Adopted Budget 2022 Arts (F05)
The Arts Sector continued to be the sector most affected by COVID in 2021, which led to unprecedented demands on the Arts Office. Through Clare County Council’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Arts Council, strategic initiatives in the areas of Arts and Education Clare Youth Theatre and the Embrace Arts and Disability Programme were undertaken, including professional development for artists in digital technology and the development of a new website. Studio spaces were in considerable demand with 100% occupancy achieved when they reopened after COVID. The Arts Office assisted over 25 film projects in 2021 including the inaugural Engine Shorts film scheme in conjunction with Limerick & Tipperary Arts Offices and Film in Limerick. The WRAP fund continued to attract substantial inward film investment to the county also. The Cuan an Chláir Per Cent for Art Scheme concluded with artworks installed in the communal areas on site as well as in each resident’s home. The second iteration of Duala took place, in association with the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Culture Night was a hybrid event in 2021 with over 10,000 people attending events in person and online. Over 50 performance projects and events took place countywide with the support of the Dept. of Tourism & Culture’s Live Local Performance Scheme and thousands of people called the “Dial a Seanchaí” hotline in October to listen to stories and songs. Wallcandy II, a street art project commenced in Ennis and 6 Keep Well projects took place throughout Clare as part of the COVID response. In 2022, the Arts Office will continue to support Arts and Health projects in Raheen Hospital, Tuamgraney and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis with the support of the HSE. The Visual Voices initiative will continue countywide in nursing homes and daycare settings. Over 30 exhibitions are programmed in Ennis, Scarriff and Kilkee and a summer programme will once again take place in Culturlann Sweeney, Kilkee. Shannon’s Creative Places initiative will begin, and the Arts Office will work with Fidget Feet Arial Dance Company to bring outdoor entertainment to Ennis in the first quarter of 2022. The River Residency in Kildysart will culminate in an outdoor experience over summer 2022 and the Arts Office will continue to participate in key national events such as Bealtaine, Culture Night and Cruinniú na nÓg. The Arts Office will also continue to work closely with the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) on the further development of Music Generation Clare and the Creative Youth Partnership. Museum (F05)
Normal Museum activities continued to be disrupted during 2021, and the museum was late opening during the summer season because of refurbishment work the museum building. Staff were primarily engaged in cataloguing of the collection to the Adlib Database during periods of closure to the public. New collections included items in relation to Ennis 750, Cahercon House in Kildysart, and a letter written by Daniel O’Connell in 1830. Over 3,300 items are now accessioned as property of Clare County Council, in keeping with the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland requirements. The museum engaged in preparation for its 24
