 | Creativity in society is everywhere. From book and film clubs, town and youth bands, to drama and choral groups, knitting clubs and dance troops, there is an imperative in society to come together and share and participate in something creative |
Community Programmes Supported
The Creative Community refers to arts activity which engages communities in a variety of creative and innovative ways and it reflects one of the largest growth areas in this plan. Offaly County Council acknowledges the immense voluntary commitment to developing much of this activity and the importance of encouraging and protecting these endeavours, both for community development and the local economy.
Arts Plan Community Objectives 2012-2016:-
The objectives and actions below will consolidate the existing activity and support new projects/events that will forge communities, enhance community participation, create a pride of place and sense of identity.
- Encourage and support quality arts programming in events to increase their capacity to attract and increase audience numbers and participation.
- Continue to find ways to publish and disseminate information about the diversity and extent of arts activity in the county though local media, online information and social media including the Midlands Arts and Culture Magazine.
- Advise on the quality of presentation and promotion of cultural events both locally and nationally.
- Further incorporate arts and cultural activities into county development and local area plans and budgets.
- Encourage the establishment of new arts events and activity around the county and provide advice and support to the voluntary effort in the host communities.
- Develop ways to measure the impact of cultural activity in order to track its development and make the case for additional support and identify areas for development.
- Facilitate the creation of clear branding guidelines to acknowledge the support of Offaly Local Authorities to events and projects.
- Develop a greater awareness and anticipation of the diversity of the arts in Tullamore in advance of the new Tullamore Community Arts Centre.
- Assist the development of a cultural action group in Edenderry to create more opportunities for the development of and engagement with the arts.
- Maintain support to Anam Beo, the arts and health programme in their mission to provide non-judgemental process led art workshops within a safe health care and sociable environment where taking part is more important than the end product.
- Continue to facilitate a county wide programme for Bealtaine, the national festival which advocates creativity as we age.
- Manage the Arts Act Grants as a reserved function of the members of the council to provide support for arts activity in the community which will stimulate public interest in the arts, promote the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts, and assist in improving the standards of the arts.
- Promote the work of and support the development of local drama groups, musical societies, choral groups and town bands.
- Source financial support to continue to develop the cross departmental community project, Engage with Architecture.
- Work with other agencies to find ways to integrate, support and include newer communities and cultures in arts activities in the county.
- Networking and the sharing of resources among drama and musical societies has proved fruitful in some parts of the county and this could be encouraged more.
- Participate in national coordinated events such as Culture Night, National Music Day, National Poetry Day and other national events as they arise.
- Work closely with Offaly’s Library Service to deliver community arts events/project in Offaly’s libraries