Category Six – Creative Place Initiative

Winner: Take a Part Carlow

Summary:

Take a Part Carlow makes art in the Tullow Road Community to bring all the benefits of creativity into an area with limited history of socially engaged arts practice. Since 2016 the Arts Action Group, led by voluntary community members and agency partners, has commissioned 25 socially engaged arts initiatives. The abiding question is “what art activities would you like to see in our community”. These projects are far reaching as they engage unique cultures, folklore, and memories within the Tullow Road. Working across a wide range of intercultural and intergenerational activities from HipNós dancing to Bread Fellows Chats pottery, these projects encourage wellbeing and connection through shared history and place. Currently a capacity building phase and strategic development plan is being undertaken alongside Spoken Word workshops with Carlow Regional Youth Services and a Community Choir. Take a Part Carlow is now seen as a model of best practice in socially engaged arts by the Arts Council of Ireland and CREATE.

Group Contact: Margaret Moore

[email protected]

Citation:

This admirable team is building a socially and creatively engaged community from the ground up. They are involving people, who might not otherwise have had the opportunity, in artistic endeavour in everything from poetry to street art. The judges were witness to a thoroughly fun and ground-breaking enterprise.