New creative opportunities in Bagenalstown are set for a boost.
The County Carlow town’s among five areas to be included in the expansion of the Creative Places pilot programme.
It will see €450,000 invested in the local spot across three years to develop and sustain new projects for all age groups.
Reacting to the announcement, Cathaoirleach Carlow County Council Cllr Fintan Phelan said, “On behalf of Carlow County Council who are working closely with key community reps in Bagenalstown we are delighted to have been awarded a Creative Places Arts Council Award. The Arts Officer of Carlow County Council led the application to the Arts Council on behalf of and with the community. It outlined the demographic profile, social, cultural, economic strengths, and potential of the Bagenalstown, whilst also demonstrating strong track record of interagency working and place-based arts practice in Carlow”.
He adds “Bagenalstown is a vibrant place with huge potential for the arts. The Arts Office took a ground-up approach to this application working collaboratively with community reps who have a deep understanding of the people and the place”.
And Cllr Phelan adds “We would like to thank the Chamber of Business and Tourism for Bagenalstown, Bagenalstown Family Resource Centre, Carlow Regional Youth Services, Bagenalstown Improvement Group, Carlow County Development Partnership, Take A Part Carlow and the Community Section of Carlow County Council who worked closely with the Arts Office to help secure this fund.”
Over the summer the programme will be getting established, a coordinator will be appointed and conversations with the community will get underway. To keep in touch with how the project develops, the programme will be managed by Carlow County Council [email protected].