Arts Plan 2012-2016 - Offaly County Council

Objectives1. Evaluate the current support schemes forartists in the light of budget restrictions, inorder to identify how to resourcefully andappropriately respond to the developmentneeds of individuals, collaboratives andorganisations and publish the results.2. Facilitate a new writers group in the countywhich would broaden participation andprovide a supportive environment for theprofessional development of both emergingand established writers3. Support the development of theatre in thecounty by encouraging a professionaltheatre company to become established andopportunities for new writing for the theatreto emerge.4. Identify and create opportunities for theprofessional development of all artistpractitioners including drama groups andmusical societies.5. Work with visual artists to create a culture of“open studio” occasions as a way ofincreasing exchange and networkingopportunities and raising the public profileand audiences for professional visual artspractice.6. Encourage and support the importance ofartist-led networking and a co-operativeapproach to information and resourcesharing7. Facilitate the importance of increased criticalplatforms and the value of professionaldocumentation of arts practice, includingthose in collaborative and communitycontexts.8. Promote a culture of professional practicethat is based on resource sharing rather thanbeing predominantly resource dependent.9. Recognise and support where artists wouldlike to expand out into the community toshare their practice and skills and also bereciprocally informed through a collaborativeprocess.10. Recognise that a thriving creative communitywill survive through the promotion ofexcellence, both through professionalpractice and by generating a greater profilenationally and internationally of Offaly’svibrant cultural activity.11. Support Legitimate Bodies as professionaldance production and touring company inOffaly who also provide youth andcommunity access to contemporary dance.37arts plan 2012–2016