Joanna Cunningham on the Importance of a funded Arts Centre

Joanna Cunningham, originally from Co. Kildare, Ireland and now Executive Director of the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny, Ireland has kept the importance of the arts in every person’s life and education at the centre of her vision throughout her professional life. Joanna graduated from University College Cork with a Bachelor of Music before completing an MA in music with a focus on the social history of music and its therapeutic and educational benefits, at the University of Limerick.

‘The arts are a pillar of personal and community wellbeing and an active arts centre contributes to the provision of this.’ Joanna noted.

Her vision has underpinned her work at the Watergate Theatre since January 2018 and before this as Music Programmer at Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford and Deputy Director at Waterford Healing Arts Trust at Waterford University Hospital.

Families

The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny’s funded Arts Centre provides access for people of all ages to engage as audience members and art makers in the three diverse artistic programmes delivered annually.

‘Audience development and engagement is central to ensuring that the artistic programmes I curate each season reflect the interests and backgrounds of all sectors of our society. It’s my goal, when we launch each artistic programme, that everyone who delves into it will find something they’d like to attend or get involved with,’ says Joanna Cunningham the Watergate’s Executive Director, ‘from parents with young families, to educators, to couples looking for a fun night out, it’s our goal to reach out to everyone.’

Healthy Youth

According to Joanna Cunningham, former Deputy Director of the Waterford Healing Arts Trust, and Music Programmer at Garter Lane Arts Centre Waterford, Arts Centres are where children and young people can experience their first taste of high-quality performances across all artistic disciplines. This can have a powerful impact on their outlook for their own life and development as well as the choices they make around friendships, interests and lifestyles for the rest of their lives.

Improve Academic Performance

‘At the Watergate we reach out to educators as much as we can to offer them opportunities to bring their syllabi to life through the high-quality production of curricular texts. We know that a child or young person who sees a piece of theatre brought to life can powerfully and positively impact how they approach their own learning and educational outlook. It has been my goal throughout my professional life to harness the power and scope of the arts in the programmes and centres I’ve worked at, to benefit people of all ages, social, economic and cultural backgrounds’ Joanna Cunningham, February 2021.