Arts strategy hailed as essential to life in Kerry

At the launch of the Kerry Arts Strategy for 2024-2034 were, front from left, Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Coordinator; Martin O’Donoghue, Chief-Executive, Kerry County Council; Niamh O’Sullivan, Director of Economic and Community Development;and Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald, Mayor of Kerry with, back from left, Emma Carmody, Creative Communities Engagement Officer; Marelle Murphy, Arts Office; Clive O’Callaghan, Arts Office and Hannah Pinckheard, Assistant Arts Officer.
Picture: Michelle Breen Crean Photography

Kerry County Council has launched its newly devised Kerry Arts Strategy for 2024-2034 which was guided by the local authority’s strategic policy committee with input from widespread public consultation and targeted sectoral consultation.

The strategy aligns to national, regional and local plans and priorities and consultation with the Arts Council of Ireland was central to agreeing the core priorities.

A Peig Sayers tribute on the streets of Killarney on Culture Night

The new Kerry Arts Strategy presents the following focus:

Continue to support the growth and development of established and emerging artists and arts organisations based in the county
Maximise space for arts and creativity
Increase access to the arts and support the wellbeing of our communities
Strengthen and develop strategic partnerships and projects to grow the impact and capacity of the arts sector
Promote the arts and communicate their value

The service and strategy operate within legislative framework and align to Kerry County Council’s corporate priorities, the regional development strategies and, most importantly, to the national strategies of Arts Council of Ireland, Culture 2025 and Creative Ireland.

A dance workshop hosted by the council’s dancer- in-residence

The Arts Strategy is now available on Kerry County Council’s website, on the arts office website arts.kerrycoco.ie and hard copies will be available throughout the library network across Kerry from Monday next, November 25.

Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald, said Kerry is very proud of its county arts service and the arts, creativity and culture are central in every community.

“We will continue to support the arts as essential to life in Kerry and to the experience of Kerry,” he said.

A film-making workshop is part of the arts scene in Kerry

County Council’s Arts Service mission is to work to support and to develop the arts sector, artists, arts festivals and events, arts venues, organisations and those that provide opportunities for communities and visitors to engage with the arts, enabling vibrant arts activity throughout the county.

Kerry Arts Officer, Kate Kennelly, said the sector has grown substantially over the past two decades in terms of capacity, budgets, grants and programme delivery.

“The service aims to support artists, arts festivals, arts venues and arts events and organisations across Kerry. Growing the capacity of artists to make a living in Kerry is always our key focus,” she remarked.

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