Arts for All in Cork

Making its first appearance in May 2019 in the Glucksman Gallery, Arts For All called upon people representing diverse communities, community arts organisations and cultural institutes from across Cork to come together and scrutinize how to make Arts a part of life for everyone in Cork. One of the goals of Arts For All is the development of a city Charter for inclusion and diversity in the Arts. During the event, different ideas were established using discussion groups. At the end of the day a firm proposal of ideas had been established and gave organisers of the event multiple ideas to take to the first draft of the charter.Five months later, on October 1^st, Arts For All hosted their second public consultation event in the Millennium Hall in Cork City Hall.  The agenda for this consultation was a continuation from the previous event and asked participants to look at the programme that was created from the ideas communicated in the previous consultation. Four main themes had emerged from the first consultation; Communication and Collaboration, Inclusion, Accessibility and Diversity. These themes were explored during the second consultation.After this consultation, the findings will be presented to City Council executive and elected representatives. Arts For All plans to host an event where organisations can choose to sign up to the values and principles of the charter publicly, as well as make commitments for the year ahead. The vision is that organisations will sign up to the charter annually after demonstrating their progress and engagement in diverse and inclusive practice.University Express interviewed Derval McDonagh, one of the organisers of Arts For All;Q1. What inspired you to establish Arts For All in Cork? “Arts For All Cork was initiated by Eoin Nash, our Arts and Creative Arts Therapy manager at Cope Foundation. He was motivated primarily, at first, by people with disabilities and their right to be included meaningfully and to participate in the Arts. With the support of Maria Minguella in the Social Inclusion Unit of Cork City Council, our vision for an inclusive Cork was firmly embedded into the local, economic and community plan for the city (LECP 2016-2021) Our vision broadened to include anyone or any community who may experience marginalisation and challenges accessing and participating fully in the Arts.We fully recognise and appreciate all the work that has happened in Cork long before our establishment, and indeed many people around the table at Arts For All have been working on this agenda for many years. Our aim is to build on this work, knowing that an alliance of many people with a common voice can be a powerful one.” Q2. What improvements have you seen since it started? Some of our key highlights so far: 

1. Establishment of a platform: We meet 3-4 times a year, the platform is a forum for artists working in inclusive practice; a network of people who support each other in inclusive practice in and through the arts.
2. Establishment of a strategic group to drive our vision: We have representation from many communities and practitioners on this group as well as from organisations and cultural institutes; U.C.C, C.I.T., Cork E.T.B, Cope Foundation, The Social Inclusion Unit and the Arts Office of Cork City Council, H.S.E, Cork City Libraries, Graffiti Theatre Company and Music Generation.
3. Inclusive Education: Partners including Cork Academy of Music, Firkin Crane, City North College and Cope Foundation are working together to provide inclusive education and training through the arts.
4. Financial Support from the HSE, Cork City Council and Cope Foundation has been committed to run consultations in 2019.  Additional support has been given by the Glucksman Gallery, Cork City Council and other venues to host consultations and events through the "Arts for All" initiative.

  Q3. What are your hopes for the future of Arts For All? “Our vision is a Cork which celebrates diversity as a cornerstone of creativity. A city which is open, accessible and intentionally inclusive in the Arts. We believe that Cork could become the first European City of excellence in inclusivity and we are working with partners in Europe to realise that ambition over the next number of years.”Making its first appearance in May 2019 in the Glucksman Gallery, Arts For All called upon people representing diverse communities, community arts organisations and cultural institutes from across Cork to come together and scrutinize how to make Arts a part of life for everyone in Cork. One of the goals of Arts For All is the development of a city Charter for inclusion and diversity in the Arts. During the event, different ideas were established using discussion groups. At the end of the day a firm proposal of ideas had been established and gave organisers of the event multiple ideas to take to the first draft of the charter.Five months later, on October 1^st, Arts For All hosted their second public consultation event in the Millennium Hall in Cork City Hall.  The agenda for this consultation was a continuation from the previous event and asked participants to look at the programme that was created from the ideas communicated in the previous consultation. Four main themes had emerged from the first consultation; Communication and Collaboration, Inclusion, Accessibility and Diversity. These themes were explored during the second consultation.After this consultation, the findings will be presented to City Council executive and elected representatives. Arts For All plans to host an event where organisations can choose to sign up to the values and principles of the charter publicly, as well as make commitments for the year ahead. The vision is that organisations will sign up to the charter annually after demonstrating their progress and engagement in diverse and inclusive practice.University Express interviewed Derval McDonagh, one of the organisers of Arts For All;Q1. What inspired you to establish Arts For All in Cork? “Arts For All Cork was initiated by Eoin Nash, our Arts and Creative Arts Therapy manager at Cope Foundation. He was motivated primarily, at first, by people with disabilities and their right to be included meaningfully and to participate in the Arts. With the support of Maria Minguella in the Social Inclusion Unit of Cork City Council, our vision for an inclusive Cork was firmly embedded into the local, economic and community plan for the city (LECP 2016-2021) Our vision broadened to include anyone or any community who may experience marginalisation and challenges accessing and participating fully in the Arts.We fully recognise and appreciate all the work that has happened in Cork long before our establishment, and indeed many people around the table at Arts For All have been working on this agenda for many years. Our aim is to build on this work, knowing that an alliance of many people with a common voice can be a powerful one.” Q2. What improvements have you seen since it started? Some of our key highlights so far: 

1. Establishment of a platform: We meet 3-4 times a year, the platform is a forum for artists working in inclusive practice; a network of people who support each other in inclusive practice in and through the arts.
2. Establishment of a strategic group to drive our vision: We have representation from many communities and practitioners on this group as well as from organisations and cultural institutes; U.C.C, C.I.T., Cork E.T.B, Cope Foundation, The Social Inclusion Unit and the Arts Office of Cork City Council, H.S.E, Cork City Libraries, Graffiti Theatre Company and Music Generation.
3. Inclusive Education: Partners including Cork Academy of Music, Firkin Crane, City North College and Cope Foundation are working together to provide inclusive education and training through the arts.
4. Financial Support from the HSE, Cork City Council and Cope Foundation has been committed to run consultations in 2019.  Additional support has been given by the Glucksman Gallery, Cork City Council and other venues to host consultations and events through the "Arts for All" initiative.

  Q3. What are your hopes for the future of Arts For All? “Our vision is a Cork which celebrates diversity as a cornerstone of creativity. A city which is open, accessible and intentionally inclusive in the Arts. We believe that Cork could become the first European City of excellence in inclusivity and we are working with partners in Europe to realise that ambition over the next number of years.”