Two Leitrim-led projects have secured more than €216,000 in funding
Two Leitrim-led projects have secured more than €216,000 in funding under the Government's Creative Ireland Programme.
Two Leitrim-led projects have secured more than €216,000 in funding under the Government's Creative Ireland Programme.
The funding forms part of a €3.7 million package announced by Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O'Donovan TD for local authority-led Creative Communities and Creative Health and Wellbeing initiatives across the country.
Independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim and Minister of State Marian Harkin welcomed the allocation, which will support projects aimed at promoting wellbeing, creativity and cross-border collaboration.
A grant of €109,462 has been awarded to Minds in Making: Creative Arts for Mental Health Recovery, a collaborative initiative led by Leitrim County Council in partnership with Sligo County Council. The project will support mental health recovery and wellbeing through creative arts and community engagement.
A further €107,350 has been awarded under the Creative Communities on a Shared Island programme for Farm Walks, a cross-border cooperation project led by Leitrim County Council in partnership with Fermanagh. The initiative will explore the common ground between farmers and artists while highlighting shared farming traditions, environmental interests and rural experiences on both sides of the border.
Welcoming the funding, Minister Harkin said:
"I am delighted to see Leitrim County Council securing support for these two innovative projects which demonstrate the positive impact that creativity can have in bringing people together, supporting wellbeing and strengthening communities.
"The Minds in Making project recognises the important role that the arts can play in supporting mental health recovery, reducing isolation and fostering social connection. This investment will help create opportunities for people to engage creatively while enhancing their wellbeing.
"I am equally pleased to see funding awarded for Farm Walks, which will build meaningful connections between communities North and South. By bringing together farmers and artists to explore shared experiences and environmental interests, the project will create new opportunities for collaboration, learning and understanding across the border."
The funding will be delivered over the next three years through the Creative Ireland Programme and includes €2.3 million under the Government's Shared Island Fund to strengthen creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland.
Minister Harkin noted that under the Creative Communities on a Shared Island strand, thirteen local authorities will receive funding to deliver projects over the next three years aimed at promoting cross-border collaboration and strengthening relationships between communities throughout the island of Ireland.
"These projects highlight the value of creativity as a tool for community development, inclusion and connection. They also demonstrate the strong leadership being shown by Leitrim County Council in developing initiatives that will have lasting benefits for local communities and for cross-border cooperation," she said.
Minister Harkin congratulated Leitrim County Council, Sligo County Council, their project partners and all those involved in securing the funding.