Have your say in the new Westmeath arts plan

Artists and people who enjoy the arts are being asked to give their voice to shape the future artistic landscape of Westmeath.

Westmeath County Council are putting together a Westmeath arts plan that will be in place from 2026 to 2030. This plan will set out the priorities for the arts in County Westmeath and guide arts activity and support over the next five years.

Westmeath County Council Arts Office seeks feedback from members of the public and from the professional arts community in the development of the new Arts Plan “We want to hear from you!”

The Westmeath Arts Office has opened two surveys for public feedback. The first is the Arts Public Survey. This is open to anyone living or working in Westmeath, regardless of previous engagement with arts or cultural services or activities. The Arts Office would like to hear from as many people as possible, whether you take part in arts and culture or not. Your views will help plan future arts activities, funding and opportunities, and shape how the arts develop in the county.

The second is the Arts Sector Survey. If you are an artist, creative practitioner, arts worker, or a volunteer with community arts groups, this survey is an opportunity to voice your experiences and perspective. If you would prefer to speak to the Arts Office directly, there is also an open invitation to take part in 30-minute one-to-one research interviews towards the Arts Plan. This will be an opportunity for participants to share their perspectives in a comfortable, face-to-face setting.

This summer, public consultation workshops will take place across Westmeath. This means that there will be another opportunity for you to engage in the Arts Plan process at a later stage.

The consultation process oƯers you the opportunity to guide arts and cultural development in your county.

Surveys are available online, through westmeathculture.ie. You can also email arts@westmeathcoco.ie or phone 0449332016 to request a copy, or to schedule a one#to-one interview with a member of the Arts Office.

Surveys will be open until Wednesday 6th May 2026.

Survey link: https://westmeathculture.ie/news/have-your-say-in-the-arts-plan/

If you need any support to take part in the survey, interviews, or workshops, or require information in another format, you can contact the Arts Office.

Arts and culture in Westmeath include many different activities and forms of creative work. Across the county there are arts centres, theatres, galleries and venues, as well as studios and places where artists create work. Artists and creative practitioners work throughout Westmeath, there are festivals, events and community arts groups. Activity includes initiatives such as Culture Night, Children’s and Young People’s arts, and public art. Local people take part in events, workshops, making art and supporting arts activity in communities.

The Arts Office provides support for the professional, voluntary, community and amateur arts sectors in Westmeath and provides information and advice to the community on Arts related issues.

Since the development of the Arts Office in Westmeath in 2001, the County Council has expanded its support for and contribution to the arts in County Westmeath. The County Arts Office aims to promote access, appreciation, awareness and enjoyment of the arts for all citizens of County Westmeath and also aims to stimulate interest in and promote the knowledge and appreciation of the

Survey Consultation: Public consultation is open through the two surveys with the closing date set at Wednesday, May 6, 2026. For the one-to-one research interviews participants can contact arts@westmeathcoco.ie. Interviews will take place in April and May 2026. Public consultation workshops will invite contributors to assist in the development of the Arts Plan. Workshops will take place in early summer 2026.

Dates and locations will be announced. The public are asked to sign up to the newsletter for updates. The draft Arts Plan will be published online for public feedback. Written consultation responses from the public will be welcome via the Westmeath Public Consultation Portal for one month in the summer of 2026. Final Arts Development Plan The completed Arts Plan for the years 2026 until 2030 will be published in the Autumn of 2026.