News
Creative Ireland Programme Extended
10 Dec 2022
Community and inclusion prioritised by Government as it extends Creative Ireland for another 5 years
- Creative Ireland Programme will continue until 2027
- over 7,500 creative initiatives completed to date
- over 100,000 young people now participate in Cruinniú na nÓg
- new initiatives in Creative Industries, Creative Health and Wellbeing, Climate Action and Social Sustainability to be delivered
- new Shared Island element to be introduced
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, has welcomed the government’s support for her proposal to extend the Creative Ireland Programme to 2027. Along with established programmes of work in Creative Communities and Creative Youth, new priorities will be pursued in the Creative Industries, Creative Health and Wellbeing and Climate Action and Social Sustainability. The Programme will also develop a major Shared Island dimension with support from the Department of the Taoiseach. This extension was approved by Government this week.
In 2017 the Creative Ireland Programme launched as an all-of-government culture and wellbeing initiative committed to the vision that every person in Ireland should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential.
Since then thousands of opportunities have been created to unlock an ecosystem of creativity. This was achieved by building strong partnerships between central and local government, artists and the wider creative community and most of all the communities in which the projects were delivered.
Minister Catherine Martin said:
“My department will continue its work with partners across central and local government, through the Creative Ireland Programme, to deploy the power of creativity in support of wellbeing in every community. While I was keen for Creative Ireland to retain its priorities around young people, local communities and opportunities for the most disadvantaged, I am delighted Government has agreed to place a greater focus on health and wellbeing, our creative industries, climate action, and social sustainability. I am particularly keen that, through this programme, we enhance the opportunities for the most disadvantaged to engage with creativity.”
Through Creative Ireland, the government emphasised the supporting role of culture and creativity across policies in education, health and wellbeing, innovation, international relations, sustainable local development and increased support for the creative industries.
In 5 years the Creative Ireland Programme has emerged as a positive framework for change. Over 7,500 community-led creative initiatives nationwide have promoted participation, inclusion and cultural expression. These include initiatives such as Cruinniú na nÓg, which provides thousands of Irish children with the opportunity to express themselves creatively.
Creative Ireland has led in policy development by supporting conferences where new ideas around the role of creativity in education and young people’s lives, the role of culture in our health care system, and the role of service design across the public service were discussed.
