€1,117,751.13 allocated to Creative Ireland projects in Waterford since 2017
€161,161.00 to be allocated for core Creative Ireland initiatives in Waterford County in 2023
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD announced the roll out of 31 new Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies ( 2023-2027) at an event in Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park on 23rd February 2023.
Included in the launch was a new vision for creative activity in Waterford that was devised in consultation with the people of the city and county and will be delivered by the Waterford Culture and Creativity team led by Katherine Collins -Waterford’s Creative Ireland Coordinator.
The Waterford County Culture and Creativity team also includes Michael Walsh – Chief Executive, Waterford City and County Council, Kieran Kehoe – Director of Service, Jane Cantwell – City and County Librarian, Emma Haran – Cruinniú na nÓg Coordinator, Rosemary Ryan – Keeper Waterford Treasures, Sinead O’Higgins – Executive Librarian, Billy Duggan – Senior Executive Officer, Economic Department, Bernadette Guest – Heritage Officer, Joanne Rothwell – Archivist & Records Manager, Máire Seo Breathnach – Irish Officer/Oifigeach Gaeilge, Gráinne Kennedy, Climate Action Coordinator, Margaret Organ – Arts Officer, Bríd Kirby – Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Conor Nolan – Arts Officer, Rosemary Ryall – Architectural Conservation Officer, Jim Lenane – Assistant Irish Officer, Luke Currall – Visual Arts Coordinator, Ovidiu Matiut – Healthy Cities Coordinator.
Last year the Waterford City and County Culture and Creativity team reviewed the original strategies that were devised in 2017 and made changes that reflected the evolving priorities of the community. The team incorporated contributions from community stakeholders that will encourage people to engage, participate and enable their creative potential.
The new Waterford City and County Culture and Creativity Strategy reflects the creative ambitions of the county that will be supported by the Creative Ireland Programme 2023-2027. Emphasis will be placed on initiatives that strengthen the connection between people of Waterford and the place they call home; that support those working within creative sector of the county; enhance Waterford’s creative and cultural infrastructure; enable to public to engage with climate action and biodiversity and initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of people of Waterford.
Commenting on the work undertaken by the 31 local authority Culture and Creativity teams Minister Catherine Martin said. Your teams are the key strength of the Creative Communities initiative and the engine that drives our collective efforts. The agility of the local authority teams has facilitated a collaborative and flexible approach to reshaping how creativity and culture is valued within and across local authorities. Through the Creative Ireland Programme, my Department will continue to work with collaborators across Government to activate the power of creativity in every community.
Since then Creative Ireland have allocated over €1,117,751.13 for the implementation of Creative Ireland initiatives in Waterford City and County. Highlights include;
Waterford Designers & Makers: The Waterford Designers & Makers Exhibition showcased the excellence of eighteen craft makers’ work designed and made in Waterford. https://thisiswaterford.ie/waterford-designers-and-makers-exhibition/
Diverse Creatives Waterford: Diverse Creatives is a showcase of arts celebrating the rich culture and experience of migrants who have made Ireland their home. https://thisiswaterford.ie/2022/04/03/future-collaborations-for-the-successful-diverse-creatives-project/
Waterford Intergenerational Music Project: A very special Intergenerational music project with the Bealtaine Choir of older singers and pupils at Kilmacthomas National School, sharing identity, heritage, and culture. https://thisiswaterford.ie/2022/01/12/waterford-intergenerational-music-project/
Between 2017-22 Creative Ireland allocated €29.8 million to support thousands of local authority initiatives that have unlocked a national ecosystem of creativity. The 31 local authority Culture and Creative Strategies have been key to the successful delivery of creative opportunities directly into communities. This year Ministers Martin and O’Donnell announced funding of €6.1 million for the 2023 Creative Ireland Programme Creative Communities initiative.
Reiterating Minister Martin’s praise, Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell TD said, “I would like to sincerely thank all of the Culture and Creativity teams in our Local Authorities who have been working hard in recent months to drive the key ambitions in the Creative Ireland programme. Travelling around the country and to each of our Local Authorities I get to see the ambitious plans they have to promote creativity. The power of culture cannot be overestimated; arts and culture can open our minds, enliven our communities and enrich everyone’s lives,” he concluded.
For more information about Creative Ireland’s programme of Creative Communities initiatives please go to www.creativeireland.gov.ie
To view and downloaded the Waterford City & County Council’s Culture & Creativity Strategy 2023 – 2027 please go to https://thisiswaterford.ie/culture-creativity-strategy-2023-2027/
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD announced the roll out of 31 new Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies ( 2023-2027) at an event in Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park on 23rd February 2023.
Top Featured Image: Katherine Collins, Waterford Creative Ireland Coordinator, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media Catherine Martin TD, Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. John O’Leary, and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD at the launch of 31 new Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies ( 2023-2027) at an event at Farmleigh in Phoenix Park on February 23rd 2023.