LEADING THE WAY
THE Creative Ireland initiative is less than a year old, but already it is creating a buzz and beginning to achieve its aim of enabling creativity in every community in County Wexford.
This five-year all-of-government initiative has seen new investment in projects such as an artist in schools programme, a series of business workshops for artists, heritage projects and coding and creativity for children.
Sixteen community projects across the county have also benefited from small grants for their diverse portfolio of creative projects. Many of these projects would never have gotten off the ground were it not for the support of Creative Ireland.
So at the end of a very active first year for the programme where to now for Creative Ireland?
Well it’s onwards and upwards for the culture team in Wexford County Council who have already begun to plan for coming years.
A new four-year Culture and Creativity plan for the County will be launched in early 2018.
The timing couldn’t be better as a new Arts Strategy for County Wexford is also about to be launched. According to Eileen Morrissey, Cultural Coordinator with Wexford County Council, the interest from the public in culture and creativity is huge. ‘Wexford is a truly creative county. Our world class writers, musicians, artists, designers and performers is a testament to that.
‘But people at a local level of all ages also want the opportunity to be creative and to engage actively with the Arts and with their cultural heritage. The new Arts and Culture plans will map out how we can make that participation and development happen,’ she said.
Input from the public in shaping the future of Creative Ireland in County Wexford is key.
a public meeting held in April this year attracted over 200 people to discuss the priorities for cultural development in the county.
One of the main themes that emerged from that consultation was the need to foster creativity in children and young people from an early age.
The announcement that the Music Generation project will be provided in County Wexford in 2018 will now enable access to high quality subsidised vocal and instrumental tuition for children and young people throughout the county.
Supports for artists and people involved in creative industries was also identified as a priority at both the Creative Ireland meeting and recent consultations for the Arts plan. This issue will be one of the main focuses of the Arts and the Culture and Creativity Plans.
A new series of focus groups on the area of cultural heritage will be held before the end of the year in order to inform the new Culture and Creativity plan.
These workshops will focus on enhancing County Wexford’s cultural tourism potential and on harnessing Wexford’s unique cultural heritage.
2018 will be designated European Year of Cultural Heritage and already plans are being made to ensure that Wexford’s unique cultural heritage is appropriately highlighted and celebrated both by visitors and locals alike.
Minister for Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys is responsible for the implementation of the Creative Ireland programme and has publicly stated that Creative Ireland remains a priority for government. She is actively working with local authorities to ensure that the programme develops adequately at a local level.