A city of culture and learning – culture
To build on Cork’s designation as a UNESCO Learning City and the city’s rich cultural heritage and to foster learning, culture, heritage and the arts throughout the City. City of learning and culture
To support the growth of the cultural sector in Cork, potential actions can include developing long-term rental solutions, creating a public-facing space for artists to perform and an entertainment factor for the city centre, and introducing community land trust schemes, similar to in the UK. There may be potential for the City Council to work with the community to acquire and rebuild a vacant building or a warehouse. As a short- term initiative, artists could use empty storefronts to showcase their work: this brightens up vacant and derelict sites and provides an accessible public-facing gallery space.
Cork has significant cultural activity with a high number of artists and a vibrant cultural scene. There is an opportunity to create and define Cork’s vision as an ambitious European city confident in its belief in its own imagination, creativity and innovation. On a large scale, a number of major institutions in the arts and humanities are vital pillars of Cork’s cultural scene (e.g. Opera House, Crawford Gallery, Lewis Glucksman). On a smaller scale, demand for space and opportunities to exhibit is high. A key challenge faced by the local arts community is the lack of available administrative space for organisations, workspace for artists, and performance space. Broadly, many locations for cultural activity are located on the periphery of the city centre, and do not add significant footfall generation to the city centre. Internationally, a number of cities have benefitted from major investments in creative infrastructure. Dundee has a wide range of creative hubs (over 10 physical spaces as at August 2020, according to the Creative Dundee): exhibition and project spaces, co- working studios, print, ceramic and comic studios etc. Communities and spaces are financed through a range of flexible funding schemes and grants, both one-off and recurring. Clear information on schemes available, as well as spaces and news, is distributed by Creative Dundee – a social enterprise company supported by Creative Scotland and Dundee City Council.
Proposals to develop a cultural centre and/or creative makers hub could result in a strong uplift in cultural capital and spillover job creation. Such a space would be multi- use, with modular seats/a modular stage, with space for public engagement: performance, multi-media, education and engagement, cultural business, hospitality, creative production. The cultural centre could be located in the City Centre, with spatial linkages to the quays, which has the potential to become a key area for entertainment and restaurants.
Key areas: • Camden Palace • SIPTU
• Debenhams • Kyrl's Quay • The Coal Quay • Former Savoy Cinema • Patrick St • North Main St. • Coal Quay
Comparative learnings: Bordeaux – opera house plaza with bars, restaurants, cultural offering, public transport, Porto – Art District, Dundee – Creative Dundee Stakeholders: College of Further Education, Cork College of Commerce, Cork Education Support Centre, Griffith College Cork, Enterprise Ireland, Higher Education Authority, Mercy University Hospital, Munster Institute of Technology, National Maritime Council of Ireland, Tyndall Research Institute, University College Cork
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