This page includes the following sections:

• Library Services
• Arts
• Heritage

 

LIBRARY SERVICES

Mission Statement

The mission statement of Kilkenny Library Service recognises the massive potential of public libraries by aiming to provide a quality accessible service which enhances the lives of the communities of Kilkenny, through the provision of a knowledge resource, promoting imagination, lifelong learning and culture.

 

Usage

In line with national trends Kilkenny Library Service saw a 15.5% increase in membership figures in 2009 with a 2.5 % increase in items issued.
The delivery of services operates through a mixture of static libraries, mobile libraries and the website.
The strong ICT focus has meant that almost 20,000 internet sessions were availed of in 2009.

 

Children's Services

Children's services are recognized as an integral part of Kilkenny County Library's remit. Nearly half of library members are categorized as children and consequently resources are invested in this area to ensure future use by this generation of library services.

The annual Summer Challenge entitled Blast Off with Books saw over 400 children registering and over 3000 books read. The culmination of the challenge was the awarding of certificates to all who completed the challenge. This took place in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny on 10th September. Music was provided by Size2Shoes who performed their show called Size2Shoes Love Books. Over 300 people attended this event and it was a night of great fun and enjoyment.

Kilkenny Library Service also participated in events to celebrate National Children's Book Festival with visits to the branch network by children's authors John W. Sexton, Jane Mitchell, Conor Kostick, Dolores Keaveney, Michael Carroll, Roisin Meaney, Michael Smith and Malachy Doyle.

 

Stock Collection Development

Kilkenny Library Service is continuously developing and updating its collections to reflect community needs. Specialised collections have been developed in partnership with agencies to ensure the needs of minority groups are also catered for. A Traveller Culture Collection is a new collection of books, CDs and DVDs which is housed in the City Library.

While a collection of stock suitable for the deaf community has also been developed and is housed in Loughboy Library.

 

Information Communication Technology and Online Resources

The library service views ICT as a very important part of future service delivery.

ICT is acknowledged as having a key role to play in learning through access to computer aided learning and as a way of finding information resources to support people's studies be these informal, formal, ICT based or conventional.

The Library website and catalogue are available to everyone at www.kilkennylibrary.ie. Through www.borrowbooks.ie access is provided to the stock of other public libraries in Ireland, this interlending service is free to all registered library members. Online services available include access to :-

• Irish Times Archive
• Vision-Net - Irish and U.K Business/Company database
• Lexis Nexis - news, business, health, and environmental information
• Griffith's valuation
• ECDL and Driver theory test
• Britannica Online

 

We recognise our role in bridging the digital divide regarding those who use technology and those who do not and to this end we provided a variety of classes such as computers for the terrified, digital photography and mobile phone classes and web taster classes.

Libraries offer an accessible informal environment and are ideally placed to support people who wish to learn new skills.

 

Library Development Plan

The production and adoption of the 5 year Library Development Plan represents a very positive development in the delivery of services across the branch network. This plan is available for download from the website and available in Irish and Audio format at www.kilkennylibrary.ie.

This strategy aims to provide an appropriate policy framework to support and further develop The Councils of the City and County of Kilkenny Library Service so that issues such as access and participation, infrastructure and service provision are addressed.

A brochure was also developed and distributed in 2009.

 

A Space For All

Kilkenny County Library Service continues to address areas of service provision, removing barriers to service uptake and creating welcoming and accessible environments supported by appropriate services and formats. Supported by the Disability Strategy Funding much has been achieved across the Library network to ensure that our services and buildings are accessible to all.
These include:-

• Installation of ramps
• Installation of accessible shelving
• Improved lighting
• Installation of standardised signage across the branch network
• Investment in information resources such as audio stock, touch screen monitors, large print material etc.

 

Partnership

The Library Service is committed to the development of working partnerships with local representative organizations or other state agencies. To this end many initiatives were undertaken to encourage access to services.

• The Six Book Challenge is an initiative aimed at involving reluctant readers with their public library. Kilkenny Library Service was the first library authority in Ireland to participate with this project which ran from January to June 2009. A presentation evening was held in Loughboy Library with Peter Sheridan and Mick Hanley where 68 participants were awarded certificates of achievement.

