Cork and Kerry County Council team up for ‘Make or Break’ Programme for local Businesses

a person drawing with a coloured pencil onto a sheet of paper

Cork County Council Library and Arts Service, in collaboration with Kerry County Arts Service, HSE Southwest and The Crawford Art Gallery are calling for local businesses to take part in an exciting new programme, ‘Make Or Break’ Pilot Creative Health and Wellbeing Programme. Developed as part of the Cork County Council Creative Ireland programme in 2023, this initiative aims to enhance employee wellbeing through free creative workshops offered during workplace break times with local artists. The programme is now being extended to workplaces in the Cork / Kerry region, funded by Creative Ireland through the Creative Health and Wellbeing Scheme.

The ‘Make Or Break’ programme invites workplaces in Cork County and Kerry to participate, offering employees the opportunity to engage in new and fun creative activities facilitated by professional artists, suitable for all abilities. Designed to be both enjoyable and relaxing, the central focus of the programme is to offer employees the chance to get creative and to promote mental wellbeing, contributing to a positive workplace environment. Participants can explore a range of workshops including Printmaking, Drawing, Clay Sculpting, Embroidery, and Bookbinding to name but a few, and participants can select up to two topics to delve into over a 6 week programme of lunchtime sessions.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll said,
 

The ‘Make Or Break’ programme represents a significant investment in integrating creative wellbeing practices in professional environments. We’re delighted to have been able to bring together so many committed partners to make this idea a reality and expand it to businesses across both Cork and Kerry. We thank Creative Ireland through the Creative Health and Wellbeing Scheme and Kerry County Council, HSE, and The Crawford Art Gallery for their support.

Creative Ireland was established in 2017, inspired by the extraordinary public engagement with culture-based activities during the 1916 Easter Rising Centenary Commemorations. Supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Creative Ireland are committed to allowing all people of Ireland to benefit from culture and the arts and realise their full creative potential.

For more information or to express your interest as a business to be involved in the ‘Make Or Break’ programme, please contact creativeireland@corkcoco.ie.