Waterford Arts Officers Conor Nolan and Margaret Organ with Chairperson of Bursary Bertie Rogers.

The bursary grants up to €5K each year to artists with an association to Waterford. It is aimed at enabling artists to reach a goal which otherwise wouldn’t be possible without some financial assistance.

Among the organisations who have contributed to the bursary are Waterford Youth Committee, Waterford City and County Council, Waterford City Enterprise Board, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford Spraoi, Theatre Royal, Waterford Dramatic Society and Waterford Youth Arts.

Their combined support, together with individual contributions, has enabled the Bursary Committee to dispense a total of €75,000 to local artists since 2005.

To get more details go to Bursary application and guidelines www.waterfordyoutharts.com/bursary.htm.

The grants are the first to encourage a county wide programme of arts and cover three areas – Arts Practice, Audience and Venues.

Details of this year’s grants were discussed at the March plenary meeting of Waterford City & County Council.
The exciting programme of events funded by the grants include city and county wide schools arts programmes and workshops, performances, concerts, a Parade of Light, filmmaking, theatre and a new musical group for Waterford.

Under Arts Practice and Audience, a grant total of €65,497 was awarded: Rosemary Dulson – Parade of Light €1000; Rigout Productions – Facilitated Theatrical Music and Art event/performance €6000; Brideview Drama – Portia Coughlan Play €1200; Curtain Call Productions Steel Magnolias Play €800; Stagemad Theatre Company – JohnJo Play €3000; Loose Screw Theatre CO – Disco Pigs Play €1000; Damien Mc Donnell – two plays based on the Twilight Zone €1000; Waterford Musical Society – Carousel Musical €1712; Waterford Youth Arts – Summer Play – directed by Jim Nolan – €6000; De La Salle Scout Pipe Band – annual music programme €5000; Thomas Francis Meagher Band – annual music programme – €1000; Barrack Street Concert Band – annual music programme €1000; City of Waterford Brass – annual music programme€1000; Deise Brass Band – start-up of Adult Brass Band €450; Dungarvan Brass Band – annual music programme – €1000; Lismore Choir – choral performance €1170; Waterford Music Club – annual music programme€2025; Symphony Club of Waterford – annual music programme €2500; Fadó Productions Limited – continue Music in the Museums programme – €3500; Waterford Healing Arts Trust – to continue Open Studio programme – €1500; Waterford Healing Arts Trust – to continue Iontas programme – €1500; Little Red Kettle LTD. – countywide schools arts performance programme – €6000; Waterford Traveller Community Development Project – film prog. and workshops €1200; Central Arts – performance workshops leading up to a formal event (e.g. theatre or a concert) €5620; St Brigid’s Family & Community Centre – Social History programme – €2820; Waterford Youth Arts – Research and Film €3500; Corina Duyn – Into the Light, a series of literature boxes €500; Karen Power – sponsorship of second ‘Butterfly Barn’ book €1000; Ted and Mary O’Regan Arts Bursary – Bursary Awards €1500.

Under the amalgamation of Waterford City and County Councils, a number of other venues were added to the list.

While the funding budget for 2015 was set at the same for 2014 (€145,000), it was decided to also aid two venues from the county, namely the Coast Guard Cultural Centre and the Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre via direct department funding.

Overall, the majority of the applications were broadly within the arts venues remit.

However it was felt that some of the applications were of a higher standard than others and this was reflected in the funding recommendations offered to the adjudicating panel.

A total of €145,000 was awarded as part of the 2015 Venue Grants: St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre €1000; Garter Lane €61,000; Theatre Royal €65,000; Christ Church Cathedral €5,500; Central Hall €12,000; Hive Emerging Gallery €500.

Fianna Fáil Cllr M J O’Ryan.

Waterford City & County Council is to receive approximately €30,000 from the Government’s central 1916 Rising Commemoration Fund to help organise and run events celebrating the 100th anniversary of the rebellion next year.

At the March Comeragh District meeting of Waterford City & County Council, Cathaoirleach Cllr M J O’Ryan sought clarity on funding for the district.

“The issue was discussed at the last plenary meeting, but we still don’t know if Comeragh is getting a budget or not,” he said.

“Comeragh played a big part during this era and we in Comeragh should lead this celebration in Waterford.”
Cllr O’Ryan said he would like to see funding allocations increased as the commemorations could become ‘Gathering’ type events that would help local economies.

Fianna Fáil Cllr John O’Leary expressed his disappointment at the low allocation.

“It won’t make a huge impact for commemorating such an important event,” he said.

He expressed his hope that the government would increase funding allocations.

Claire Hartley (Housing, Community and Culture) said she would raise the issue with the Community section for input and details of any submission date.

In 2013, former Director of Services with Waterford City Council Colette Byrne initiated discussions with the OPW to release the per cent for art allocation relating to the flood relief works to go towards public arts projects in Waterford City as part of Waterford 1100.

Discussions have taken place throughout 2014, and the Waterford 1100 committee can now confirm that the OPW have agreed to release a per cent for art budget of 91,600 Euro towards the following arts projects in Waterford City:

A painting for Waterford

The proposal to deliver a companion painting for the Van der Hagen was outlined by the Waterford 1100 committee to Waterford City Council in October 2013.

The OPW have agreed to commit per cent for art funding for the new painting which will form part of the National Collection, and will be placed on public display in Waterford. The OPW will also administer the competitive process with an expected delivery in 2016.

The selection panel will be chaired by Ms Jacquie Moore of the OPW and will include Eamonn McEneaney of Waterford Treasures, the Director of the Crawford Gallery Peter Murray, an Arts Council nominee (artist) and Michael Walsh, CEO of Waterford City & County Council.

Public Art Project

The OPW have agreed per cent for art funding for a Public Art Project which will be initiated and managed by Waterford City & County Council Arts Office and which will have an emphasis on community engagement.
There will be a competitive process in relation to this project which will commence in Spring 2015.
Delivery 2016