Birr Creative Court
Vision
To provide accessible creative space in a Heritage Town and facilitate sustainable collaboration with local and visiting professional practitioners and the wider community in the pursuit of creative excellence.
Mission
Our mission is to create dynamic, flexible and affordable spaces for local, regional and national creative practitioners to develop and create work, and to foster public engagement with culture, the arts and heritage in Birr through public access to space, activities and programming. To stimulate cross pollination and nurture further collaboration and innovation. To make a positive, measurable contribution to Birr as a good place to live, work and visit.
The development of Birr Courthouse as an Arts Hub will:
Insert a new layer in the artistic infrastructure of Birr complementing the services provided by Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Tin Jug Studio, Edit Shed and the many festivals and events.
Improve the capacity of Birr to retain its graduates and encourage inward migration, particularly those involved in the creative industry.
Offer an environment where creativity can flourish in activity that inspires, motivates and empowers people.
Position Birr as a destination location for living and working in the creative sector with an established network of other amenities and festivals and provide additional studios, meeting and group facilities, networking and peer support.
Open up career or personal pathways to those not already involved in the arts by providing easy access, education and networking opportunities.
Be a centre for creative excellence, contributing significantly to the development of social, educational and economical opportunities in the town and county and enhancing Birr's rich cultural heritage.
Strengthen the connections between networks of fine artists, craftspeople, designers and creative practitioners.
ARTIST FACILITATION DAYS
WHAT'S THE PROJECT?
The Birr Creative Court is about developing a shared creative space in the old Birr Courthouse, enabling people to create, produce and share their talents with the wider world, right in the heart of the community.
WHY NOW?
We are applying for planning permission to refurbish this historic building into vibrant creative spaces for our artists.
WHY ARTISTS SHOULD GET INVOLVED?
Attend our engagement days to share your ideas and vision for the new arts hub:
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a musician in need of a recording studio,
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a potter in need of a kiln,
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an actor in need of a self-taping space,
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a desk and quiet workspace for your creative producing,
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a space to have a cup of coffee with your fellow artists?
Whatever your needs are, big or small, engage with us on our Artist Facilitation Days.
Let your voice be heard. Attend our engagement days to share your ideas and vision for the new arts hub.
ARTIST FACILITATION DAYS
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Day 1 / 4 September at Birr Theatre and Arts Centre & the old Courthouse: 10am to 5pm
Making/Creating Space: Day one will focus on the individual creative and practicalworking space needs of artists and creative practitioners. The day will include visiting the Creative Court building and responding to the physical constraints and opportunities of the heritage building. The day will also focus on the rhythm of different art/creative work and how to share resources and space.
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Day 2 / 18 September Bus trip visit to Callan to view their artistic spaces & studios: 9.30am to 7pm
Visit: The town of Callan in Co. Kilkenny has established itself as a hub for artistic activity with a network of organisations and collectives, including KCAT Arts Centre, Equinox Theatre Company, Abhainn Rí Festival, Fennelly';s of Callan, Monkeyshine Theatre, Asylum Productions, Tony O' Malley Residency and most recently The Powerhouse. The visit is an opportunity to experience the spaces and places and hear bout how Callan's creative ecology is sustained.
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Day 3 / 5 October at Birr Theatre and Arts Centre: 10am to 5pm
Operating Models: How will the Creative Court operate and be managed? How can local, national, and international artistic ambitions be fostered? This day will focus on thinking about the space's long-term ambitions and how it has the potential to support local creative talent and shape the path of future generations.