A Feasibility Study and Business Plan, which looked at the viability and sustainability of developing a Lady Gregory Cultural Centre at Coole Park. The Plan was prepared for the Friends of Coole, as part of their primary aim to celebrate and commemorate the creative influence of Lady Gregory and her contributions to Irish cultural life.
The Friends of Coole have been championing the development of such a centre at Coole as being the most appropriate and fitting memorial to Lady Gregory. Their vision is of a permanent centre in which a variety of educational and cultural activities, relating primarily to Lady Gregory, Yeats, the Irish Literary Revival, and the natural heritage and landscape of Coole, would be delivered to the public.
Project details
- Extensive consultation with the Friends of Coole, Galway Arts Office, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Galway County Council
- Background research into the project, including previous cultural programmes run by the Friends of Coole
- Identifying the vision, aims and objectives for the project
- Consultation with visitors to Coole Park and the general public, including local, national and international visitors
- Consultation with educational institutions with a possible interest in the Cultural Centre, including, schools, Galway Education Centre, NUI Maynooth, University of Limerick, NUIG and The Moore Institute, as well as international institutions such as Villanova University, University of Arkansas and the College of William and Mary
- Review of the potential of the Centre upon cultural and artistic enterprise, cultural tourism and employment
- Profile of the Centre within the wider strategic context of local, County, regional and national strategic plans
- Identifying a number of options for the Friends of Coole regarding the potential development of the Centre
- Recommendations for each of the options, with a preference for one to be indicated
- Consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders, e.g. NPWS, OPW and Galway County Council regarding potential planning issues
- Identifying facilities to be included within the Cultural Centre
- Reviewing potential sources of funding to support the capital costs, including construction and kit-out
- Preparation of a draft programme of events for the Cultural Centre
- Review of the financial viability of the Centre, based upon 6-year projections, including Profit and Loss and Cash Flows
- Projecting possible income streams for the Centre, including, for example, events, seminars, summer schools, donations, memberships, etc.
- Projecting possible operational costs and overheads for a facility of this size
- Recommending a management structure to ensure the sustainability of the Lady Gregory Centre, including legal structure, management committee and sub-committees
- Designing a model for the ownership and lease of the land and buildings
- Devising an Operational Plan for the Centre
- Preparing a marketing and promotional strategy for the first 3 years of operations
- SWOT Analysis
- Providing an Action Plan for the implementation of the project
