Cork City Council Arts Strategy 2022-2026 Implementation Report
Arts & Culture Strategy
Implementation Report No. 1 June 2022 - 2024
Introduction
Introduction
The five-year Cork City Council Arts and Culture Strategy was formally adopted and launched in June 2022.
The strategy sets out our mission to “enable and champion the artistic and cultural ambitions of Cork city and its people through investment, advocacy, connection and animation” and outlines the goals, objectives and target outcomes that will guide our work for the period of the plan. We have made significant progress towards the achievement of the plan’s objectives over the course of the first two-years of implementation and this report outlines progress to date. Across each of the strategic priorities, actions undertaken in the two years since June 2022 are detailed, grouped under the relevant target outcome. Partnership is the principal enabler of the body of work achieved to date, and indeed the work that remains to be done over the coming years. We acknowledge the contribution of all the collaborators working with us to put arts and culture at the centre of a vibrant, just and progressive city – artists; arts organisations; communities; other sections within Cork City Council; national agencies; and Government. We look forward to advancing on our ambitions for the arts and culture in Cork city as we build on the body of work outlined in this report in the next three years.
Contents
Strategic priority #1 - Art for everyone
4
Strategic priority #2 - Space for art
10
Strategic priority #3 - Art in the public realm
14
Strategic priority #4 - A city for artists
18
Strategic priority #5 - Capacity and influence
22
Tools of the Trade Exhibition 2024 Photo: Clare Keogh
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3
#1 Strategic priority Art for everyone
Young Cork Printmakers Photo: Clare Keogh
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5
Strategic priority #1 - Art for everyone
Strategic priority #1 - Art for everyone
#1
Art for everyone
Outcome 1.2
Developed new 5 year creative communities plan for embedding creativity in communities across the city. Supported under the national Creative Ireland Programme. A broader diversity of people in a greater variety of contexts are experiencing art in their lives.
Action
Under this plan we have:
25 30
Goal
Encourage and enable more people across all our communities to access and enjoy art.
Outcome 1.1
A rich mix of arts and cultural events and experiences are driving strong public engagement.
Supported a further 30 projects championed by members of the cross-directorate culture and creativity team. These include projects such as the Ardú Street Art Initiative, the Kinship creative climate action project in Tramore Valley Park; Cork’s One City One Book etc.
Introduced new Creative Communities Grant Scheme . Since 2023, 25 community-led creative projects have been supported.
€ 1,900,000 to arts bodies in Cork City
Action
New post of Creative Communities Engagement Officer appointed to Cork City Council Arts Office
Action
2024 €1,000,550 81 organisations
2023 € 894,600 76 organisations
Secured Arts Council of Ireland R&D funding to pilot ‘Creative Knocknaheeny’ as a model for place-based arts development in Cork city.
Action
Dispersed just under 1.9 million euros in core funding to the professional and voluntary bodies that make up the arts sector in Cork city. In 2023, €894,600 was dispersed to 76 organisations and groups and in 2024 €1,000,550 has been committed to 81 organisations. Collectively these organisations provide a high-quality, diverse programme for citizens from across the city whilst also establishing Cork’s cultural reputation on a national and international stage.
Partnered with Arts and Disability Ireland to pilot the Island City contemporary sculpture trail as an accessible public art trail. Measures rolling out in Autumn 2024..
Action
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7
Strategic priority #1 - Art for everyone
Strategic priority #1 - Art for everyone
Outcome 1.3
Constituent groups in our city are engaged in arts and cultural experiences that are by, of and for them.
Action
Delivered by 2 x iterations of Cruinniú na nÓg Cork City, the national day of children’s creativity in June 2022 and 2023.
A Day of Free Creativity for Young People
Cork City C ruinniú na n Ó g
Action
Funded 10 projects through the ‘Arts-in-Context’ Scheme, where professional artists work with communities of interest.
Delivered a continuous professional development programme for social-engaged artists in collaboration with Leitrim County Council Arts Office.
