The Polestar in Letterkenny captured in all its glory
This year, 2012, Donegal County Council celebrates 21 years of Public Art commissioning in the County and are marking this with the launch of an exhibition that looks back proudly over the last 21 years of Public Art in Donegal.
The Per Cent for Art Scheme, which has funded much of the work has been a tremendous scheme that has seen great and diverse projects delivered in all electoral areas around the county.
This exhibition reminds us of what can and has been achieved with artistic ambition and shows why Donegal has such a strong reputation for not just public art but for culture in general.
If you come to the Regional Cultural Centre to see the exhibition, you will see the variety of work that has been commissioned over the 21 years – photography, drama, poetry, craft, music, architecture, animation, pyrotechnics and sculpture. Everyone will have their favourite piece or project for different reasons.
The new public art website is also being launched. When the old website was created just seven years ago, it won a prestigious Irish Design Award, but Donegal County Council know that its critical to keep current, especially with social media. The website has a fresh contemporary feel but the colours of soft green are evocative of Donegal.
So, whats the road ahead for Public Art in Donegal? The new draft Public Art Plan – Making Shapes Two (2013 – 2017) is also being launched and this sets out the intention of the Public Art Office for the next 5 years and includes amongst other things the proposal to develop ArtScape at Ards Forest Park, which if developed will be a ‘must see’, iconic visitor attraction in Ards Forest Park. Not only will it build on our reputation in Donegal as a Cultural County but would also lever tremendous economic benefit to Donegal from Cultural Tourism.
Donegal County Council are aware of the challenging times we live in but Donegal County Council still believes in a society that values creativity, imagination and expression, believes that the arts generate growth and tourism, believes that the arts enhance our reputation and that the arts enrich our lives.
Th exhibition remains open until 8th February 2013.
For further details contact Ms. Terre Duffy, Public Art Manager on terre.duffy@donegalcoco.ie.
