New online sharing platform for artists in Cork

Community projects in Ireland have just received a major boost thanks to a new online resource that sees people freely sharing materials, equipment, skills, and even “everything else” to help build more art.

Already hosting items like projectors, gazebos, chairs, tables, guitars, spaces to host events and even skills-sharing to help with designs, the resource enables members to “pool their resources for the common good of the communities they live and work in”.

“We’re a community arts organisation based in Cork City,” says Cork Community Art Link, “developing collaborative projects and participatory programmes that promote and develop cultural democracy through community arts practice.”

“We know how hard it is to fund new community arts initiatives so we’ve built artlinkshare.com; a digital platform that enables everyone to contribute what they can and take what they need to produce projects and bring new ideas to life within their own communities.”

No money is exchanged. You just sign up and list what skills, materials, and equipment you can afford to give someone else. The open source nature of the platform relies on this key element so that, whenever members then need something themselves, there’s an abundance of options.

“More importantly, you give yourself the opportunity to work with other members, create informal networks, share knowledge, and support people to make their cities, towns, and villages, better places to live in.

Last year Dublin-based Rhona Byrne won the Creative Circular Artist trophy at the Full Circle Awards."

Rhona’s art piece is part of Liffey Love, a public art initiative in Dublin that transforms plastic waste rescued from the River Liffey into interactive sculptures.

Circular.ie invited people across the country for nominations to our Full Circle Awards - ordinary individuals making an extraordinary impact by promoting reuse, repair, recycling, and sustainable living in their communities.