Creativity connects Cork city and county councils
Cork County Hall came alive with creativity and collaboration recently as artists, educators, community leaders, and advocates gathered for the first Community Arts Networking Day.
The event — a joint initiative by the Arts Offices of Cork County Council and Cork City Council — brought together more than 200 participants for a day of inspiration, ideas, and exchange. The focus was on socially engaged arts practice and collaborative creativity, sparking new partnerships to strengthen communities across the city and county.
The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy, said: “The Community Arts Networking Day marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to fostering inclusive, creative engagement across Cork city and county. By bringing together artists, educators, and community leaders, we are investing in the cultural fabric of our locality—strengthening connections, inspiring collaboration, and ensuring that the transformative power of the arts reaches every corner of our communities.”
The Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, added: “Supporting the arts contributes to building community. We hope this day will inspire those attending to work together on future collaborative arts projects throughout the county.”
Highlights of the day included a keynote address on best practice in socially engaged art, case studies from local and national practitioners, and networking zones designed to help participants connect and plan future projects.
To make the event as inclusive as possible, there was a play space for children, allowing caregivers to attend with their families. A complimentary lunch also helped to encourage informal chats and new connections.
The Networking Day built on the Social Practice Toolkit, developed by the Arts Offices of Cork City and Leitrim County Councils, and Cork County Council’s Community of Practice programme — both designed to support meaningful collaboration between artists and communities.
This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.