Creative Spirits Internship Week Waterford
Waterford hosted the Creative Spirits Internship week from the 4th to the 6th of September 2018. Delegates from Sofia (Bulgaria), Ujbuda/Budapest (Hungary) and Lublin (Poland) attended.
Internship week is an opportunity for the participants of the Creative Spirits Implementation Network to gain “on the job” experience related to the various challenges faced by each city in the network.
Examples of good practice in engaging with local communities using techniques such as collaborative mosaic with The Art Hand, Design Challenge with WIT and Diverse Waterford were showcased as part of learning journey.
The visits within the Waterford Cultural Quarter included a discussion about the Warm Welcome Series in the The Parlour Vintage Tea Rooms with Creative Spirits Ambassador Sarah Jane Hanton; South East Maker Space with ULG member Aileen Drohan; Waterford Chamber of Commerce with ULG member Donal Nolan; and finished up at Garter Lane Arts Centre to discuss outreach programmes with Sandra Kelly.
Our delegates received a warm welcome at Fumbally Exchange, an excellent model of co-working space in The Viking Triangle. Waterford City and County Council Architect Morris Conway and Executive Conservation Office Rosemary Ryall gave a presentation on the reuse of heritage buildings and public realm for Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI’s). The group thoroughly enjoyed a visit to the innovative virtual reality experience at King of the Vikings. Waterford Distillery provided the group with an insight into the creative and business processes that underpin their work. Thanks to Ed Cahill of Tully’s Bar for hosting an informal networking session with the Creative Spirits delegates and the Waterford Cultural Quarter Urban Local Group (ULG).
On the final day of the Internship week Tommie Ryan from Festival Director of Harvest gave a walking tour of the festival locations and discussed the importance of festivals to the local economy. Anne Nolan of Waterford Integration Services emphasised the importance of supporting venerable communities as we work towards regenerating our cities.
Waterford City and County Council would like to thank everyone who assisted with Internship week especially the delegates who participated with huge enthusiasm.