• Writer In Residence Programme - In partnership with the Arts Office, a 6 month residency programme was hosted across the library network. The purpose of the residency was to support the development of writers in Kilkenny and develop and generate new audiences.

• Ready to Read Project - a joint initiative with the Rapid Coordinator this project was based in the Newpark Learning Resource Centre. The purpose of the project was to promote a love of reading and encourage children visit their local library. Over 25 children participated in this project which ran over an 8 week period.

• E-Learning project - this is a joint life long learning initiative between FAS, The Library Council and Kilkenny Library Service, Opportunities are provided for people to retrain, re skill at their own pace free of charge. Loughboy, Castlecomer and Graiguenamanagh libraries provided access to this course.

"Surviving the Recession"@ your Library

Kilkenny County Library Service hosted a series of Information/Advice Sessions at Loughboy and Graiguenamanagh libraries during November/December 2009. This included talks by FAS, MABS, Co. Kilkenny VEC Adult Guidance Service, HSE Kilkenny - Health Promotion Department, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership and a Life Coach.

 

Local Studies

• The Local Studies Department continued to develop and broaden its various collections throughout 2009 providing us with a fuller picture of the history and development of Kilkenny.
• The Local Studies and Genealogical Service brochure was developed and distributed. It provides clear and concise details of our services, and easy accessibility into historical research and family history in Kilkenny.
• The Library continued its outreach services during the year with familiarisation talks for second-level students, mature students, teachers, retirement groups and historical societies.
• Heritage Week events included the Exhibition of the Cotgreave Library Indicator. This historical stock management system was in use in Kilkenny in the early part of the 21st century and is one of very few which survive today, it shows the progression and development of the library service in Kilkenny.
• A number of local books of Kilkenny Interest were digitized by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in conjunction with the Library Service, under the Digital Books initiative. The titles include such works as The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory by William Carrigan. They can be viewed at www.askaboutireland.ie.

 

Cultural and Development Programmes

Kilkenny County Library Service consistently promotes and participates in both national and local activities. To this end a range of services/events are developed to respond to the broad spectrum of public needs.

 

2009 Highlights

 

• Participation in Adult Learners Week - talks/workshops and classes.
• Participation in Library Ireland Week - Exhibitions/author visits/workshops.
• Castlecomer 10th Birthday celebrations - Visit by Pauline McGlynn, children's events, exhibition, performances and music.
• Participation in Bealtaine - Workshops/exhibitions/classes
• Participation in Kilkenny Youth Fest
• Participation in Heritage Week
• Participation in Castlecomer Writers' Festival
• Participation in All Ireland Poetry Day and launch of Poets on Board Project
• Library Reading Groups
• Dramatisation of a Christmas Carol

 

 

The graph below demonstrates the range of events/services that Kilkenny County Council Library Network provides across the county.

 

ARTS

Kilkenny City and County has an extensive, illustrious and spirited tradition within the Arts. It is somewhat of a Mecca for artists, makers and those interested in culture and creativity. The Arts continue to be a significant ingredient in Kilkenny largely contributing to the progression of the social, cultural, creative, economic, and political future of Kilkenny.

The Arts Office programme reflects this in its support for the arts across all disciplines and for all aspects of the community both practitioners and audiences, also in its provision of professional development services for practitioners.

Exhibitions

The Arts Office continues its commitment to the visual arts and currently organises a busy programme of exhibitions, in the Upstairs Gallery, Watergate Theatre, no. 72, John Street and our new premises no. 76, John Street. These venues offer artists platforms to expose their work not only to the 'gallery visitor' but they also catch the chance interaction of those who would not normally visit a gallery space. Shows range from groups and individual artists both established and early career artists.

The Arts Office hosted 11 exhibitions across three venues in 2009. Exhibitions include group shows and individual artists both established and those early in their careers. Artists included - Maeve Brennan, Derek Fitzpatrick, Nuala O'Sullivan, Ian Wieczorek, Anthony Pilbro, Angela Darby, Robert Peters, thirteen women from the women's art based project 5 to 6 curated by Caroline Cowley, Public Arts Officer of Fingal County Council, and our end of year exhibition was by T.A.S.K. (Training & Support Kilkenny), a full time rehabilitative training programme for adults.

