About Kildare County Council Arts Service

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 further develop and support a vibrant arts infrastructure in the county and reaffirm the intrinsic value of the arts, enable public engagement, support artists, and encourage dialogue and engagement with the arts community and anyone interested in participation with the arts.

In ‘Short Grass Stories: An Arts Strategy for Kildare County Council 2018-2022’ 4 strategic priority areas are identified:

1. Arts, Health and Wellbeing,
2. Young People, Children and Education,
3. Dance, and
4. Supporting Artists

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; collaborations with Maynooth University including Writer in Residences; Artist Residency programmes in community and healthcare settings; support of Youth Theatres and Young Filmmakers groups across the county; Arts, Health & Wellbeing projects including community choirs;  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 was instrumental in securing Music Generation for Kildare, with KWETB, to support performance music education for children and young people across the 5 MD areas.

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.

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Contacting Kildare Arts Service

Kildare Arts Service continues to maintain our programmes throughout current restrictions. All updates on programmes / services will posted on the Press Releases page of this website and our social media channels.

For queries and to speak with one of the team 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.