Creative industries discussed at National Rural Development Conference
Dr Helen McHenry, Western Development Commission, Brian Smyth, Leitrim Development Company and Nollaig Whyte, Leitrim County Council at the National Rural Development Conference.
The Western Development Commission (WDC) was delighted to support this year’s National Rural Development Conference held inEnfieldon on October 16. This is the first year the WDC has been involved as a partner in this important national conference.
“As 68% of people living in the Western Region live in rural areas, compared with the national average of 38%, rural development is central to everything the WDCdoes,” said Ian Brannigan, Acting Chief Executive. “Given the recent announcement of the WDC’s role in supporting the new Rural Economic Development Commission, we were particularly happy with this opportunity to partner with Teagasc, the National Rural Network, the Irish Leader Development Network and Macra na Feirme.”
“Through this new Rural Commission we will be supporting the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to develop a strategy for growth and job creation in rural areas to 2025. According to the latest Census figures the unemployment rate for people living in Ireland’s cities is 18% but for those living in rural towns and villages it is 24%. Job creation in rural areas will be fundamental to Ireland’s recovery and the viability of rural communities,” he added.
One potential source of future growth in rural employment is the creative sector. As part of the WDC’s ongoing work in developing this sector, it organised a workshop on ‘Creative & Rural: The Role of the Creative Industries in Rural Development’ at this year’s National Rural Development Conference. This was the first time the creative sector as a whole was specifically discussed at the conference.
“Creative people are often drawn to rural areas because of the quality of life and the inspirational landscape. Across Europe the number of people working in the creative sector in rural areas has grown faster (+12.6%) in recent years that the number living in urban areas (+9.2%). Rural creative businesses are on the rise,” according to Pauline White, Policy Analyst with the WDCwho presented at the workshop.
The workshop was chaired by Karen Hennessy,CEO of the Crafts Council of Ireland. David Knight, owner of Willow Publishing and David Knight Photography who is based in Cootehall, Co Roscommon, also addressed the group highlighting the issues and potential for rural creative enterprises.
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Wednesday 19 June 2013
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