A group has been formed in Cork to offer an alternative platform for fringe events to mark Cork as European Capital of Culture next year.
The responsibility for a programme of cultural events is not the sole preserve of the Cork 2005 office, and shouldn't be borne by it alone, according to one of the founders of the group, the director of the Cork Film Festival, Mr Mick Hannigan.
The "Where's Me Culture?" group plans to offer a platform to bodies eager to participate in the experience of the European Capital of Culture.
"People are excited at the thought of 2005 and want to give expression to their cultural desires and imagination which may have been excluded from the official programme.
"It was inevitable that there would be fringe events," Mr Hannigan said yesterday.
While he said there was a certain disenchantment and frustration with the official programme, he stressed that there was no conflict with the Cork 2005 group.
"There is a very interesting programme lined up, but obviously it doesn't represent every interest, skill and talent in Cork," he said.
Over 70 people attended a meeting at the Kino cinema at the weekend where the alliance was formed.
The film festival director stressed that the mood at the meeting was one of optimism and energy, rather than criticism of the official line-up.
He said the title of the group, "Where's Me Culture?", was chosen because it posed a rhetorical question.
"There was an emphatic feeling at the meeting of 'Here's Me Culture!', here is what we're about in Cork," he explained.
"I think it's important that next year caters for events of a more DIY and street-level ethos. Because of the nature of the organisation and the large budget it has to manage, Cork 2005 has become a type of corporation.
"It becomes a bit bureaucratic, whereas one of our advantages is that we've no money, so we have to ask what resources we have to put this together. Subsequently we have imagination and energy," he added.
According to Mr Hannigan, the group is constantly evolving and will meet again this Saturday at the Kino cinema at midday.
Meanwhile, the Cork 2005 office yesterday announced details of 20 creative residencies that will be funded by the Cork 2005/Credit Union Residencies Programme and managed by the national arts development agency Create.
The residencies cover a wide range of art forms. These include Irish-language poetry, print-making, script-writing and sculpture, and involve such community groups as schoolchildren, trade union members, youth groups, asylum-seekers and senior citizens.
According to the Cork 2005 office, the outcome will be a necklace of exhibitions, performances and publications throughout the city and county, displaying the creative response of community groups to Cork's designation as European Capital of Culture.