The Local Enterprise Office engaged with the creative sectors and other stakeholders to inform the development of a Strategic Action Plan for Creative Entrepreneurship for Donegal that was launched in the RCC, Letterkenny on the 18th May 2015.  The process began with an open workshop attended by over 30 stakeholders held in our offices in Letterkenny in October 2014. This was a first opportunity for people in the creative sectors in Donegal to participate in this strategic initiative. A key outcome was a request for another meeting and a second open workshop attended by over 20 stakeholders took place in the Local Enterprise Office in early December 2014.

A draft Strategic Action Plan was developed in January 2014 and an Interim Strategic Review Group made up of over 15 creative sector and local agency representatives were invited to provide feedback and attend a third workshop to discuss the potential for collaborative action.

In addition to the workshops:

• An online survey was circulated during November and December and received 86 responses
• Over 55 1:1 discussions were held via meetings and phonecalls for a representative spread across the county, relevant sectors and agency supports
• The initiative was presented at the 2014 Allingham Festival and an information stand was set up at this event to raise awareness of the initiative
• The Local Enterprise Office engaged with stakeholders, agencies and local authority departments to develop opportunities for collaboration in the delivery  of supports for the creative sectors.

MCO Projects was commissioned by the Local Enterprise Office to work with the team in facilitating the stakeholder engagement process and preparing the Strategic Action Plan. After each facilitated workshop a summary of the discussions were circulated to attendees and are available below for general information, along with both the full report and the summary report of the Strategic Action Plan For Creative Entrepreneurship in Donegal. 

An updated Strategic Action Plan for Creative Entrepreneurs 2019 - 2022 was launched in the RCC, Letterkenny on 5th September 2019 and is available below. The Head of Enterprise, Michael Tunney said the plan outlines outlining aspirations for longer-term development and the focus of the Local Enterprise Office and other stakeholders will be to continue to work with the sector to develop viable businesses and to maximise new opportunities.