‘Creative capital’ plan for Cork

CORK could become the creative capital of the country through a planned art and design quarter, graduating students heard yesterday.

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) president Dr Brendan Murphy told more than 1,100 people receiving business and humanities awards that the college has already contributed significantly to the growth of the region in terms of science, engineering and business.

“I now believe that CIT will play a significant role in the region’s creative development and that, as the second city, Cork should aim to be Ireland’s Creative City,” he said.

The institute has made proposals with University College Cork, with support from Cork City Council, to create a National Centre for Design, Architecture, Media and Art in the city. A site at White Street is available from the local council for the school of architecture just opened by both third level colleges, and the proposed centre might also provide a new home for CIT’s Crawford College of Art and Design, whose current facilities are inadequate.

The site is also a short distance from CIT’s recently opened Cork School of Music and two furthereducation centres, St John’s Central College at Sawmill Street and Cork College of Commerce.

“The national centre will link with various studios, businesses and practices. Our students and graduates and our resources will be a vital part of this creative mix and together with CIT, Cork School of Music will create an education quarter for Cork — the creative region in the creative capital,” said Dr Murphy.

He also highlighted CIT’s recent €18 million award for projects under theGovernment’s Programme for Research in Third Level Institutes.