Action
Supported and steered BEAG Early Years programme, bringing quality early years arts programmes to childcare settings. With partners Cork County Arts Office, HSE and delivery partners, Graffiti Theatre. Supported 2 x iterations of arts in school’s programmes: Tools of the Trade (primary schools collaborative art project); The Unfinished Book of Poetry (Transition year poetry project)
Action
Action
Developed and published ‘What Next?’ Arts and Ageing resources and toolkit with Creative Enquiry partners.
Action
Provided funding support for the Crawford Supported Studios.
Action
Outcome 1.4
The people who make, produce and govern arts and culture in Cork reflect the city demographic
Action
Pilot Visibility Bursary for artists who experience barriers to developing their professional practice on the grounds of their status. Underway June 2024
Photo: Clare Keogh
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9
#2 Strategic priority Space for art
Photo: Darragh Kane
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11
Strategic priority #2 - Space for art
Strategic priority #2 - Space for art
#2
Space for art
Outcome 2.3
There is increased availability and a diversity of spaces to meet identified needs
Action
Enhancement of Elizabeth Fort as an outdoor arts and cultural events amenity. The facility was launched on 1st March 2023.
Goal
Optimise and extend places and spaces for art in the city
Photo: Jed Niezgoda
Outcome 2.2
Cork City Council’s arts and cultural infrastructure is safeguarded as a sustainable, effective resource into the future.
Action
Construction of the Kinship Eco Lab at Tramore Valley Park, outdoor hub for ecological creative activities, launched 31st May 2024.
The Lido
11 Cork City Council owned buildings currently in Arts and Cultural use
The Guesthouse
Jack Lynch House
St. Lukes
Civic Trust House
Triskel Christchurch
St. Peters
Lord Mayors Pavilion
Photo: OSM Photography
National Sculpture Factory
Wandesford Quay Complex
Frank O’Connor House
Outcome 2.4
Plans for a flagship arts creation facility in Cork City have been approved for development.
Action
Ongoing programme of works, maintenance and conservation.
Action
Towards realisation of this outcome, strategic assessment phase of infrastructure planning process complete: Arts and Cultural Infrastructure Needs Assessment (Nov 2023) and Capital Project Definition Report (May 2024).
Direct management of St. Lukes Crypt as multifunctional, no cost hire by professional arts organisations.
Action
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13
#3 Strategic priority Art in the
public realm
TEMPUS FUTURUM, live public artwork by Brian Kenny. Photo: Clare Keogh
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15
Strategic priority #3 - Art in the public realm
Strategic priority #3 - Art in the public realm
#3
Art in the public realm
Outcome 3.2
All eligible Cork City Council capital development projects include public art commissions.
Action
New role of Public Art Manager appointed to resource expanded programme of public art in the city.
Outcome 3.2
Cork’s arts and culture sector is producing arts activities of impact and imagination in public spaces that engender a sense of pride and belonging as well as contribute to the city’s distinct appeal.
Goal
Animate our city centre and our neighbourhoods with art that reflects and celebrates who we are.
Action
Delivered Planning for Outdoor Performance (POP) programme in national collaboration with 7 other Local Authorities. Programme included training webinars for event producers.
Supported and Steered the KinShip Creative Climate Action Public Art Project at Tramore Valley Park
Action
Partnered with Cork Midsummer Festival, National Sculpture Factory and The Everyman to bring Venice Biennale Golden Lion award-winning Opera- performance, ‘Sun & Sea’ to Millenium Hall, June 2023.
Action
Outcome 3.1
Perceptions of public art have been transformed though the quality, inventiveness and range of Cork City’s commissioned projects.
Outcome 3.4
The public experience of Cork City’s signature events is enhanced, and investment is leveraged for the benefit of the city and its arts and cultural communities.
