Foreword
Introduction
Foreword
Introduction
This ambitious new arts and culture strategy comes at a pivotal moment in the city’s development. The forthcoming City Development Plan to 2028 will be the first of three successive development plans that will oversee the growth of Cork as a city of international scale, as per the targets of the National Planning Framework, Ireland 2040. The arts and culture are vital to quality of life and societal wellbeing and are a key contributor to our urban economy. This strategy places arts and culture firmly within the city’s development agenda and identifies the strategic priorities that can sustain and advance the capacity of the arts and cultural sector over the next five-years, in step with the planned growth of the city. It is widely acknowledged that the arts and cultural sector has been one of the worst affected by the impact of the pandemic. As we emerge from the hardship of the past two years, this strategy sets our sights firmly on advancing supportive conditions for art and artists in our city, informing how we redefine our spaces and places, and ultimately enhancing the unique character of our city for the benefit of all who live, work and visit here. I would like to thank the members and staff of Cork City Council and the public who contributed to this strategy and the broad consultation which underpins it. The ambitions herein can only be fully achieved through collective effort and co-operation and we look forward to working with our partners across the cultural, community, educational and business sectors in the realisation of that ambition.
Cork City Council is proud to share its Arts and Culture Strategy 2022 – 2026. The strategy sets out our vision for arts and culture in the city and where we will focus our efforts over the next five years to achieve our shared ambitions. After the difficulties of the last two years, as we lived and worked through a global health crisis, and notwithstanding ongoing challenges, this new strategy is optimistic and affirmative. It is a mark of confidence in the future. The choices we have made to advance arts and culture in Cork have been informed by a robust programme of research and consultation, details of which are appended. We have listened and responded to the needs and ambitions of people from across our communities for arts and culture in Cork. We have also taken care to ensure our strategic priorities amplify and advance those of the city’s imminent new Development Plan. As such, we look forward to working with and for the people of Cork motivated by a shared vision of Cork as a world- class city where art and artists thrive, where arts and culture is for all to enjoy, and is alive on our streets and in our neighbourhoods, a vibrant expression of all that we are.
Michelle Carew Arts Officer 30th June 2022
Ann Doherty Chief Executive
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