The Creative Places Initiative by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon is a national programme designed to bring sustained arts investment to places in Ireland that haven't had many opportunities to benefit from such funding. The goal is to build local arts programmes with the involvement of local people, making arts and creativity more accessible and inclusive.
There are currently 19 Creative Places across Ireland. Each Creative Place has a coordinator or researcher who works with the community to plan and implement creative and participatory projects. The initiative is rooted in socially engaged arts practice and community development principles, aiming to build on existing cultural strengths and be led by community participation and ideas.
You can read more about the Arts Council's Creative Places Initiative here.
Creative Places Bagenalstown is led by Carlow County Council’s Arts Services and is supported by a consortium of local partners.
Carlow Regional Youth Services
BEAM Services
The Chamber of Business and Tourism Bagenalstown Area
Carlow County Development Partnership
Bagenalstown Improvement Group
WHAT IS CREATIVE PLACES?
WHAT IS SOCIALLY ENGAGED ARTS PRACTICE?
Socially engaged arts practice is a form of art that focuses on working closely with communities to address social issues through creative projects.
The aim is to involve community members in the artistic process, fostering collaboration and dialogue. This type of art highlights important social, political, or environmental issues, with the goal of provoking thought, raising awareness, and inspiring action.
The process of creating socially engaged art often involves building strong relationships within the community, making the interactions and conversations that happen along the way just as important as the final artwork itself. This practice can take many forms, such as community murals, participatory theater, activist art installations, and multimedia projects, depending on the community's interests and the issues being addressed.
Ultimately, socially engaged arts practice is about creating meaningful, impactful art that brings people together, fosters understanding, and drives positive change through creative expression.
TATE in the UK has some useful information on their website about socially engaged arts practice which you can find here.
In Ireland we have a national development agency for collaborative arts called CREATE. They have useful resources on their website which you can find here.
WHAT ARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES?
Community development principles are guidelines and values that shape efforts to improve the well-being of communities. These principles include..
Participation - Encouraging active involvement from community members in decision-making and development processes.
Empowerment - Building the capacity of individuals and groups to take control of their own lives and influence the decisions that affect them.
Inclusivity - Ensuring that all voices, especially those of marginalized or vulnerable groups, are heard and considered.
Sustainability - Promoting practices that ensure long-term benefits and minimize negative impacts on future generations.
Collaboration - Fostering partnerships and cooperation between community members, organizations, and stakeholders.
Equity - Striving for fairness and justice in the distribution of resources, opportunities, and benefits.
Respect for Diversity - Valuing and respecting the differences in culture, ethnicity, gender, age, and other aspects of identity within the community.
Local Knowledge and Assets - Recognizing and utilizing the knowledge, skills, and resources that already exist within the community.
Transparency and Accountability - Ensuring open communication and accountability in decision-making processes.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation - Being open to learning, adapting, and evolving strategies based on experiences and feedback.