Creative Communities is a big success

A raft of creative projects for young and old funded by the Creative Communities programme are bringing people together and providing opportunities for social and cultural networking in the most rural and isolated locations in County Mayo, with further expansion of the programme around the county planned for the coming years.

Providing an overview of the Creative Ireland government-funded programme in Mayo, Anna livia Cullinan, Creative Communities Engagement Officer, told a recent meeting of Mayo County Council's Community, Integration and Recreation Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) that Mayo was this year recognised as an ambassador of good practice around culture and creativity, explaining that the programme seeks to embed creativity in public policy and in so doing contribute to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of communities.

She told SPC members that the national programme has been funded annually since its pilot run in 2017, with €29 million invested since then on projects ranging from community development and the creative industries as well as around climate action, the Irish language and shared island initiatives.

In Mayo, a specific culture and creativity team has been established that is working under the guidance of the 2022-27 Mayo Culture and Creativity Strategy, while thanks to the input of voluntary organisations and communities working in tandem with the public sector, she said Mayo has been able to enjoy some beautiful examples of Creative Communities projects ranging from art classes to animation festivals, youth festivals, craft shows and workshops.

Pointing out that eligible projects must be interdisciplinary in nature with various layers of community involved, she highlighted how such activities greatly benefit rural and isolated communities where people can come together around a craft, such as happened with a paper-making project in Dooagh, Achill.

The annual Crinniú na nÓg national day of creativity for children is another highlight on the annual calendar.

“This year we reached 2,000 children through 45 events and 37 locations so it is a really happy day now for young people and we want to make sure to roll it out right across the county. Some of the activities included ceramics, collage, mosaic, land and nature art, library and book events and podcasting libraries. [There were] some beautiful projects as well as lots of traditional creative activities from dancing, drama, puppet making and drumming to dress up.” 

A number of strategic large-scale projects are also funded under the programme with one successful one being the children’s Books of Mayo Map, which Ms Cullinan said is an official record of children's books published in the county. 

Another initiative instigated in Mayo is the HeARTh creative arts project where experienced artists are partnered with older people who may be experiencing isolation in the home, and which is now being used as a model art project in other counties around Ireland, including Fermanagh.

Telling the SPC she could list an endless number of beautiful projects taking place around Mayo under the Creative Communities umbrella, and responding to calls for all parts of the county to be included, she pointed out that the programme works in tandem with the Creative Communities Grant Scheme which opens annually at the start of the year and offers funding of between €1,000 and €4,000. She also advised those interested in running Crinniú na nÓg projects to take note that the 2026 event is scheduled for June 6.

Cllr Michael Loftus supported the endeavour, adding that the library summer reading programme has been a huge success. 

Ms Cullinan agreed that CrinniÚ na nÓg would not be the success it is without the libraries, saying: “They are incredible resources.” 

Director of Services Joanne Grehan thanked Ms Cullinan for the “Trojan work” she and her team are doing, saying: “We are delighted with your expertise and talent and you are really making an impact.” 

Chairperson of the committee Cllr John O’Malley agreed it was a great initiative that “can get a lot of people involved and benefit both physical and mental wellbeing”, while forum member John Gallagher said in Blacksod the local community spent several evenings over a number of weeks being creative together and putting a lot of work into making a beautiful quilt that is now on display n the Solas centre. 

Mr Gallagher also called for information on Creative Communities to be shared with all community groups. SPC Head Deirdre Finnerty confirmed that this was the goal and advised that information on the schemes is circulated through the council’s network and the many community groups attached to it. She added that extra funding was also being sought from other public sector initiatives such as Healthy Ireland and encouraged all community groups to get involved.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.