Initiative aims to connect communities with their city

THE second part of an initiative that aims to connect Dubliners with their city has been launched.

Women in history; the links between health, poverty, housing and the supporting communities; flux and stability; outdoor spaces and biodiversity; and the space between music and theatre performance are just some of the themes to be explored by citizens as part of Dublin’s Culture Connects: The National Neighbourhood. 

Dublin’s Culture Connects aims to connect Dubliners to their city by working collaboratively with artists and the national cultural institutions on projects that reflect the concerns and ambitions of their communities. 

More than 1,000 residents from 29 neighbourhoods across the city made cultural projects as part of the initial ‘The National Neighbourhood’ activities last year.

The project brings together the Dublin City Council arts, cultural and community resources in partnership with all eight National Cultural Institutions located in Dublin – The Abbey Theatre, The National Museum of Ireland, The National Library of Ireland, The National Gallery of Ireland, The National Concert Hall, The Chester Beatty Library, The National Archives and The Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Micheál Mac Donncha said: ‘The National Neighbourhood’ addresses a key aim of Dublin City Council. 

“We want every neighbourhood to know and ‘own’ their city’s cultural resources. 

“The National Neighbourhood is all about building projects in community settings – to connect villages and their communities and groups to libraries, museums, creative places and to artists. “This programme enables people to make and take part in culture, working together to deepen their understanding of their city, their communities and themselves.”

As was the case in 2016/2017, each of the council’s five administrative areas has been partnered with national cultural institutions to deliver ‘The National Neighbourhood’ projects in 2017/2018.

In Dublin North Central, projects will be developed with community groups of all ages from Clontarf, Raheny, Coolock, Artane, Fairview and Marino in partnership with the National Library of Ireland and Dublin City Council.  

For more information, visit www.dublinscultureconnects.ie