programme and the implementation by the Council of strategic actions to help develop the arts locally.’
The seat for an Arts Officer in Wexford has been vacant since July 2015, despite an advertisement for the position in July and again in March 2016. Following the departure of Arts Officer Rosaleen Molloy in June 2010, Sinead Barden was chosen as a replacement as the result of a competition. However, due to an employment embargo, this position was only temporary. The post was made vacant again in July 2015 and a call for applications was put out soon after.
Speaking with this newspaper in recent months, Cllr Malcolm Byrne highlighted the need to fill the seat. ‘It is a matter of emergency that we need an Arts Officer so that he or she can begin to develop a strategic arts development plan for the county.’