Creative Initiative Looking Good in the City
‘Creative Limerick, connect to the grid’ launched this weekend and promises opportunity for the city’s creative graduates and commercial property owners as well as a revitalised city centre.
The initiative will temporarily fill vacant retail window space in prime retail locations with work from Limerick’s creative industry practitioners.
Limerick City Council have sponsored and co-ordinated the initiative and similar initiatives are planned for the future.
One of the great things about this initiative is that there are no costs to the either party including licence agreements, insurance cover and promotion.
Project manager Lise Ann Sheehan said the initiative not only supports the creative industries in Limerick but assists vacant property owners by keeping their premises clean and active, at no cost to the owner.
“Ultimately the initiative seeks to enhance vibrancy and active frontages in Limerick city centre while promoting the work of the creative industries in our region.”
Many will be familiar with the success of Spirit Store which opened in mid-August. The ‘Creative Limerick’ initiative was a co-sponsor of the project initiated by Marilynn Lennon. Marilyn, a lecturer at Limerick School of Art and Design, opened Spirit Store as a short term arts venue and café in what was the iconic ‘The Sarsfield Bar’. See the Spirit Store blog for upcoming events.
http://spiritstorelimerick.blogspot.com/
http://www.limerickleader.ie/features/Creative-Spirit-inhabits-Limerick-landmark.5553077.jp
Sheehan, said of the creative industries:
“They (also) have the potential to create wealth and jobs through developing and exploiting intellectual property”
She continued: “Involvement in the initiative allows owners to be associated with the growing creative industry in Ireland.
Gordon Kearney from Rooney Auctioneers was one of the first estate agents to get involved in the ‘Creative Limerick’ initiative.
“The landlords are very supportive of the project and think it’s a very clever initiative which will bring a bit of life back to their premises and have complimented Limerick City Council for the idea,” he said.
Limerick’s creative participants so far include a collaboration of knitwear designers known as The Knit Factory, and a series of work from the Fine Art graduate Sarah Bolger entitled “Living Dolls” inspired by Hollywood pinups of the 1930s and 40s.
The co-ordination by Limerick City Council creates a bridge between art students and property owners who would otherwise seem unlikely bed fellows. The potential spin offs for the whole city in terms of tourism, job creation and cultural life seem huge. I for one am impressed!
Interested parties can find out more by emailing creativelimerick@limerickcity.ie or calling 061 407129