creative policies for creative cities

 

project launch 18 february 2010, dublin

 

 

Download pdf of project information sheet.

 

part of arts research: publics and purposes conference

 

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in association with GradCAM – The Graduate School of Creative Arts & Media at IADT (Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dún Laoghaire); UK-based Creativity, Culture & Education with Intercultural Arts & Newcastle City Council and Spain’s Semetrías Fundación Internacional with Cuenca Council, is launching an innovative music and arts’ programme, Creative Policies for Creative Cities, on Thursday 18 February at 3pm in County Hall, Dún Laoghaire. The project brings together musicians, artists, educators, businesses and public officials who, over the next number of months, will be piloting music and arts initiatives in Dun Laoghaire town centre. The idea underpinning this initiative is that artist-led policies – in collaboration with local agents (businesses, local authorities, and the public) – can yield new opportunities for musicians and artists, offer workable mechanisms for engaging business and investment, and through a multi-agency approach, enliven and animate our civic and shared public spaces.

Speaking in advance of the launch, An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cllr Marie Baker, set out her hopes for how the Creative Policies for Creative Cities initiative will work in Dún Laoghaire town: “Artist-led policies can help regenerate and rejuvenate our public spaces whilst also offering valuable opportunities for artists’ themselves. By bringing together artists and local businesses, we’ll be better positioned to plan events which benefit both the creative and commercial communities. As a consequence of this project, we hope to create a fun, lively atmosphere for our own people here in the heart of Dún Laoghaire.”

According to Richard Shakespeare, the Director of the Council’s Environment, Culture, and Community Development Department, “We in local government want to facilitate a unique partnership between artists, the public and local businesses in such a way that will encourage engagement in Dún Laoghaire town centre, and in so doing, improve the quality of life in the town. The Council is looking forward to participating in this process and encourages residents and businesses alike to actively contribute and / or engage with these initiatives.”

Nollaig Ó Fiongháile, project coordinator, commented that this is a process by which we may re-examine established thinking about how musicians and artists are asked to work in regeneration and in public culture; She commented that it will be a somewhat tricky process as we attempt to move beyond our comfort roles and attempt to evolve ideas that are artist-led, that are relevant and challenging to the public, and that work to evolve a culturally diverse understanding of ourselves and others.

In addition to An Cathaoirleach and Richard Shakespeare of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the programme includes the following speakers: Jim Devine – Director of IADT (Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dún Laoghaire), Nollaig Ó Fiongháile – Coordinator of Creative Policies for Creative Cities and Alan Mee – Coordinator of Public Space Mapping Research David Faulkner – Deputy Director of Newcastle City Council Juan Avila – Director of Cuenca Town Council Mr. Hal Ledford - Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Chamber