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Arts Office

Cork Announces Ambitious Arts Strategy

Cork City Council has launch an ambitious Arts & Cultural Strategy 2011 – 15. Future plans in include a bid to become UNESCO World City of Music, a focus on work for Children and Young People and a celebration of the 10^th anniversary of European Capital of Culture.

The launch saw performance by Fiona Kelleher, the Macroom based singer and composer, who performed work from the series Lullaby, which was supported by a Cork City Council Arts Office Project Grant Scheme.  Celebrating the cities literary heritage, writer Conal Creedon, who has being resident and shown his work in Cork’s sister city Shanghai.  Completing the evening’s choral performances were Cork Chamber Choir.

Speaking at the launch the Lord Mayor, Cllr. Michael O’Connell said; ‘ Our plans are ambitious, but not as ambitious as the creativity of our artists.  Cork City Council embraces its role as a leader the arts, and looks forward to all that the future holds in our City of Culture’.

The City Manager, Mr. Tim Lucey welcomed the Strategy saying; ‘ City Council’s work in this area has always yielded extraordinary results for the city.  The creativity which is so abundant in the city is one our key resources, we recognize it and look to strengthen this sector’.

The increased investment by City Council in recent years has seen Christchurch, a new music and cinema venue in an 18^th century church, developed.  Other venues redevelped include St. Luke’s Church refurbishment, the Guesthouse visual arts space and Graffitti Theatre Company in the Assumption Convent.  Cork Opera House, the Everyman Palace Theatre, the National Sculpture and the Firkin Crane were supported in major refurbishment programmes. 

With an audience of in excess of 300, including councillors, artists and directors, the event was part of the celebrations of the Cork Midsummer Festival.  Copies of the plan are available here

Arts and Cultural Strategy 2011-2015
Cork City Council Arts Office is based in City Hall, Cork. Our telephone number is 00 353 21 492 4298/4924736/4924042 
Arts Office Staff

Arts Officer: Liz Meaney – liz_meaney@corkcity.ie

Community Arts Coordinator: Maeve Dineen – maeve_dineen@corkcity.ie

Staff Officer: Fiona Browne - fiona_browne@corkcity.ie  

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