Cork City Arts & Culture Plan 2010-2015

28th Jul 2010

Cork City Arts & Culture Plan 2010-2015

Cork City Council
are currently looking for submissions from citizens of Cork to help form a five
year arts and culture plan for Cork. That means you can have a say in how the
city's character is defined and ultimately how your money is spent.

While conversations
about arts and culture might seem like they need to take place over a bottle
of Sauvignon Blanc and a smelly cheese plate by people with thick framed glasses
and a double barrel surname, the reality is that they don't.

Seán Óg launching Cork 2005

That said, one
of the most challenging aspects of the preparations for the City of Culture
celebrations in 2005 was actually trying to define what culture in Cork
was all about in the first place.

Seán
Óg Ó hAilpín striking a sliothar into the River Lee?
That image at the launch celebrations managed to pack a container full of Cork
and Irish cultural aspects into it: an Irish speaker, an all-star hurler, a
fine footballer and international compromise rules player, a man born in a remote
island in the pacific with a complexion similar to many of the new Corkonians
but still Cork to his core. That defined Cork in 2005 pretty well. If your young
fella turned out to be a cultural exponent like Seán Óg you wouldn't
be disappointed.

A lot has changed
in five years and a lot has stayed the same. Sometimes with cultural questions
it's easier to think about what you don't want first: Chelsea flags flying
over a Cork pub for twelve months of the year? Giant neon news feeds on
Patrick's Quay updating north bound Corkonians on the latest shooting in Dublin
and tabloid showbiz drivel? High street brand names blaring shouty audio news
of a 20% reduction into Pana?

A monument to a successful British brand with an ironic anti-Irish legacy

Now that we've
got a city that doesn't look like a building site, we get to populate it with
things we like. A bit like moving into a new gaf and choosing pictures for the
wall or having a party and deciding on what entertainment you'll provide for
your best friends and guests.

The 'meh' factor
is Cork's biggest enemy. You might say that no gig or anything in all of
Cork's festivals floats your boat but why not influence the entertainment schedule
so? For example, privately owned music venues and independent promoters ask
our forum members for suggestions for future bookings all the time. There's
no reason citizens can't do the same with City Council.

Cork's artistic
and cultural institutions and events are like TV channels in many ways. We all
have a chance to influence what buttons are pressed on the remote control. Those
who say nothing have to put up with whatever is selected by those who felt passionate
enough to give their two cents and if your stuck for ideas here's some food
for thought.

Culture? Meh.

Now that rents
in the city centre have plummeted you might fancy a modern Cork culture museum
in the middle of town with altars dedicated to great Corkonians like Rory, Roy
and Ringy. Their individual skills showcased for the world to see how great
Cork's sons and daughters really are. But where would it be? Who would run it?
What form would it take?

The number of live
bands is often a good gauge of the artistic merit and creative potential of
a city. Performance places are always in demand in Cork and that's a good sign.
At the moment the live music scene in Cork is brimming with up-and-coming acts
unlike ten years ago when it was almost extinguished by a seemingly unstoppable
DJ culture.

One of the most
frustrating things for young bands, especially those under 18, is finding an
audience. Would they benefit from an outdoor "new band stage" on Paul
Street that features a new local band every Saturday and Sunday afternoon? Who
would play? Who would listen? Could you help?



All that manky wooden hoarding on North Main Street, Castle Street and
the Coal Quay looks awful so instead of seeing teenagers and their permanent
markers scrawl allegations about the promiscuity of a friend on these eyesores
would you prefer if said adolescents were instead allowed to paint proper 'graffiti
pieces' on them like the walls of White Street? Should there be a street art
manager or an authoritative 'keeper of the paint'?

Flash mob November 2009 on Patrick Street drew thousands into the city centre

In Japan a craze
that started with a few Tokyo based artists painting manhole covers became a
national phenomenon and eventually a tourist attraction hyperactively documented
on the internet. Do you think the thousands of boring brown rusty manholes around
the city could be enlivened by artists and community groups with a different
theme or set of colours in each neighbourhood?

Or maybe you want
to unleash a bit of pent up steam. What bugs you when you do Pana on a Saturday?
Do you have a gripe with artists? Do you think they're all chancers who splatter
a bit of Dulux weathershield on a canvas and stick the lámh out for a
grant? Would the money be better spent on hurling boot camps or Honda civic
festivals?

Does the lack of
almost any element of the Irish language around the city tear at the heart strings
of your fáinne? Does Cork seem like a valley of culturally ignorant philistines
to your beautifully cultured mind?

The flash mob on
Patrick Street in November last year was hugely successful and engaged many
people who would never think of going to a theatre or art exhibition. Even the
Cork Business Association on behalf of local stores expressed their satisfaction.
The cost in organising such a colossal event was almost nil yet anyone doubting
its engagement with the Cork public need only go as far as the official video
on Youtube to see a jam packed Pana.

The beautiful Crawford Art Gallery: Worth a visit if you can get over the offensively over-priced grundy in the restaurant.

An encouraging
note from this appeal for arts and culture submissions is that there's more
than just a hint of seeking value for money this year and that must be welcomed
with open arms.

One has to ask
if a project is of real artistic and cultural value or just a load of aul
drivel dressed up in a tidy PDF by somebody in a trilby who swallowed a
dictionary? Is there any point in crossing an artist's palm with a stack of
cash if four people and a dog turn up to the opening?

Should that gaudy
neon news reel on Patrick's Quay promote cultural events like plays, gigs and
art exhibitions instead of informing us of the latest blood bath in Dublin's
crime scene?

So many questions
that only you can answer. Every langer has an opinion.

And most importantly
give City Council your opinion before Friday July 30th by emailing arts@corkcity.ie
or by writing to The Arts Office, Recreation, Amenity and Culture, Floor 2, City
Hall, Cork. There is no maximum or minimum length submission.



Click
here to visit the discussion thread in the arts & culture forum

ARTS AND CULTURAL STRATEGY 2010 -2015

Cork City Council is currently developing its Arts & Cultural Strategy
2010 – 2015. The strategy document outlines the policy and strategies which
Cork City Council will undertake during the life of the plan, 2010 – 2015,
in order to facilitate and promote the development not only of the arts and
cultural sector, but also of Cork city itself as an excellent, attractive and
interesting city in which to live, work, invest and visit. Cork City Council
would like to hear your point of view.



arts@corkcity.ie