Kildare County Council Arts Service aims to foster, promote and develop the arts and cultural development in the county.  The Arts Service’s mission is to encourage, support and inspire individuals, communities, and artists, to improve the experience of the arts and creativity for all people living in the county.

In Perpetual Motion Arts Strategy for County Kildare 2023 -2027 / Ag Gluaiseacht Go Síoraí Straitéis Ealaíon do Chomhairle Contae Chill Dara aims to put in place a strategy for the county for the years 2023 – 2027 where Kildare is a county where the arts thrive and are embedded in the lives of its people.

Our values are:

• Quality - We provide and lead on high quality artistic opportunities and services.
• Transparency/Fairness -We are accountable and act responsibly in our decision making. We act honestly, openly, and fairly in all our dealings.
• Respect/Integrity - We treat all people equally with due regard for their needs and rights.
• Learning/Growth -We strive to continuously improve by listening intently, remaining flexible and being open to risk.
• Innovation/Inspiration -We continually seek inspiring, progressive, and creative approaches to inform our service.
• Ethics - We are respectful of the individuals, organisations and communities we engage with and are protective of artists’ ideas and intellectual property.

The Arts Service's programme includes but is not limited to provision of Arts Grants and Bursary awards to artists, arts and community groups; mentoring and professional development schemes for artists; Artist Residency programmes; support of Youth Theatres and Young Filmmaker groups across the county; Arts, Health & Wellbeing projects;  ongoing support of regularly funded county Kildare-based arts groups; Short Grass Film Awards and Commissions; the biennial Dance Summer School; and management of the Municipal Art Collection artworks. 

The Arts Service partners with the Arts Council and regional and national organisations, and regularly works with colleagues in other departments within the county council on programmes such as Per Cent for Art public art commissions, Decade of Commemorations events, Creative Ireland culture and wellbeing programme, Climate Action, Community Development and more. Programme partners and supporters include the HSE, First Fortnight, Riverbank Arts Centre, The ACRE Project.

Contacting Kildare Arts Service

Team members are available to discuss your queries and can be contacted at Tel: 045 980872 / Email: arts@kildarecoco.ie

To hear about upcoming events and opportunities subscribe up to Kildare Arts Service's fortnightly e-newsletter here.