Creative Waterford Strategy 2023-2027

We would like to hear your thoughts on the new Creative Waterford Strategy 2023-2027.

The Strategy has six priorities:

People and Place Daoine agus Áit

Building in Creativity Tógáil agus Foirgníocht sa Chruthaitheacht

Supporting our Creative Sector Ag tacú le hEarnáil na Cruthaitheachta

Creative Wellbeing Folláine Chruthaitheach

Collaboration Comhoibriú

Climate and Biodiversity Aeráid agus Bithéagsúlacht

Waterford City and County Council are inviting you to give submissions on our draft strategy and in particular would like your opinions on what further actions can be taken under each priority. If you would prefer to send your comments by post please send a letter to Creative Waterford, Waterford Gallery of Art, 31 O’Connell Street, Waterford. Follow our Creative Waterford social media to keep up to date with our projects.

Waterford is a growing and connected county where we celebrate our cultural heritage, our diversity and our unspoilt natural landscape. We understand that our people are our strength and by working together we create tremendous bonds that bring about great outcomes.

The Creative Ireland Creative Communities Programme has provided Waterford with wonderful opportunities to deeply consider the value and strength of the innate creativity in our communities over the past five years from 2018-2022. Almost 300 Creative Communities projects have been delivered in this timespan, including community-based activities via our annual Open Call and local authority organised projects. Through Creative Communities funding we have seen the impact of creativity in public policy in areas such as heritage, building conservation, archives, Irish language, literature and community development through a variety of initiatives.

The Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-government initiative committed to enhancing access to, engagement with, and enjoyment of Ireland’s culture and creativity.  Within the broad range of available definitions, creativity is considered as a set of innate abilities and learned skills; the capacity of individuals and organisations to transcend accepted ideas and norms by drawing on imagination to create new ideas that bring additional value to human activity.

The vision of the Creative Ireland Programme 2023 - 2027 is to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, in our personal lives and in our institutions, we can realise our full creative potential, thereby promoting individual, community and national wellbeing.

The Creative Ireland Programme will deliver through collaboration and partnership, promoting understanding and appreciation of the value of creativity in all its forms – whether through the arts, culture, heritage, or technology.