€71,000 in funding for coastal awareness art
The Arts Council has awarded €71,000 to Wexford County Council in partnership with Fingal County and Dublin City Councils to investigate the role of the arts in raising awareness of biodiversity issues along the east coast.
The award follows a research phase in 2017 in which €15,520 was granted, bringing the total investment to €86,520.
The money will be used to support a series of artists’ residencies exploring coastal discussions in Wexford, Dublin City and Fingal between artists, communities, curators, biodiversity officers and academic specialists with the aim of creatively highlighting shared concerns on the biodiversity of the east coast.
The Arts Council confirmed tthat the award is part of their ‘Invitation to Collaboration’ scheme aimed at Local Authorities, which promotes unique collaborations through working better together and promoting high quality access to and engagement with the arts.
Speaking at the launch in the Irish Aerial Creation Centre in Limerick, Arts Council director Orlaith McBride said: ‘We are inspired by the ambition and creativity of the proposals we receive from local authorities. Collaboration between the Arts Council and local authorities is where we see public engagement in the arts at its most informed, most considered and most artistically ambitious.’
Ms McBride said she was delighted to confirm that Wexford County Council was successful as the lead applicant in partnership with Dublin City and Fingal. ‘I am confident this funding will help foster a distinctive artistic and environmental collaboration within and among local authorities, which will result in unique public engagement opportunities,’ she said.