Arts Plan 2012-2016 - Offaly County Council

In partnershipwith the Arts Council22offaly county council“The Arts Council has a responsibility to take anoverview of the needs of the arts, to identifychanges needed and champion these robustly,rigorously and in partnership with the artscommunity” (Arts Council, Partnership for theArts 2006-10)The Arts Council is a national organisationlinked to central government and is the mainpolicy maker and funder of the arts nationally. Itcarries out research and publishes informationon best practice methods and provides adviceand information to arts organisations.The role of the Arts Council in Offaly is one ofpartnership with Offaly County Council. Itprovides programme funding through theCounty Arts Office in line with annual serviceplans and in the context of the County ArtsPlan. The Arts Office makes an annualapplication to the Arts Council for funding forplanned programmes. Funding is then grantedin line with common strategic objectives.The Arts Council also provides separate grantsto individual artists and arts organisationsthrough its own funding schemes. The ArtsCouncil is committed to working towardsdeveloping its relationship and partnership withOffaly County Council.Offaly County Council Arts Office aims to workwith the Arts Council to extend and enhancepeople’s experience of the arts in the countyand to support the provision of an effective artsinfrastructure.As access and participation are central to our mission, our partnership with local authoritiesacross the country is key. Our strategic focus in 2011-2013 will include engagement with localauthorities in relation to arts provision within their areas so as to maximise coherence ofplanning and provision. The partnership will be based on a dialogue that respects the localremit and distinctive concerns of local authorities and the national remitand arts development concerns of the Arts Council.Arts Council, Developing the Arts in Ireland, 2011-2013