National programme urges all to get creative locally
The Creative Ireland Programme is an all of government five-year initiative that seeks to place creativity at the centre of public policy and at the heart of everything we do as a people.
The Programme is built around five key pillars: 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; Unifying our Global Reputation.
Local Authorities have been mandated to take the lead on encouraging creativity in every community and to this effect 31 City and County Plans (representing the 31 Local Authorities in Ireland) have been put together. These strategies were drawn up around the country in consultation with local artists, creatives, cultural and heritage organisations, community groups, people involved in the creative industries, and many more besides.
The Strategy aims to provide meaningful opportunities for citizens and local communities, together with our Local Authorities, to nurture, sustain and facilitate participation in cultural and creative activities. The Strategies were recently launched on the National Level by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD., joined by Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD., and Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy TD.
Speaking at the launch in Dublin the Taoiseach noted “Creative Ireland is all about
we hope more and more people will become involved in artistic and cultural pursuits in their own local area, with all of the vitally important social, and indeed economic, consequences that follow
improving access to culture and creativity in every county nationwide, to improve public wellbeing. Through Creative Ireland we are prioritising and promoting arts and culture at a local, national and international level because an active and engaging cultural sector can enrich every aspect of our society and every stage of our lives.
“Through these Culture and Creative Strategies, we hope more and more people will become involved in artistic and cultural pursuits in their own local area, with all of the vitally important social, and indeed economic, consequences that follow.”
The County Cork Culture and Creativity 5-Year Strategy will be launched at the local level on November 9th 2018 as part of the Creative Ireland County Cork Conference, which will be held in Baile Mhúirne. There will be much more on the strategy launch and the conference over the coming weeks.
In 2018 a variety of great projects were supported under the Cork County Creative Ireland Grant Scheme, with one of these being a proposed publication – ‘County Cork 101 Interesting Facts’.
The publication is being undertaken by Brendan John Murphy who has already published “County Kerry 101 Interesting Facts”; “Dublin 101 Interesting Facts” and “County Galway 101 Interesting Facts”. Brendan J.’s focus is now on the Rebel County and for the publication he is seeking interesting, quirky, unusual and informative facts that are unique to County Cork, with topics including famous people and the not so famous; places, history, geography, flora, fauna, animals, landmarks, great events, films, commercial companies, castles, monasteries, tragic events, museum pieces, folklore, songs, customs and crafts, festivals/fetes/regattas, holy wells, unique landscape, traditional music, the famine and emigration.
If you would be interested in getting involved and have any ideas for inclusion, just send an email to cork101facts@gmail.com.