Arts Plan 2012-2016 - Offaly County Council

The creative communityCreativity in society is everywhere. From bookand film clubs, town and youth bands, to dramaand choral groups, knitting clubs and dancetroupes, there is an imperative in society to cometogether and share and participate in somethingcreative. People experience opportunities ingreater and lesser degrees, according to theirlevel of interest and work, study and familycommitments. Nonetheless, it is this activity thatdistinguishes us.This section refers to arts activity which engagescommunities in a variety of creative andinnovative ways and it reflects one of the largestgrowth areas in this plan. Typically this activityprovides opportunities for artists to create and/orfacilitate projects; it includes festivals, communityevents and arts in context such as arts andhealth. Offaly County Council acknowledges theimmense voluntary commitment to developingmuch of this activity and the importance ofencouraging and protecting these endeavours,both for community development and the localeconomy.The objectives and actions below will consolidatethe existing activity and support newprojects/events that will forge communities,enhance community participation, create a prideof place and sense of identity.Objectives1. Encourage and support quality artsprogramming in events to increase theircapacity to attract and increase audiencenumbers and participation.2. Continue to find ways to publish anddisseminate information about the diversityand extent of arts activity in the countythough local media, online information andsocial media including the Midlands Arts andCulture Magazine.3. Advise on the quality of presentation andpromotion of cultural events both locally andnationally.4. Further incorporate arts and cultural activitiesinto county development and local areaplans and budgets.5. Encourage the establishment of new artsevents and activity around the county andprovide advice and support to the voluntaryeffort in the host communities.6. Develop ways to measure the impact ofcultural activity in order to track itsdevelopment and make the case foradditional support and identify areas fordevelopment.31arts plan 2012–2016