Ár Straitéis

The Roscommon Culture and Creativity Strategy 2023–2027 will prioritise the themes of People, Place, Practice and Partnership, in order to extend opportunities for creative participation, inclusion and expression within communities. This strategy sets out Roscommon’s part in the next Creative Ireland fi ve-year journey, centred on a model of wellbeing, social cohesion and economic development, recognising the integral part creativity and culture play in the economic and social sustainability of County Roscommon. Roscommon is rich in culture and heritage, a county of castles and kings, of stately homes, spectacular landscapes and natural beauty. The county is the location of the birthplace of Halloween, the geographical centre of Ireland, and the longest shoreline of the River Shannon, inspiring an abundance of water and mythically themed creative projects. Developing the cultural landscape in the county has been to the fore of the work of the Culture and Creativity Team as part of the Creative Ireland Programme — a team of local cultural agents, operating as part of the local authority structure, supporting a wider community of practitioners, educators, creatives and audiences — delivering the framework for culture and creativity across Roscommon. Culture in Roscommon crosses traditional and contemporary forms, offering a range of platforms for connecting people and creativity at high quality professional arts events. Multiple creative opportunities are embraced in smaller scale, community-run festivals in towns and villages across the county, drawing on the collective imagination and creativity of the county. We believe that culture is not static, that it is always changing and evolving. We believe in access by all to all our programmes. We believe strongly in collaboration and in the ongoing need to share resources, to share ideas and to create opportunities for and with everyone in order to play a part in creatively shaping our county. Artists, writers and creatives have always expressed our collective identities in story, song, dance, ritual, celebration and commemoration. In embracing Creative Ireland, Roscommon County Council recognises the relationship between creativity, participation, place and people. ...

This Strategy is an overarching plan for the county and relates to and links with the Arts and Heritage Plans and the Library service. The strategy focuses on supporting creatives of all disciplines, enhancing creativity in all children and young people of the county, enriching public engagement with culture in all its forms and continued strategic and sustainable investment in cultural infrastructure.

The Creative Ireland vision for Roscommon is that every person will have an opportunity to experience, enjoy and engage with the limitless nature of County Roscommon’s rich creative vein.