ArtLinks - bringing the Arts together in the South East
Bringing the Arts togethers in the South East
The Arts Office of Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with Local Authorities in the counties of Carlow, Waterford, Wicklow, Wexford and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, is part of ArtLinks - an innovative professional development service for creative practitioners of all disciplines from within this five county region.
ArtLinks is for all amateur and professional creative practitioners, aged 18 and above, who are resident in the administrative areas of Co. Kilkenny, Co. Carlow, Co. Waterford, Co. Wexford and Co. Wicklow
ArtLinks aims to provide skills, knowledge and understanding and provide the necessary supports to develop creative practitioner's work practices and careers.
ArtLinks provides a range of services to all disciplines including professional development courses on both the business and practical aspects of creative work; information seminars, funding supports, mentorship schemes and a comprehensive range of e-services on its website, www.artlinks.ie. The ArtLinks website is a growing directory of arts practitioners for the South East. Since mid 2007, over 500 individuals and groups have registered and it has quickly become a comprehensive directory for the Arts in the region). Arts festival managers, promoters, administrators and others involved in the Arts in the region are also encouraged to register. People living outside the region who wish to keep informed of the Arts in the South East can also sign up for the Free ArtLinks ebulletin on the www.artlinks.ie homepage.
The ArtLinks website includes a facility to profile details of practitioner's artwork and career achievements, gives opportunities for networking and the posting of user's events and is growing archive and information point for the five partner Arts Offices. Individuals, groups, bands, festivals, managers, promoters etc, call all register.
FREE ArtLinks benefits:
- When you register online at www.artlinks.ie your details create your ArtLinks Profile Page that you can easily update anytime
- receive ArtLinks e-bulletins
- Post your own event/exhibition/meeting/notices on the ArtLinks Noticeboard and Events Calendar
- Network with practitioners in the South East in the ArtLinks online Forums
- Be eligible to apply for annual ArtLinks Bursaries and other local Arts funding
- Qualify for priority booking & reduced fees for ArtLinks courses
Register now with ArtLinks on www.artlinks.ie
ArtLinks is User Led; Your Involvement is Central in making this initiative develop and succeed for all creative practitioners in the five counties.
ArtLinks has a fulltime Director, Cathy Fitzgerald, who is based in the Arts Office,
No. 72 John St, Kilkenny County Council (Mon-Wed). The Director coordinates the ArtLinks services and is a point of contact for information exchange between the five arts offices and creative practitioners in these counties.
Contact: Cathy Fitzgerald
E: info@artlinks.ie
w: www.artlinks.ie
T: 056 779 4187
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€40,000 Awarded to Artists: ArtLinks Annual Artist Bursary Awards
2008 sees the second year of the ArtLinks Bursary Award Scheme that highlights excellence in the Arts in 5 neighbouring counties but also to give valuable support and recognition to practitioners of outstanding merit and creative potential.
ArtLinks is unique and innovative Arts Resource and Professional Development Programme in Ireland. It is a creative partnership, developed with on-going consultation with Creative Practitioners from Counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford, their County Arts Offices, and the Arts Council.
In just over a year, ArtLinks has run three series of very successful ArtLinks courses for creative practitioners of all disciplines, focusing on both the business and practice of maintaining and developing a career in the Arts; established a leading Arts Resource Website www.artlinks.ie that lists over 750 local creative individuals, groups and festivals, which offers its members a means to profile, network and exchange arts information; in addition, the inauguration of the annual ArtLinks bursary award scheme, which offers five €8,000 bursaries to one artist in each of the five counties was started in 2007. Future plans include the establishment of mentorship opportunities for artists.
The ArtLinks Bursaries are aimed at supporting creative practitioners of all disciplines in their pursuit of a career in the arts, in addition to acknowledging standards of excellence in the arts in each County.
The 2008 ArtLinks Bursary recipients are:
Co. Carlow Joe Cleere Music €8000
Co. Kilkenny Alison Comerford Music €8000
Co. Wexford Sarah Mc Laughlin Theatre €8000
Co. Wicklow Maggie Gallagher Theatre €8000
Co. Waterford Eve O'Riordan Film €8000
Speaking about the ArtLinks Awards, ArtLinks Director, Cathy Fitzgerald commented, 'ArtLinks is delighted to offer direct funding supports to artists in support of their career practice and development. It is one of the most effective and practical ways to support artists, while also highlighting excellence in the Arts in each county. Each Local Authority, and their local arts communities, have in a short time contributed significantly in establishing a comprehensive and responsive Arts development programme, which with the Arts Council, we look forward to strengthening for the future.'
ArtLinks would like to congratulate all ArtLinks Bursary recipients on their achievements.
For further information, please contact:
ArtLinks Director, Cathy Fitzgerald,
A: Kilkenny Arts Office, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, No. 72 John St, Kilkenny
E: info@artlinks.ie
W: www.artlinks.ie
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