Opening of '5 to 6' exhibition, Watergate Theatre, Upstairs Gallery, Kilkenny

The Endangered Studios Artists were the first to exhibit in the then new Arts Office space no. 72 in 2004. In 2009 they were also the last as the Arts Office moved to its new premises at no. 76. This artist-led initiative is a Callan based studio with 11 local artists working in a wide range of disciplines. Having exhibited in Fennelly's, Callan and no. 72 during the Kilkenny Arts Festival, the exhibition of work by artists Gary Tynan, Jennifer Hughes, Conor Cleary, Caroline Schofield, Tracy Sweeney, Richard Coghlan, Helen Comerford, Bridget O'Gorman, and Etaoin Holahan at no. 72 provided the more traditional white cube gallery space for the exhibition of works in contrast to Fennelly's unused building.

Finally, the inaugural exhibition at no. 76 in August was the 'Museum of Broken Relationships', a museum dedicated to broken hearts, founded in Croatia. Authors of the concept Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic decided to set up the museum after consoling friends over their failed romances. The Museum is an exhibition which intends to create a space of 'secure memory' or 'protected remembrance' in order to preserve the material and nonmaterial heritage of broken relationships. Individuals get rid of those triggers of momentarily 'undesirable' emotions, by turning them into museum exhibits and thereby participate in the creation of a preserved collective emotional history. In this process these objects finally emerge from their dark and hidden spaces and are placed within a new framework which automatically changes the perception of the object and establishes a new context for the emotions generated by them. This museum possesses everything from romantic and touching letters, teddy bears and wedding dresses to a leg prosthesis donated by a war veteran who fell in love with his physiotherapist. Every single object on display is anonymous, and has a description and / or story related to the relationship that was behind it.

After the success of its first display in Zagreb this unique museum has travelled to cities worldwide including Berlin, London, Croatia, Macedonia, Stockholm and San Francisco. The public was invited to become part of the exhibition by contributing their own mementos. Arts Officer, Mary Butler was very excited to be bringing this unique show to Ireland for the first time. She was eager for people to respond to this exclusive opportunity and to donate items to the museum. This in turn has further enrich the show and it also offers people the opportunity to anonymously tell their stories of lost love and heartbreak to the Irish audience and beyond as the exhibition continues to tour the world.

 

Residencies

Two visual artists' residencies focusing on drawing, painting and installation with artists Gypsy Ray and Niamh White were undertaken at no. 72 in 2009. Renovation of the space late 2008 allowed the Arts Office to expand upon its residency programme to include its second dance residency with Abi Ighodoro in 2009. 

'Swimmer' by Gypsy Ray

Kilkenny based artist Gypsy Ray, with 32 years of experience behind her works primarily around photography and drawing. Gypsy recognises that this residency was a wonderful opportunity for her to work away from home and to work in a space which is ideal for creating more than one work at a time. The size of the space also enabled her to assess her images as they progress. She started out working on an ongoing series of large scale drawings about swimming, but was open to the unforeseen possibilities that residency opportunities offer. She was also more than aware of how the space within which one works can alter your practice be that by a change in your thought process, your subject matter, the size of work etc. the possibilities are endless. The artist also engaged with the public by inviting those who visited to do a blind contour drawing with her. Therefore she saw the engagement with the public as having the potential to be very rewarding, enjoyable and gratifying for all.

 

'Bread Making' by Niamh White

Offaly based artist Niamh White's work was concerned with relationships, the workings of and structure of social expectations within relationships, domestic patterns, rules that apply to people and how the rules change from person to person. Ideas of nurturing, dependence and maintenance of relationships are recurring themes, as well as a strong connection to physical environment and living history. Accessibility is a key consideration of her work and she often involves others in her work. During her time in Kilkenny she focused on the mechanics of relationships, the workings that are unseen but those that form the basis for survival, whether indeed the relationship is between two people or a chemical relationship such as respiration and photosynthesis.

 

London based artist Abi Ighodaro's artistic goal is to make works that explore a personal and relevant idea of Africa. She moved to Ireland from Nigeria with her family at the age of nine. Being away from 'home' and isolated from the culture there fostered a strong curiosity in it. This led her to studying the context and representation of African Art as part of her Fine Art degree. Her main interests lay in Traditional Textile and West African Masquerade traditions. From this formal anthropological course of study she began exploring a more personal and insider view point of Africa. In 2001 / 2002 she won grants to travel to various countries in West Africa to research traditional dance and festivals. These journeys are a major influence on her current work - a series of experimental documentaries. Introduced to the ideas on drawing and dance in performance was the starting points of her exploration during her time resident in Kilkenny.

