Mayo has committed to a new Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategy with €161,161 allocated for core Creative Ireland initiatives in the county in 2023.
Pictured at the launch of Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies (2023-2027) in Farmleigh were, from left, Austin Vaughan, Mayo County Librarian and Creative Ireland Co-ordinator; Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media Catherine Martin TD; Cllr Michael Burke; Mayo Co Council Director of Services Joanne Grehan; and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD announced the rollout of 31 new Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies (2023-2027) at an event in Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, recently.
Included in the launch was a new vision for creative activity in Mayo that was devised in consultation with the people of the county and will be delivered by the Mayo County Culture and Creativity team led by Austin Vaughan, Librarian and Creative Ireland Co-Ordinator for Mayo. The team also includes Joanne Grehan, Director of Services; Anne Marie McGing, Arts Officer; Martina Hughes, Head of Communications; Deirdre Cunningham, Heritage Officer; and Anna Connor, Tourism Officer.
Since 2017, €814,625 has been allocated to Creative Ireland projects in Mayo. Last year, the Mayo County Culture and Creativity team reviewed the original strategies from 2017 and made changes that reflected the evolving priorities of the community. The new strategy will see an emphasis placed on enabling creativity in every community, enabling the creative potential of every child and young person in Mayo, promoting the democratisation of culture through heritage, arts and cultural organisations by working with communities supporting artists, crafters and other creatives, developing creative industry in Mayo through encouraging participation and innovation and the promotion of the green agenda.
