Expanding from its pilot programme in Tuam, Mac Uilliam in Tallaght will receive research awards to develop their Creative Places. Creative Places is an opportunity for places which had not benefited from sustained arts investment in the past to build local arts programmes which will benefit the people who live in these places. Each programme will have a coordinator or researcher who will begin local conversations to discuss and plan a range of brilliant creative and participatory projects for local people to take part in and enjoy.The programme builds upon existing local cultural strengths and is based on dialogue, listening to what matters locally and reaching people who may have barriers in participating in an active cultural life.
Director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly said, “We are delighted to be significantly investing in these places in this focused manner. It is very important to us that public investment in the arts reaches and benefits more people in a sustained and meaningful way. We look forward to seeing the ambitious new projects that these inspiring communities create together and we are excited by the prospect of supporting them to celebrate and animate new places.”
Each programme is led by different consortiums made up of local authorities, community development organisations and arts organisations, it will create employment for coordinators, artists and researchers interested in place based arts development. Reacting to the announcement, Tony Fegan, Director of Tallaght Community Arts said “The Arts Council of Ireland’s Creative Places funding for our project TogetherHERE is a fantastic opportunity for Tallaght Community Arts to work in partnership with residents of the Mac Uilliam Estate to engage in creative collective actions, to build capacity, to change their social and built environment. It is a vital resource to increase participation among key residents in mapping, planning and delivering much-needed activities and programmes to all residents. We are delighted to be working with a coalition of supporting agencies including; South Dublin County Partnership’s Community Development Group that has been working with residents since 2019, South Dublin County Council – Arts Office, Housing & Community Departments, Tallaght Travellers Community Development Project and other local organisations. We look forward to working with Dr Victoria Durrer. UCD Dublin, School of Art History & Cultural Policy as Researcher – in – Residence for Together HERE”.
Over the summer the programme will be getting established, a Researcher will be appointed and conversations with the community will get underway.