 

The artists' studio space was the large ground floor area at no. 72, John Street, Kilkenny. Situated underneath the Kilkenny County Council Arts Office, a public space; the artists agreed to also engage with the public. The aim and focus of the Artists Residencies at no. 72 is to enable the successful applicants to research and develop their own practice but also to give insights into how and why artists create their work and to build relationships. This has been a very successful aspect of the residencies as they tend to create an ongoing dialogue between the artists, the members of the public who visit them and their continual updates on the residency blog enabling people to keep up to date with developments as the weeks go by even if they are not in a position to visit in person on a regular basis. They further promote the Arts providing an awareness and further appreciation of the Arts and cultivating and developing new audiences. These residencies also enable the Arts Office to support Arts Practitioners by 'assisting artists in realising their artistic ambitions' (Arts Council of Ireland).

 

Literature

Notable literature events have once again taken place through the Arts Office in 2009. The Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet involving professional editors in selecting poems from writers within the city and county is as popular a publication as ever. 2009 saw issue nine appear on the shelves. The poetry Broadsheet provides the opportunity for writers to engage in an open selection process in order to get their work published. This publication is extremely popular, gratifying and encouraging for many local writers and readers alike. One hundred and eight poems were submitted for inclusion by forty one writers with sixteen poems by thirteen writers selected from poets including Michael Massey, Anne O'Connor, Geraldine Coleman, Willie - Joe Meally, Jim Moore, Jill Stewart Nunn, Susie Lamb, Monica Fleming, Carmel Cummins, Myra McAuliffe, Frances Cotter, Jack Cuddihy and Kevin Dowling.

The fifth edition of Rhyme Rag, a poetry publication specifically for young people aged between 12 and 21 years, was published in November 2009. Twenty seven poems were selected in this year's publication. The approach and scale of this year's edition was very different to previous years, thus adding yet another dimension to the production and presentation of such work. Arts Officer Mary Butler 'feels it is important not to become complacent and to continue to challenge and excite both ourselves and the young writers by what we produce.' The illustration of the publication was undertaken by artist Ale Mercado with the editor being Adam Wyeth. Adam comments on Rhyme Rag "It's clear from the submissions I received for this year's Rhyme Rag that these poets have been given the opportunity, at school and at home, to discover and appreciate many poems... They are already on their way to becoming the great fluent speakers of tomorrow's poetry. With projects like this, set up by the Kilkenny County Council Arts Office, our young poets have been given a platform to make their own mark on Ireland's literary landscape."

All-Ireland Poetry Day took place on 1st October 2009. With the generous assistance of the Arts Council of Ireland, Poetry Ireland supported a reading in every county in Ireland for a second year in a row. Kilkenny County Arts Office presents a lunchtime reading with Meath poet Peter Fallon in Kilkenny City Library followed by an evening reading with Kilkenny poets Willie-Joe Meally, Anne O'Connor, Susie Lamb and Peter Fallon. In addition to both of these great events our head-lining poet, Peter Fallon of Irelands Gallery Press, hosted a Q+A session giving the public a unique opportunity to get answers to all those burning questions regarding publishing in Ireland and beyond.

Kilkenny County Council Arts Office in conjunction with the Library Services was delighted to announce the expansion of its rich literature programme with the commencement of a Writer-in-Residence with Grace Wells, award-winning poet and author, in 2009. Over a number of months Grace worked with Kilkenny writers, facilitated creative writing workshops, and offered mentoring advice. Writing workshops aimed at bringing writers, whatever their standard, to the next level took place in different libraries around the county. Grace also ran 'One-to-One Writers' Clinics', where she offered mentoring advice, and helped writers with any problems they currently faced. This residency was in direct response to the needs of Kilkenny writers identified in the 2008 Writers' Survey undertaken by the Arts Office.

No charge was made for any courses or activities with a total of 85 participants taking part in one-to-one clinics and in workshops entitled 'Creative Writing: Taking it to the Next Level', 'Nurturing a Collection' and 'Creative Writing: Taking it Seriously'. The residency has had a vast number extremely positive outcomes including, new energies and solidarity amongst our writing community and the independent setting up of regular public poetry readings amongst peers.

