We have had great news that Tuam has been selected for a €450,000 three-year pilot programme for investment in the arts.
The funding from the Arts Council is part of its Creative Places Ireland programme.
The programme is specifically aimed at communities around the country that have not benefited from sustained public investment in the arts.
The Arts Council chose Tuam because it recognised its people had an established interest and commitment to the arts and culture, pointing to the achievements of our late playwright Tom Murphy, the Saw Doctors and singer Brendan Murray.
The town was also chosen because it was felt that Tuam would benefit socially and economically from the investment.
This is the first time that the Arts Council will be investing in a specific place with an intention to work with local partners to build on their artistic assets, resources and ambitions.
A public meeting on the project will be held in Tuam Library at 5pm on July 18 for anyone wishing to find out more about the initiative.
A tender for project management for the pilot programme will be published on July 19. It is expected the project will formally launch in October 2019.