Public input sought on future of arts spaces across Wicklow
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow County Council has begun a significant push to map the future of arts provision in the county, launching a public consultation that officials say will directly shape where new arts spaces are developed and how investment is targeted over the next five years.
The process, which will inform the Arts Plan 2026–2030, comes as pressure for new and improved arts facilities is mounting across Wicklow, with multiple groups signalling interest in developing studios, venues, rehearsal spaces and community arts hubs.
The council has announced three public meetings in June, including a workshop on arts capital and infrastructure at the Glenview Hotel on June 4.
That meeting, aimed at those running or hoping to develop arts spaces, is expected to be the most consequential.
Chief executive Emer O’Gorman made clear that the local authority is seeking concrete evidence from the sector before it can pursue national funding for capital projects.
“Much of the investment to achieve capital infrastructure for Wicklow comes from applications by Wicklow County Council to national government schemes or planning gain,” she said.
“By understanding the arts development needs, it will help to identify areas of need and potential for further feasibility for such facilities.”
Wicklow’s arts community has expanded rapidly in recent years, but the physical infrastructure has not kept pace.
Ms O’Gorman acknowledged this, noting that “many local community arts groups and other arts organisations and companies… have expressed interest in developing existing or new arts spaces in the county”.
The Glenview meeting, she said, is particularly important for those working in this area, as the local authority needs a clear picture of what is missing and where demand is strongest.
The council is inviting artists, arts organisations, festivals, community groups and members of the public to attend the meetings or complete an online survey.
Two additional sessions, at Arklow and Blessington libraries on June 18, will focus on artist development and public participation in the arts. While these meetings are broader in scope, they are expected to reinforce the same message: Wicklow’s arts sector is growing, and the county must plan strategically to support it.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Melanie Corrigan said she has seen a “ground swell of growth in the arts and arts participation in every corner of the county in recent years”, adding that she hopes the new plan will “bring further strategic development for the arts in Wicklow and our growing population”.
The Arts Office is framing the consultation as a chance to review what has changed since the last plan was adopted. Arts officer Jenny Sherwin said the 2020–2025 period had been “the most challenging period for artists and communities with the Covid-19 pandemic”, but also one that demonstrated “great resilience and ingenuity” in the sector.
She pointed to increased investment from the Arts Council and Creative Ireland, saying these had “yielded unprecedented growth for the sector”.
The council’s decision to hold a dedicated infrastructure meeting suggests it expects substantial capital proposals to emerge. Officials will combine the data gathered from the workshops with internal engagement, input from national funders and a review of the current arts plan. The final draft of the new plan is expected to go before councillors by October 2026.