Following this successful residency the Arts Office in partnership with ArtLinks offered a number of writing courses to Kilkenny practitioners including 'Engaging Prose', an eight week evening course for committed writers who want to take their prose up another level and 'Perfecting Poetry- Knowing How to Start and Where to Stop', again an eight week evening course for anyone who wanted to take poetry seriously where participants created new work, learned editing skills, read and discussed some seminal and inspiring poets, and learned how to navigate the world of modern poetry publishing.

 

Music

The Arts Office supported a number of concerts over the year around the county. These include classical and traditional concerts at the 13th century Duiske Abbey, the 2009 Duiske concerts series and support was also provided to Music in Kilkenny staging events in Castalia Hall in Ballytobin, Callan and St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny.

no. 76 John Street, also hosted 'Orchranoplan 1' by Jonny Pumfrey. All you had to do was come in, take a seat, close your eyes, and let your ears dance around the room. The Orchranoplan is a project aimed at exploring our sense of aural space and seeing if it has any place in music. We all have a very developed sense of aural space, it is a sense we rely on every minute of the day. It's how we know how far away a car is, how fast it is moving, or even which direction it is travelling. We can tell whether a room is big or small, whether it is made of hard or soft material.

The music consists of five studies for a thirty two part choir in the round. They are experiments rather than finished musical works and make up the first steps towards developing a language for a choral music in the round. The listener sits within a circle of eight speakers. Each speaker has a bass, tenor, alto and soprano voice allocated to it. The voices are not recorded as individual 'part' or 'lines' but are made up of hundreds of samples triggered by computer. This allows the composition of the piece to be like a pointillist painting, adding notes and sounds here both in time and space.

 

Training For Real at Woodstock

Following some initial public art training in Kilkenny and discussions with the Arts Officer for Kilkenny in April 2008, Chrysalis Arts developed a proposal for a 'live' public art training project to address the need for specialist training for artists in public art skills and working to commission. This proposal was inspired by a visit to the Woodstock estate, which is managed by Kilkenny County Council, and the opportunity to link the proposal with the site and the ongoing restoration work taking place there. The Woodstock project draws upon previous public art training projects undertaken by Chrysalis and aimed to achieve the following: offer artists the experience of participating in key stages of the public art process including responding to a brief, selection, interviews; the development of an overall concept for the project, designs for individual artworks, research into materials and processes; the creation and installation of a series of site-specific artworks; and the promotion and presentation of the artworks to the public.

During this process the selected artists undertook research and public consultation and participated in different community involvement processes. The artists worked as a team and were encouraged to maximise opportunities for collaboration both with each other and with other potential partners. The ultimate aim was to create a unique, temporary public art installation which would explore and highlight the creative potential of the site. But it was also a programme which supported artists in gaining new skills and confidence and nurturing their professional practice and development.

The six artists selected to take part in the project were painter Gillian Campden, sculptor Philip Cullen, textile artist Caroline Schofield, media artist Deirdre Southey, artist Niamh White and writer Carmel Cummins. Culmination was a Contemporary Public Art Event celebrating Woodstock Gardens on Sunday 26th July 2009. This was a hugely successful event with a modestly estimated 800 visitors.

'We have called the event Woodstock Promenade as we want to invite the public to come and take a gentle stroll through the gardens to view and interact with the artworks as people would have done in Victorian times and have continued to do since then', commented Rick Faulkner, Director of Chrysalis Arts. 'Some of the artworks will draw upon archival material and stories of life at Woodstock whilst others will be inspired by the plants and layout of the gardens.'

Community participation has played an integral part in the development of the project and the artists have worked with schools and members of the community who have taken part in a range of workshop activities including painting, textiles and casting.

Selection of photographs from Woodstock Promenade

 

The Market

On Saturday 5th December 2009, Kilkenny County Council Arts Office was host to 'The Market', a number of amazing artists, illustrators and makers who were selling exceptional, original, unique, quirky, and exquisite creations. The range included jewellery, ceramics, paintings, crockery, t-shirts, fine art prints, sculptural pieces, cards, origami accessories, hats and vintage inspired headbands. Khans Bookstore offered a select range of books on a variety of topics including gardening, cookery, arts and culture and children's books. Of course no market would be complete with out offering sustenance hence we also had a range of cakes and cupcakes for sale from the delectable and luscious Swoon Artisan Bakehouse run by Angela Ryan and savouries, scones and breads from the lip-smacking Ladybird Catering run by Alma O' Farrell.

