Arts and the Older Person to the Fore: 75,000 Euro Arts Council award

The Arts Council has awarded €75,000 to a regional project between Cork City and County Council to deliver a unique and ambitious creative project centred on the arts and older people.

Creative Enquiry will look at the role of the arts in safeguarding against the challenges of older age and through creative engagement and dialogue with older people through three artist residencies in three different arts organisations to develop models of best practice. Sirius Arts Centre, Music Alive and Cork Midsummer Festival will each host a resident artist and will be supported nationally by Age and Opportunity.

The Arts Council confirmed the award as part of their ‘Invitation to Collaboration’ scheme aimed at local authorities, which promotes unique collaborations through working better together and promoting high quality access to and engagement with the arts.

Speaking at the launch, Director of the Arts Council, Orlaith McBride said: “We are inspired by the ambition and creativity of the proposals we receive from local authorities. Collaboration between the Arts Council and local authorities is where we see public engagement in the arts at its most informed, most considered and most artistically ambitious.

I am delighted to confirm that Cork City Council and Cork County Council was successful with its local arts partners and I’m confident this funding will help foster a unique and exciting collaboration between artists and older people in the Cork area during 2019".

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Mick Finn said: "We welcome this additional support from the Arts Council to deliver an innovative way of exploring creativity as we age. Cork City Council has a long tradition in investing in arts and culture resulting in a rich cultural offer in this City. This project explores how that offer meets the needs of us all as we age. As an Age friendly city we are committed to making Cork a city that is inclusive and a interesting place for our older citizens".

Cork City Council Community Arts Co-Ordinator, Maeve Dineen said: "We aim to do undertake a curatorial partnership with the arts organisations and 'Age and Opportunity'. Three experienced artists will be selected to be resident in the host organisations over a 12 month period. The focus of the residency will be to  explore and activate creative consultations and arts practice with older people".