Arts Plan 2012-2016 - Offaly County Council

The Arts ServiceThe first Arts Officer employed by Offaly CountyCouncil was in 1996. A two-year arts plan wasdeveloped in 1997. That plan, while available tothe public on request was not published.Between 2000 and 2004, the Arts Service hadexperienced some inconsistency due to a highturnover of personnel and consequent gaps inthe service. Since 2005, the service and thereforethe local arts sector and broader communityhave benefited from the stability and strength of astrategic approach and its first five year plan2007-2011.The Arts Office is staffed by one full time ArtsOfficer and one full time Clerical Officer and ispart of the Housing Corporate and CulturalDirectorate. It has an integral role in the HousingSocial and Cultural Strategic Policy Committeewhose function is to develop strategic policies toreflect the evolving commitments and contexts ofthe County Council.In Offaly the role of the arts service has beendefined as:■ A developmental and advisory role to promotethe growth of the arts in the county.■ Formulating local policy and plans andintegrating national policy into best practiceprinciples for the development of the arts on alocal level.■ Supporting and advising on fundingopportunities for individual artists and groups,(professional amateur and voluntary) of alldisciplines.19arts plan 2012–2016