Harnessing the Power of Collective Creativity
Expanded Territories takes to the road
Pilot Project for Leitrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone Could Be European Model
A collective of artists and creative directors will descend on Dublin Civic Offices from December 6th -13th for the Expanded Territories Exhibition in what could become a model of best practice in Europe.
The Expanded Territories touring exhibition is the next phase of the Harnessing Creativity Project, which has received €799,880 through the European Union’s INTERREG IVA programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The Cross-Border Project is being delivered by Leitrim County Enterprise Board in partnership with the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN), Leitrim County Council, Fermanagh District Council, Omagh Enterprise Agency, Tyrone Donegal Partnership and the Leitrim Design House.
The exhibition comprises visual representations of ideas and concepts developed through a “Creative Lab” process where practitioners with a range of skills and knowledge worked through notional ideas for social, cultural and environmental change.
After a very successful Showcase launch in September in The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon Co. Leitrim, where the exhibition and seminar attracted over 700 visitors and attendees with a further 300 logging in online to view seminar proceedings, the showcase is now touring to 2 national venues. The first venue is the impressive atrium space in Dublin Civic Offices on Wood Quay where these concepts and ideas will be on show from the 6th – 13th December (closed Saturday and Sunday). It will then travel on to the stunning Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny for a three week run from the 10th of January in 2014.
Anna Marie O’Rourke, Project Manager says the deep historical links in the region coupled with the creative talent has created a unique project which has international appeal.
“We are aware that this project is been looked upon as a model which could be rolled out around Europe. We are attempting to build capacity in the creative industries by offering mentoring, training, business development support and in many cases offering artists the opportunity to showcase their work in this context for the very first time.
“This exhibition explores what happens when you bring people together from divergent industries, fields and disciplines while encouraging them to create solutions together, step out of their comfort zones and collaborate, support and inform each other,” says Anna Marie.
“Harnessing Creativity” is a 36-month project bringing together creative experts from architecture to film, design to photography and music to technology. The project aims to exploit the wealth of creative and artistic talent in Tyrone, Fermanagh, Leitrim and the wider region. The Harnessing Creativity project runs until May 2015 and is expected to benefit 200 creative businesses and 100 practitioners from the broader economy during this period.
For more information log onto www.harnessingcreativity.eu
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Or email orla@leitrimenterprise.ie
Or call 071-9620450.
