AMBITIOUS ARTS PLAN ANNOUNCED
AN ambitious and far reaching plan for the arts in County Wexford was outlined by Wexford Arts Officer Liz Burns at the meeting.
The 2018-2022 plan she has developed follows a detailed consultation process including the Creative Wexford Report and the Three Sisters 2020 Culture bid proposal. Ms Burns said the Arts department has consulted a wide range of organisations, artists and arts focus groups, along with local and national arts organisations.
She said the council’s vision is for a vibrant, dynamic and engaged creative arts sector.
Director of Services John Carley thanked Ms Burns and the Arts team for their work on the plan.
Mr Carley said: ‘The plan will make the artist and the citizen central to our artistic life. We have a very good offering of art forms and art communities, both amateur and full time. Arts and culture tell a lot about who we are as a people and I think we have a very good arts offering in our county.’
Ms Burns, who is a year into her role, said the county’s arts ‘infrastructure’ is quite advanced, adding that there is a great arts scene from professional to amateur, spanning theatre to art and music in County Wexford. The development of small, niche festivals including a film festival, is an encouraging sign, she said, adding that the arts play an important societal role also through working with older people and youths.
‘When people think of Wexford they think of music festivals. We plan to develop all its infrastructure and also support other infrastructure.’
The arts plan commits to continuing support for arts organisations across the county including Wexford Opera House and St Michael’s Theatre in New Ross, The Presentation Arts Centre, Wexford Arts Centre and Gorey School of Art.
Several goals outlined in the plan will be supported by an annual operational plan. Wexford Arts Office will have direct responsibility for some actions, while others will involve working in partnership with various council departments and arts stakeholders, along with public agencies. A mid-term review will be undertaken in 2020.
A new Arts Council investment strategy for 2017-2019 will see an increase in investment in the arts in the county, which was welcomed by councillors.
A small festivals fund and a fund for the development of a film festival was also sought. Ms Burns said youth arts hubs, film, music, drama and street art performance will be developed.
‘Wexford abounds in cultural heritage and has a unique biodivesity,’ she said, adding that the council will celebrate the Norman Way through the arts and will continue to support artists.
‘The majority of artists live on the poverty line so we have to look at how we can support them in a strategic way through bursaries, training or networking.’
Chairman Cllr John Hegarty praised Ms Burns for her presentation.
Cllr Jim Moore said: ‘I think everyone in the arts world in Wexford will welcome this very ambitious plan. We were at risk of losing funding for the arts before so it’s great that we’ve made the decision to continue to support the arts. I think the integration of all the local authorities and developing frameworks and accessibility also not only for artists to display their work across the whole county.’
He welcomed the Music Generation programme saying it is difficult to measure the success of the arts.
Cllr Malcolm Byrne said often council documents are left on the shelf gathering dust, but he said he is confident that Ms Burns, with her enthusiasm and energy, will ensure the tenets of the plan are carried through into action.
Under the plan Wexford County Council will work with Music Generation and Wexford Music Education Partnership to provide long term performance music education in primary and secondary schools and in youth and community organisations throughout the county. With cash backing from U2, Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme, has revealed that Wexford will receive €600,000 in philanthropic funding from the band and The Ireland Funds over three years to increase access for young people to high-quality, subsidised vocal and instrumental tuition.
Operating on a 50/50 matched-funding basis, the Wexford Music Education Partnership will
also generate a further €600,000 in funding locally over the three year period.
In applauding the work of Ms Burns, Cllr George Lawlor cautioned that amateur dramatic and musical societies need to be funded. ‘The amateur performance sector is extremely strong. It’s the first taste that young people get of performance and the arts and it’s where most of the public get their first appreciation of the arts, particualrly in Wexford town. There is a lot of interlinking between the various bodies. We spend €100,000 a year on the show. Wexford Light Opera Society bring 7,000 people to our performances of the year at a very reasonable rate.
‘There are a lot of musical societies in rural areas like in Rathangan. We have a huge and very successful amateur drama scene in this county and the Bridge Players who won a magnificent All Ireland prize a couple of years ago. There is a tendency to focus on the professional and on the obscure instead of the arts people are involved in join a daily basis.’
Cllre Davy Hynes welcomed how Wexford Opera House has become more welcoming to amateur performance groups, stressing the mental health benefit that performing has for people.
Cllr Deirdre Wadding said a film industry could be further developed in the county, alluding to the success of Ashford film studios in County Wicklow. She also suggested that libraries could host spoken word events and musical performances more often.
‘Wexford is an extremely artistic place and community to live in. We did an amazing job with the Three Sisters, carrying ourselves forward as the jewel in the crown in the region and for me that’s Wexford town. This is why we needed an arts officer for so long.’
Cllr Tony Dempsey said as a former teacher he knows the importance of the arts as a developer of confidence. He asked Ms Burns to consider making a presentation to the Junior Council.
Cllr John Hegarty said Music Generation is a very exciting programme. He said all of the county’s arts community have been involved in the plan.
Cllr Michael Sheehan said there are many established festivals in the county which receive funding from Wexford County Council which can financially support themselves. ‘It’s time to cut the umbilical cord. It’s the old adage of the squeaky wheel that gets most of the oil.’
Cllr Sheehan suggested that festivals could be supported for a maximum period of three years.
Ms Burns said her plan is ‘funding permitting’, adding that niche, small festivals will require funding to develop. She called for a festival policy to be developed as there is duplication currently.
CEO Tom Enright described the arts plan as excellent and very timely as the council has committeed millions of euros towards developing the Market House venture in Gorey and Wexford Arts Centre as part of both towns’ urban renewal plans. Mr Enright said the arts will also form a considerable part of plans for Enniscorthy and New Ross also.