Cork to get even more creative under Government arts strategy
CORK county and city are to become even more creative if a new government strategy lives up to its billing.
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys met with Cork City and County executives Ann Doherty and Tim Lucey this week on the roll-out of ‘Creative Ireland’ described as the Government’s ‘ legacy’ programme for Ireland 2016 Centenary.
The five-year programme (2017 - 2022) aims to encourage artistic and cultural expression to an even greater degree than already exists in every community across the land - with local authorities charged with overseeing it.
To that end, Minister Humphreys has made €1milllion available to local government to achieve the aims of the programme, namely: prioritising children’s access to art, music, drama and coding; the ehancement of the provision of culture and creativity in every community; further developing of Ireland as a global hub for film and TV production; empowering and supporting artists and driving investment in cultural institutions and the further enhancement of our global reputation abroad.
An annual County of Culture will be held from next year, meanwhile.
“I have asked both Ann and Tim to establish a Culture Team bringing together relevant personnel to develop a Culture & Creativity Plan for Cork to drive public participation in creative cultural activity in Cork,” Minister Humphreys said following the meeting.
“I have also asked the national Creative Ireland team to conduct workshops around the country this spring with the dates to be announced in the coming weeks,” Minister Humphreys added.