We offered you the opportunity to choose that special gift or treat for yourself from a diverse array of highly accomplished artists and makers including Chris Judge an illustrator and painter based in Dublin who mostly divides his time between commercial work and personal projects as well as procrastinating as often as possible. Etaoin Holahan studied fine art in both Kilkenny and Wales. Etaoin often works with large scale stencils and shadow paintings. She has been a member of Endangered Studios since its inception and works from her studio in the old workhouse in Callan, Co. Kilkenny and she presented us with a variety of wares on the day.

Rebekah Patterson makes unique, comfortable, striking hats and headpieces and sold bespoke hats and vintage inspired headbands on the day. Lesley Frew is a designer/maker based in Belfast. Lesley creates contemporary ethical jewelry using discarded plastic bags, tags and other consumer related items. Her choice of materials is deliberate; she chooses resources that are destructive to our environment and heading for landfill. Lesley gives these materials a second life, by transforming and reusing them. She enjoys confronting people's expectations by taking a discarded material, giving it a new value and showing that it can be beautiful. Adam Frew, also based in Belfast, has a passion for pots and at the market you were able to snap up some of his unique functional wear, i.e. jugs, bowls, jars and lots more besides. Lucia Parle is based in Cork and produces innovative and individual handmade objects of the highest quality and design, from domestic embellishment to decorative jewellery. Her greatest influences come from the domestic and her childhood memories.

Kate Strain is a Kilkenny based artist who also involves herself in facilitating others in workshops and organises events such as the very successful Light Off event in Thomastown in 2008. She presented us with prints and surprises! Steven Aylin, yet another Kilkenny based artist arrived with his wooden sketchbook and a series of unique t shirts, there is literally only one of each kind. Narumi Gunning joined us from Cork to delight us with her Origami creations and lots more besides. Whereas Audrey Kieran and Eimear McCormack came to us from Galway. Audrey is a Graphic Designer and Illustrator who in her spare time likes to doodle and make pretty things in her studio. Eimear is an artist and printmaker and between them you could enjoy cards, books, prints and more. Cathy Dineen is a freelance illustrator based in Kilkenny working in the areas of Design, Publishing and Advertising. Her work has been described as quirky, whimsical and humorous. She likes to draw what's around her, to her it's realism but as she says herself she is due an eye test. She also dabbles in the textile world. Andy Ryan has worked as a gilder, taught ceramics, and since 2000 has worked as project coordinator with an interior design company. And finally the trinity that is Alé Mercado, Atticus and Pitercios, also based in Kilkenny, has for more than 20 years been creating all kinds of visual imaginary.

Selection of photographs from The Market

 

MOOT

Kilkenny County Council's Arts Office in collaboration with Butler Gallery continued to manage and coordinate MOOT debates and discussions in 2009. MOOT is a continuous creative process providing a forum for powerful, focused and inspirational debates and discussion on a variety of subject matters. These events included - MOOT VI: THE CURRENT CLIMATE Art, Ecology and Sustainability. This was the second in our current series on art and the environment, investigating ecology and sustainable arts practice more specifically, and the potential role that artists, curators, educators and arts managers play in raising awareness of environmental issues and our ecology. We also hosted a talk on Art and Ecology with Dr. Jo Anna Issak, from John L Marion Chair in Art History, Fordham University, New York. Jo Anna Isaak traced modern art's sustained connection with nature and its subsequent role in environmental reform. She presented the work of a number of contemporary artists working in a variety of non traditional media, who are engaged in what she terms 'the greening of the avant-garde' -- employing their talents in the service of environmental awareness, providing innovative approaches and models of participatory engagement, designing solutions to environmental problems and broadening public concern for what is becoming the most pressing issue of our time - environmental degradation.  

 

Guerrilla Girls

We were thrilled to host a special event for the internationally known artists Guerrilla Girls in April 2009. This performance gig was part of the Millennium Court Arts Centre-organised all-Ireland Guerrilla Girl Research and New Work Project. The tour was a research project that will inform the Guerrilla Girls' new work which will then be shown at MCAC in October 2009 and touring to the co-commissioning venues in 2010.

