Michelle Carew, Arts Officer, Cork City Council speaks about Ardú and its connection to Cork 1920
Cork City Council Arts Office and Creative Ireland are delighted to support a new art initiative, Ardú, which takes to the streets and alleyways of Cork city throughout October. Ardú arrives with the intention of injecting colour, vibrancy, and life into the city and aims to unite the Leeside community through art, lifting its creative energy at a time when it needs it most.
The programme welcomes seven of Ireland’s most respected and renowned street artists: MASER, Shane O’Driscoll, Deirdre Breen, Peter Martin, James Earley, ACHES, and Garreth Joyce, to create works at key city-centre locations, in response to a theme inspired by the 1920 Burning of Cork.
Ardú - the Irish for ‘Rise’ - bases itself on a theme of nostalgia and celebration. Cork City rose from the ashes 100 years ago, and now faces the challenge to rise again, and this theme of rising will be reflected through some of these artworks.
Providing a safe space for observation, conversation, and inspiration, the murals will add to the cultural landscape of the city centre by revitalising the areas of the city they inhabit. The murals will appear at Harley’s Street, Wandesford Quay, The Kino, Anglesea Street, Liberty Street, Kyle Street, and Henry Street.
Ardú Street Art Festival is kindly funded by Cork City Council and the Creative Ireland Jobs Stimulus Package