Maev O’Shea Of The Everyman Recaps On Arts For All's April 2021 PLATFORM Gathering

Maev O’Shea, Education & Community Manager – The Everyman

“Keep up the good work started and stay connected” – Participant Feedback

The Everyman was delighted to host the first ever online Arts For All ‘PLATFORM’ gathering on Tuesday, April 27th from 7pm - 9pm.  PLATFORM is a regular gathering for anyone working in the area of inclusive arts as participants, providers and/or collaborators. 

The Everyman’s story is a powerful community story. The theatre grew from a company of local amateur actors and makers. In our theatre, we believe The Everyman is for everyone. The opportunity to host the Arts for All event is part of the next chapter in that story as we participate in the essential work towards ensuring that all our cultural spaces are accessible and inclusive.

This online arts event in April 2021 saw almost 80 people registered with 60 attending at any one time throughout the evening. Together, we explored youth arts with our guest speakers from top inclusive arts organisations: Padraig Naughton - Director, Arts & Disability Ireland; Eoin Nash - Chair Arts for All; Michelle Carew - Cork City Arts Officer and Sophie Motley - Artistic Director, The Everyman.

Youth-led activities and performances from Suisha Arts, Youth Work Ireland, Cork Young Filmmakers, Cork City Library and Cork Deaf choir entertained and engaged the gathering. These young artists showcased fantastic examples of their work with the support of their organisations. Finally, the event facilitated an open forum where participants had the chance to network and share experiences. 

Participants left 4 & 5-star reviews and really encouraging comments including: … Continue “As you have been doing - enabling networking, providing information and training etc. Thank you.”

Arts for All’s vision for Cork is a city which is open, accessible and intentionally inclusive in the Arts and which celebrates diversity as a cornerstone of creativity. Communication and Collaboration, inclusion, accessibility and diversity are the central tenets of this vision. PLATFORM held these ideas at the heart of the event, which was supported by the Cork City Council Covid Resilience Fund and was ISL interpreted. 

The generosity and support of the organizing committee made this event possible. A huge, heartfelt thank you from me, Maev O’Shea (Chair), to Becca Geden, Davy Dummigan, Eoin Nash, Helen McGonagle and Siobhan Clancy. We are delighted to confirm that planning for the next Arts for All event is already underway!