An exciting new project entitled Harnessing Creativity was launched last Friday at the Dock Arts centre in Carrick On Shannon here in county Leitrim. It is a new training program for Creatives and businesses and hopes to develop several new interesting products and services along the way. Sizable funding has been secured from the EU for the 3 counties taking part which is a very welcome boost for the creative industry in north west Ireland. A major part of the program are ‘Creative Labs’ where participants will hopefully re-examine what creativity means in the context of their own work, collaboration with others, the region and the wider world. The studio has been asked to facilitate the Leitrim Lab and will explore many aspects of new creative meaning over the course of 8 days on this years program. For more information please take a look at the Harnessing Creativity web site – www.harnessingcreativity.eu  Below is an extract from the Leitrim Enterprise Board web site outlining the project.

An innovative “Harnessing Creativity‟ project has secured €799,880 of funding from the European Union‟s INTERREG IVA programme. Harnessing Creativity will be delivered by Leitrim County Enterprise Board in partnership with the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN), Leitrim County Council, Fermanagh District Council, Omagh Enterprise Agency, Tyrone Donegal Partnership and the Leitrim Design House. This cross border project will be rolled out in two phases over a 35 month period from June 2012 to May 2015.

For many businesses in the North West the current economic challenges mean keeping heads down, working hard and hoping things will get better. The suggestion that they should put time into new ideas may not feel like the right thing to do just now, but Harnessing Creativity aims to help businesses and the region break out of the doldrums and become market leaders.

Harnessing Creativity will provide training and support for people working within the creative sector across the region of Leitrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone. The Programme will take shape over the coming months in consultation with specialists working within creative businesses and with entrepreneurs. It will provide collaborative spaces for new ways of thinking, open to both the creative sector businesses and wider business.
Commenting on the project Anna-Marie O‟Rourke, Programme Coordinator, said “One of my goals as Coordinator of the Harnessing Creativity Programme, will be to ensure that the programme opens the door to opportunities for creative business development”. She continued “Our job is to provide the space, relationships, connections and support”.
“We are at the threshold of a significant change in the way we can do business” said Joe Lowe, CEO of Leitrim County Enterprise Board “Harnessing Creativity comes at an ideal time to contribute to making that change happen together with the skills and talents of the people of the region”.

Are you based in Leitrim, Fermanagh or Tyrone? Are you a business that wants to think creatively about your products or services to achieve fresh growth? We are waiting for you to get in touch. For further information or to register your interest please contact Anna-Marie O‟Rourke on 0035371 96 20450 or by email at annamarie@leitrimenterprise.ie.
Harnessing Creativity is funded under INTERREG IVA Theme: Priority 1: Co-operation for a more prosperous Cross Border Region-Enterprise Theme