Arts Council announce investment of €220K into the arts in Kildare
The Arts Council have announced that they are investing over €220,000 in the arts in Kildare this year.
The group announced details of their allocation of funding yesterday, stating that this is part of their overall plan to invest €68.4 million nationwide over the course of the year.
The Arts Council, who are responsible for developing the arts, said the focus of this year’s investment would be on creating opportunities for the public to experience large-scale work, as well as work of real artistic ambition, by supporting organisations through its two new funding programmes.
“2018 is going to be an excellent year for people in Kildare who enjoy the arts," said Arts Council Director, Orlaith McBride.
“Whether you love theatre, music, dance, literature or the visual arts, whether you are young or old, you will experience wonderful work that will lift your spirit.”
The Council said more than half of its total grant from Government would be invested through its new Strategic Funding programme, for established organisations operating at the highest level across all the areas of the arts. This includes funding for the first time at this level for several organisations.
In addition, there will be increased funding for particular work by artists, emerging companies and organisations through the new Arts Grants Funding programme
Individual artists will be supported through a range of schemes such as bursaries and the Next Generation award, the Council said, with funding too for the dozens of unique festivals that take place in communities across Ireland in 2018.
Amongst the grants offered to organisations in Kildare were:
- €59,000 for Kildare Council Arts Service
- €80,000 for Riverbank Arts Centre
The Arts Service aims to engage and inspire the citizens of Kildare by making the arts central to the development of the county. Key areas of development include: Public Art, Inclusion through the Arts, Arts in Health, Arts in Education and Youth Arts, through a range of art forms.
Riverbank Arts Centre is a local authority owned venue in Newbridge, opened in 2001, with a 180 seat theatre, a gallery and workshop spaces. It is an arts resource for Newbridge and Kildare with a focus on work for children. It produces work with network partners and hosts touring multi-disciplinary productions. It manages a programme of arts engagement with the community, particularly with young people.