The Chamber of Arts, Heritage and Culture – a unique initiative

THE Chamber of Arts, Heritage and Culture is a unique initiative that grew out of an original idea from Audrey McKenna of the Kingston Academy of Music in Dalkey.

Audrey linked up with the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce, under the Presidency of Neil Keenan, to launch a Chamber specifically dedicated to all aspects of the arts, heritage and culture in the county, including music and tourism.

This new Chamber was formally launched in Dalkey Castle on Friday, April 5 by Neil and Audrey along with Tim O’Connor, the chairman of the Gathering.

A huge amount of voluntary effort went in to achieve the launch between Audrey, Neil and their committee in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce and there was a fantastic level of goodwill from a number of individuals and businesses who helped financially and with the provision of services for the launch.

The Chamber of Arts, Heritage and Culture is dedicated to developing the links between business and the arts, heritage, culture and tourism.

This Chamber, set up initially as a division of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce, will be a stand alone organisation but linked to the Chamber of Commerce.

It is the bridge that will link the business focused members of a Chamber of Commerce with all individuals and organisations that are involved in the arts, heritage, culture and tourism.

It is a fully inclusive organisation that will enable businesses engaged in the arts, culture, heritage and tourism sectors to actively participate creatively and together with the business focused members of a Chamber of Commerce for their mutual benefit.

It will advocate and represent a strong and sustainable cultural sector and will allow the members, friends, patrons and corporate pioneers who support the Chamber to demonstrate their support for the development of these sectors.

It will give the artistic members of the new Chamber access to the lobbying capacity and business expertise inherent in a Chamber of Commerce and platform to showcase their talents.

The founders of the Chamber of Arts, Heritage and Culture strongly believe that arts, heritage and culture is not actively marketed as a central plank of the Irish economy and that this could be a very important factor in economic renewal.

Ireland could do a lot more to drive cultural tourism and as there are already very successful cultural exports such as U2 and Riverdance.

“We have an opportunity to build hugely on this,

? said Neil Keenan, chairman.

“If we can do that the benefits to business in Ireland are considerable. We can create employment while giving our artists, writers and musicians all the opportunities they need to develop their talents at home rather than have to bring them abroad.

“This can be also used as an additional method for Ireland to build international cultural links, for example, with China, which can be used to strengthen business relationships.

“

He added:

“The development of international links through culture would be a very important part of what the Chamber of Arts, Heritage and Culture wishes to achieve.

?

The new Chamber is planning a forum in the autumn to explore how it can develop and further its aims.

The Chamber is an early stage organisation and requires corporate pioneers to back it along with artistic and corporate members and friends and patrons who would like to support this worthy endeavour.

For further information or to register your interest in attending the upcoming forum, contact CEO Audrey McKenna at ceo@chamberofculture.ie