Formed in 1985, the Guerrilla Girls explore such taboo subjects as feminism and fashion, attempting to achieve equality of the sexes and 'races' in art, politics, film, and popular culture, so calling themselves the 'Conscience of the Art World'. They wear gorilla masks in public to conceal their identities, placing the focus on issues rather than personalities, and work collectively and anonymously, to produce posters, films, billboards, public actions, books and other projects

 

Grants, Awards & Busaries

Various groups and projects secured funding through the Arts Office in 2009. These include the Drama League of Ireland Bursary and Tyrone Guthrie Bursary. Under the Arts Act Grant alone 32 individuals and groups received funding. Kilkenny County Council feels that the experience of attending high quality professional theatre like the Barnstorm productions should be part of all children's education. We fully understand the expense and effort for both parents and schools in bringing pupils to productions in Kilkenny City, particularly for smaller county-based schools. At the same time we are aware and appreciative of the production costs involved in professional theatre therefore we supported Barnstorm in offering to assist schools with the cost of attending performances by providing twenty school subsidies of €100 towards the cost of transport in 2009.

 

Ferrybank

The Ferrybank project is run in partnership with Waterford City Council, Waterford Area Partnership, and the Ferrybank Commmunity Development Group. The project has been developed as a long term participatory programme and is supported and informed by community development workers in Ferrybank. Long term commitment to projects such as these is imperative in order for the communities and artists to reap the rewards that life long learning can offer. It is engaging young people in the production of work and tackling education and social inclusion issues. The project is co funded by Kilkenny County Council, Waterford City Council and Waterford Area Partnership.

 

5 to 6 Project

The 5 to 6 Women's Art Project has been in operation since 2006. Essentially it is an inclusive arts based programme for women from Kilkenny city and county that provides life long learning by supporting women's development at a personal, social, cultural, political and economic level, while also forging links with the wider community. Extensive outreach work has been undertaken in order to address inclusion and audience development. The 5 to 6 Project is for women who are interested in meeting other women, having fun and using their imagination and those who would like to develop their artistic skills or rediscover old skills, while gaining or reawakening an understanding of art. It is for women over 18 from all walks of life and free of charge to participants. It is facilitated by both an artist facilitator and a personal development worker. They explore a range of different art forms, including painting, photography, drawing, film, sculpture and craft as well as themes including theory during the course of the programme. In addition to the weekly programme of meetings, a series of optional group outings to visit galleries, theatre, film and dance performances both in Kilkenny and at other locations throughout the country are organised and over the year's women from the 5 to 6 Project have worked with independent curators to produce exhibitions.

The Project is and has been funded in the past by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Health Service Executive, Per Cent for Art scheme, Pobail Capital Expenses, Kilkenny County Council Arts Office and Community and Enterprise among other supporters. The project is guided by steering currently consisting of representatives from Kilkenny County Council Arts Office and Community and Enterprise Dept., the HSE, the Rape Crisis centre, the Centre for Independent Living, Newpark Area Resource Centre and the Butler Gallery. Their main aims which were achieved over the duration of 2009 were: to continue to introduce and attract more women to the project; to maintain and support women who have been involved with the project; to develop a Women's Trust to further facilitate the development of social skills; to provide life long learning opportunities; and to raise awareness and promote well being through cultural activity.

'This project was a fantastic idea and I experienced a whole range of benefits. I embarked upon a personal journey in a space where I felt comfortable, confident and inspired.' (5 to 6 Project participant)

 

Artlinks

ArtLinks is a professional development service for creative practitioners of all disciplines, which is based on a unique and resource effective partnership between the Arts Departments of Local Authorities in the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford, The Arts Council / An Comhairle Ealaoin and creative practitioners from these counties. Initiated in 2005 ArtLinks now has a full-time Director based in Kilkenny County Council.

ArtLinks delivers four core services across the region: comprehensive website; professional development courses; artists bursary awards; and a mentoring programme. In 2009 ArtLinks undertook Professional Development Courses - 9 business courses and 9 artform courses with 277 participants. 5 Bursary Awards of €5,000 each were awarded, 1 per county with 14 other bursaries to support attendance at professional development courses run by national resource organisations including Music Network, Drama League of Ireland and Filmbase. The Mentoring Programme supported 12 visual artists.

