What is CORACLE?
Coracle is a partnership led by University of Wales Trinity Saint David with Wexford campus IT Carlow, Wexford Arts Centre and the County Councils of Carmarthenshire and Wexford. This programme of cross border activities develops higher-level skills to increase employability and commercial competitiveness among Creative Practitioners in South East Ireland and South West Wales. The Foundation of this development is the provision of courses from higher and further education partners.
On regional and national levels the strengthening of the infrastructure of the creative and cultural sector is key to sustainability. The delivery of an MBA degree in Professional Arts Management by the two higher education institutions working in partnership addresses that need by equipping key individuals with the business skills to manage elements of the creative industries strategically.
The MBA is supplemented by various business and vocationally focused short courses and hands-on workshops. Also the sharing of knowledge and best practice through exchange projects, internships and informal but intense mentoring relationships.
Central to the project is this social-media driven website that provides the unique opportunity of a multi-media portfolio space for creative practitioners.
The over-arching theme of the Coracle is that of festival. Arts festivals serve as platforms for creative practice and showcases for the skills development achieved by this investment in the creative industries. Arts festivals also contribute to the added cultural value of the regions’ economies and impact directly and positively upon cultural tourism and the hospitality industry.
Coracle is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Interreg 4a Programme.
