Connecting Communities Through Creativity: Cork’s First Community Arts Networking Day Set to Launch
15/10/2025
Cork County Hall will come alive with creativity and collaboration on Wednesday, the 22nd of October as artists, community leaders, educators, and advocates from across the region gather for the inaugural Community Arts Networking Day, a joint initiative from the Cork County Council and Cork City Council Arts Offices.
Scheduled to welcome over 200 participants, the event promises a dynamic day of exchange focused on socially engaged arts practice and collaborative creativity. Attendees from both city and county will explore new ways to connect through the arts and build lasting partnerships that enrich local communities.
The Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Fergal Dennehy commented, “The Community Arts Networking Day marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to fostering inclusive, creative engagement across Cork city and county. By bringing together artists, educators, and community leaders, we are investing in the cultural fabric of our locality—strengthening connections, inspiring collaboration, and ensuring that the transformative power of the arts reaches every corner of our communities.”
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said, “Supporting the arts contributes to building community, and this Community Arts Networking Day will show how discussions between artists can act as a catalyst for enriching local communities across Cork city and county. We hope this day will inspire those attending to work together on future collaborative arts projects throughout the county.”
Event highlights will include: a keynote on best practices in socially engaged art, case studies from local and national practitioners, facilitated networking zones to foster new partnerships, and practical resources for launching collaborative creative projects.
To ensure accessibility for all, the event will include a play space for children, allowing caregivers to attend with their families. Lunch will be provided to encourage informal connection and conversation.
The Networking Day draws inspiration from the Social Practice Toolkit developed by Cork City and Leitrim County Council Arts Offices, as well as Cork County Council’s Community of Practice programme, both designed to support meaningful and sustainable collaboration between artists and communities. Sign up for the event at the following link https://bit.ly/3J5bX7c and for more information visit corkcoco.ie or contact arts@corkcoco.ie