Membership in 2009 reached 1,290, an increase of 52% on 2008, 359 from Co. Kilkenny.

An internship programme with WIT for post-graduate students to support marketing and areas of programme development commenced during 2009 with John Loftus, from the WIT MA in Arts and Heritage course the first participant.

In addition, ArtLinks was among those shortlisted for Ireland's eGovernment Awards 2009 in the Local Government category.  See www.artlinks.ie

 

 

HERITAGE

County Kilkenny Heritage Office

The role of the Kilkenny County Council Heritage Office is to provide advice and information on heritage issues and to develop policies and priorities for the identification, protection, conservation and enhancement of Kilkenny's heritage. A key objective is to work with the Kilkenny Heritage Forum in the preparation and implementation of the County Heritage Plan and the County Biodiversity Plan. In addition, the office promotes heritage awareness & education throughout the county.

Below is an overview of some of the works undertaken by the Heritage Office in 2009:

 

Heritage Plan & Heritage Forum

Implemented the following projects from the Kilkenny Heritage Plan and Kilkenny Biodiversity Plan (Draft), with financial support from the Heritage Council:

• Undertook a heritage audit of the northern section of the river nore (Ballynaslee to Ossory bridge).
• Undertook a survey of the flora of the historic walls of Kilkenny city.
• Ran a biodiversity awareness campaign on the local radio and local print media on the following themes; biodiversity; climate change; invasive species; protected species and habitats.
• Undertook a survey of sites of nature conservation interest in the County.
• Co-ordinated Kilkenny Heritage Forum meetings.

 

Raising Awareness about Heritage

• Co-ordinated and promoted National Heritage Week activities throughout the county, including production of 2000 copies of a county guide to events, local adverts on KCLR and print media and editorial on KCLR and print media. Over 40 events were organised in Kilkenny for Heritage Week.
• Ran a series of adverts/information pieces in the local media on the following heritage topics: invasive species; managing hedgerows.
• Funded the distribution of the DoEHLG publication "Maintenance; A guide to the care of older buildings" to 200 owners of Protected Structures, in support of the Conservation Officers update of the Record of Protected Structures.

 

Field Monument Advisor

• The Field Monument Advisor continued to provide advice and information to landowners regarding the care and management of archaeological monuments, with financial assistance from the Heritage Council. (January - August).

 

Heritage Training

• Co-ordinated "Historic Graveyard Management Training Seminar" for community groups, graveyard committees, local authorities and statutory agencies. Over 60 delegates attended seminar.
• In conjunction with the Environmental Awareness Officer and the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland, ran a hedge laying demonstration for the general public.
• In association with the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the National Parks and Wildlife Service ran a Butterfly Monitoring Workshop. The workshop was part of the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme coordinated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. As a result of the workshop 3 new monitoring transects were established in Kilkenny city.
• Provided financial support to a seminar run by The Irish Georgian Society and the Kilkenny County Council Conservation Officer on Energy Efficiency in Historic Houses.

 

Collection of Heritage Data

• 3 new butterfly monitoring transects were established in Kilkenny city. The data from this is lodged with the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

 

Heritage Advice

• Answering heritage queries and providing heritage advice to the general public.

 

Planning

• Provided heritage advice on planning applications, as requested by Kilkenny County Council planning section.

 

Heritage Policy

• Reported to Strategic Policy Committee 5 (Arts, Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Education) regarding heritage projects and programme.

 

Physical Heritage Management Projects

• Supported Kilkenny Borough Council in the conservation and repair works to Kilkenny City Walls (City Wall at Abbey Street) with financial support from the Irish Walled Towns Network
• Chaired the garden restoration steering committee that oversaw the restoration of the Rothe House 17^th Century Garden.
• Co-ordinated the Kilkenny County Council Historic Graveyard Grants Scheme, in partnership with Environment Section.

 

Promoting Best Practise in Heritage Management

• On-going implementation of "St. Mary's Church and Graveyard Conservation Plan", in partnership with the Church of Ireland and the Heritage Council.
• On-going implementation of "Kilkenny City Walls Conservation Plan".
• On-going implementation of Rothe House Conservation Plan.