Creative Places Baltinglass is excited to announce the programme for Year Two.
Officially launched in Rathcoran Estate, the event provided local organisations, community members and creative practitioners with the opportunity to share their Creative Places journey so far and to meet with key Wicklow County Council representatives.
Just some of the programme highlights for Year Two include:
- Two Artists in Residence projects which commenced in July 2023. The first residency with Gerald Peregrine and the Mobile Music Machine sees the delivery of live concerts to the residents of Baltinglass Community Hospital. The second residency takes place in Rathcoran Housing estate and is led by artist Suzie Cahn, co-founder of Carraig Dúlra Permaculture Farm. This residency will strengthen community integration through creativity and permaculture.
- Five artists have been selected to receive Seed Funding to develop their ideas further. These awarded artists projects will include artistic interventions, socially engaged arts projects, film projects, and music generation.
- Artist Capacity Building opportunities which will continue and include practice development workshops, funding clinics, and coaching.
- Local artist group BART (Baltinglass Art) has received support and funding to produce a large-scale mural to enhance the town's appearance.
Finally, Creative Places Baltinglass announced the appointment of Monika Sapielak, an award-winning Artistic Director, Curator and Arts Manager, to implement the programme.
During Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy's, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, speech she highlighted the significance of the Creative Places Baltinglass programme stating: "I feel Baltinglass is in a unique position as a rural community to capitalise on the Creative Places Programme and am delighted that the Arts Council has funded it as one of their national locations."
Emer O'Gorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council, who was also in attendance added: "I wish you all the best as you begin your project journeys and look forward to seeing the documentation and evaluative outcomes of Creative Places Baltinglass and what it delivers for the town and its people."
Year one of the programme succeeded in creating momentum in capacity building locally and in increased creative activities and events in the town. Recent highlights included a Bealtaine Tea Dance hosted by Baltinglass Active Retirement Association and supported by members of An Garda Síochána, and Cruinniú na nÓg Creative Workshops held in Tearmann Community Garden and attended by over 400 children and their families.
Creative Places Baltinglass is managed by Wicklow County Arts Office and is funded by the Arts Council, as part of the national Creative Places Programme.
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