COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 12, 2012

HEADED ITEM NO.4(b)(i)

 Report of  Arts, Culture, Gaeilge, Education & Libraries SPC Meeting held on  14th February 2012

In attendance:

Members:

Cllr P Cosgrave – Chair

Cllr M. Devine

Cllr J. Hannon

Cllr G O’Connell

Cllr E. Walsh

 Sectoral

 John Conroy

Dymphna Quinn

 Officials:

 Philip Murphy, Director of Service

Victoria Durrer, Arts Office

Aoileann Nic Dhonnacha         Irish Officer

Georgina Byrne, County Librarian

 Apologies:

 Cllr M. Duff

 At the commencement of the meeting Chair Councillor Paddy Cosgrave welcomed Mr Philip Murphy new Director of Corporate, Libraries and HR who replaces Ms Teresa Walsh who has moved to another directorate.

 Confirmation of November 2011 Meeting held on 28^th November 2011

The minutes of the last meeting were proposed by Cllr Guss O’Connell and seconded by Cllr Paddy Cosgrave.

 Update of Draft Arts Strategy

Chair Councillor Paddy Cosgrave welcomed Ms Tori Durrer to the meeting.

 Ms Durrer gave an outline of work to date on the development of the new arts strategy with particular reference to:

 Consultation Processes for the plan

• Core Arts Services
• Sustainability
• Learning, Engagement and Participation
• Infrastructure
• Developing the Arts

  Members congratulated the staff of the Arts office to date and in particular the success of the cultural hub centred on Rua Red, The Civic Theatre and the County Library.

 A discussion took place on bringing the arts out into communities across the County and the opportunities to reach out into communities through community centres and other existing buildings where people gather. The new possibility of using arts based activities to reinvigorate villages as part of the Rathfarnham and Lucan village initiatives was discussed as was the need to encourage people to see the creativity in themselves and to engage more fully with the arts.

 Framework to Inform the Library Development Plan 2012-2016

 Ms Georgina Byrne, County Librarian outlined the statutory basis for the delivery of a new development plan for libraries. Seven framework strands were presented:

•  Library Collections
• The Open Minded Space
• Literacy, Information and Learning
• Children and Young People
• Library Infrastructure and Spaces
• Heritage, Memory and Sense of Place
• Libraries in the Digital Age

 A discussion followed in relation to the future of paper books, the usage of existing buildings as libraries, the abolition of the school book grant and its ramifications across the county, difficulties in funding for library building and the location of regional and satellite libraries, stock selection and procurement methodologies and public consultation on the new plan.

 Seachtain na Gaeilge 2012 and Atha Cliath Theas

 Ms. Aoileann Nic Dhonnacha, Irish Officer presented details of the programme for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2012. The theme of celebrations this year centres on IT. The launch will take place on the 5^th March in the County Library and over 110 events are planned as part of the festival.

 Members expressed appreciation for the work being done and discussed the concept of a Cultúrlann for the County.

 AOB

 Mr John Conroy asked about the possibility of a presentation from Tallaght Community Arts being delivered at the next SPC meeting on the 8^th May 2012. Mr Philip Murphy agreed that this was possible and that the presentation would be scheduled first on the agenda.

 Cllr Devine asked if the African Women’s Network group Akidwa could be invited to address the SPC. Mr Philip Murphy suggested that this might be scheduled for the meeting on the 11^th September 2012.