Action
Commissioned and produced Island City - Cork’s Urban Sculpture Trail, a trail of five contemporary sculptures in the city centre island. The largest single investment in public art in Cork city to date. Funded by Fáilte Ireland under Urban Animation Scheme. Launched December 2023.
Action
Expanded the St. Patricks Day offering in 2024 to become a weekend festival of events.
Introduced Community Artist in Residence in 2023 to support the artistic quality of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Action
Re-launched Cork Christmas Festival as Corkmas and commissioned SOLAS, a festive interactive immersive light experience in the public realm.
Action
55,000 people 3,200 participants
33,000 people 250 events
Urban Mirror by plattenbaustudio on Cornmarket Street. Photo: Clare Keogh
Programme of refurbishment of existing public sculpture underway. Saurian by Jim Buckley in Lee Fields completed. Services for refurbishment of Reedpod by Eilis O’Connell, Lapps Quay have been procured, scheduled for September 2024.
Action
Annual audience of approx. 55,000 in city centre for St. Patricks Day Parade and 3,200 parade participants.
Annual audience of approx. 33,000 for 250 events on Culture Night x 2
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#4 Strategic priority A city for artists
Photo: White Cat Studio
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19
Strategic priority #4 - A city for artists
Strategic priority #4 - A city for artists
#4
A city for artists
Outcome 4.2
Artists and arts professionals have the knowledge, skills and professional relationships that increase their capacity to build sustainable careers.
Action
Partnered with Dance Cork Firkin Crane to appoint Luke Murphy as Cork City Dance Artist in Residence 2024 – 2026
Goal
Advance the culture and conditions that make Cork a city for artists.
Outcome 4.1
Artists are supported to develop and make work of quality, scale, ambition and criticality.
62
Action
Photo: Courtesy of Luke Murphy
Worked closely with the Arts Council of Ireland to support and encourage the establishment of a new Theatre Development Centre under Cork Theatre Collective.
Action
Outcome 4.5
We have a framework to advance the potential of Cork’s creative industries to expand and diversify arts and cultural production and employment opportunities.
Partnered with Cork City Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and Immersive Ireland on Purple XR, a learning and development programme in Immersive Tech for creative industries.
Action
Number of grants allocated in artist’s bursaries and project scheme awards to directly support artists to develop their practice and make new work
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21
#5 Strategic priority Capacity and influence
Image: Travelling Rope, lef Spincemaille Photo: Jed Niezgoda
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23
Strategic priority #5 - Capacity and influence
Strategic priority #5 - Capacity and influence
#5
Capacity and influence
Goal
The City Council and the arts sector have the knowledge, skills and capacity to achieve our shared ambitions for arts and culture in Cork
Photo: Clare Keogh
Outcome 5.2
The staff complement, knowledge and skill base is assuring the effective delivery of the strategy.
Action
3 additional specialist roles have been resourced to effectively delivery on the strategic priorities, including Cork City Council’s first dedicated Public Art Manager
Outcome 5.5
Evidence is informing our priorities and decision-making to advance arts and culture in Cork City
Action
Arts and Culture Infrastructure Needs Assessment conducted 2023. This report will inform our work to develop arts and cultural infrastructure in the coming years.
Outcome 5.6
Investment has enhanced our capacity to influence arts practice in the areas of youth, community, health and climate action in particular Successfully leveraged funding under Creative Ireland national programme schemes including Creativity in Older Age, Creative Climate Action and Creativity in Health & Wellbeing to develop targeted collaborative programmes. Projects include music in residential settings with Music in the Community; the ongoing annual programme of ecological arts activity in Tramore Valley Park, under the Kinship project; and a new collaboration with the Irish Hospice Foundation on an intergenerational project using creativity to address loss and grief in community settings, post-Covid.
Action
Photo: Darragh Kane
Photo: Darragh Kane
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Arts Office Community, Culture & Placemaking Directorate Cork City Council City Hall, Anglesea Street
Cork City T12 T997
021 492 4000
@corkcityarts www.corkcity.ie
Cover photo: Clare Keogh
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