Wicklow County Council Arts Office invites artists, arts stakeholders, arts groups, arts festivals and those interested in participating in the arts in County Wicklow to engage in public consultation in relation to the development of the new Arts Plan for the county from 2026 – 2030.
Three public consultation meetings will be held; one specifically in relation to arts capital and infrastructure development in the Glenview Hotel on Thursday 4th June from 2 – 4pm, and two general consultation meetings on Thursday 18th June, in Arklow Library from 11am – 12.30pm and in Blessington Library from 7 – 8.30pm. Attendance is free, but registration is required via this link: https://www.wicklow.ie/Living/Services/Arts-Heritage-Archives/Arts/Arts-Plan-2026-2030
The aim of the arts capital and infrastructure meeting is to understand more clearly the needs for current and future development of arts spaces in the county. This meeting is relevant for persons who are currently running arts spaces of any format, be they for audiences, artist studios, participation in the arts or collectives. Those planning further development of their existing spaces or who have identified a need in their community for arts infrastructure which is not currently available are also welcome. Attendance from all areas of arts practice and geographic location in the county is encouraged.
The public consultation meetings on Thursday 18th June in Arklow and Blessington libraries will have a more general focus on artist development and public engagement in the arts.
Alongside the public consultation meetings, the public, artists, stakeholders or interested parties can contribute to the Arts Plan by completing an online survey which is available on Wicklow County Council’s website.
Further information and meeting registrations are available here: https://www.wicklow.ie/Living/Services/Arts-Heritage-Archives/Arts/Arts-Plan-2026-2030
To develop the new Arts Plan 2026 – 2030, the Arts Office will combine data from these workshops with internal stakeholder engagement within Wicklow County Council, input from key funders of the arts for the county and a review of the County Wicklow Arts Plan 2020 – 2025. The preparation of the new plan will also consider relevant local and national Government policy and plans. It is intended the final draft of the new Arts Plan 2026 – 2030 will be proposed for adoption by the Elected Members of Wicklow County Council by end of October 2026.
Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, said, “I have observed a ground swell of growth in the arts and arts participation in every corner of the county in recent years, and I hope that the new Arts Plan 2026 – 2030 will bring further strategic development for the Arts in Wicklow and our growing population.”
Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman, commented, “Wicklow County Council are aware of many local community arts groups and other arts organisations and companies who have expressed interest in developing existing or new arts spaces in the county. It would be particularly important that people who are working in this area come to the public workshop in the Glenview Hotel on June 4th, so that Wicklow County Council can strategically plan for the arts for the forthcoming years. Much of the investment to achieve capital infrastructure for Wicklow comes from applications by Wicklow County Council to national government schemes or planning gain. By understanding the arts development needs, it will help to identify areas of need and potential for further feasibility for such facilities.”
Arts Officer of Wicklow County Council, Jenny Sherwin, said: “The period of the Arts Plan 2020 – 2025 was in many ways the most challenging period for artists and communities with the Covid-19 pandemic, however it has also led to great resilience and ingenuity of the sector to continue to present great work in new ways. The unprecedented increase in arts investment that those years have brought and the continuance of BIA, Arts Council and Creative Ireland increased investment have yielded unprecedented growth for the sector.”