- Westmeath County Council announced public consultations for five-year Arts Plan 2026-2030
- Workshops scheduled across Mullingar, Athlone and online in late August to early September
- Artists session includes €60 stipend for self-employed participants
- Consultations aim to define arts investment priorities and programming
- Sessions open to artists, arts workers and general community members
Westmeath County Council has announced a series of public consultation workshops to shape its five-year Arts Plan (2026-2030). The initiative invites artists, arts workers and general community members to share insights that will dictate strategic activity, funding and programming across the county. The council’s Arts Office has structured sessions across multiple formats to ensure wide participation.
The consultation schedule includes an Artists and Arts Workers Session on Thursday 27 August from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Lakeview Room in Belvedere House, Mullingar, with self-employed participants eligible for a €60 stipend to cover time and travel costs limited to 20 spaces. The Mullingar Public Workshop takes place Saturday 29 August from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Mullingar Arts Centre. The Athlone Public Workshop follows Monday 31 August from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Dean Crowe Theatre. An Online Public Workshop occurs Wednesday 2 September from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The consultation sessions aim to gather perspectives on local cultural needs, including defining regional investment priorities for local arts infrastructure, expanding local programming and grants for creative practitioners, and broadening community access to cultural resources. Details regarding booking and attendance can be monitored via the Westmeath Culture Portal or through local ticketing pages on Eventbrite Ireland.
