Cork Community Art Link is a community arts organisation and registered charity in Cork City. Operating for over 30 years, we continue to develop collaborative projects and participatory programmes between artists and the community that promote and develop cultural democracy through community arts practice. We stand for high-quality, sustainable art-making practices that bridge individuals and groups, enrich the social fabric, and encourage full participation in cultural life. We celebrate artistic freedom and collective expression and champion the idea that everyone has a story to tell and a part to play in shaping the world through art. While we work on many different community art projects we’re most well known for The Dragon of Shandon, an iconic annual event brings the streets of Cork to life, showcasing giant illuminated floats, larger-than-life puppets, mesmerizing performances, and breathtaking visual art, all crafted with the passion and dedication of local artists, volunteers, and participants. The Dragon of Shandon is more than just a parade; it’s a testament to the power of collaborative art and embodies the heart of Cork Community Art Link’s mission—creating inclusive opportunities for expression and storytelling. The project began in 2006 as a street parade celebration of Samhain in Cork City and, for over 20 years, has been developed through an extensive outreach and participatory programme that spans several months of workshops with youth groups, community groups and organisations, schools, and voluntary participants. Since its inception, thousands of people have taken to the narrow streets of Shandon to walk with a 36ft long Dragon made entirely of tape, as it travels between worlds in a celebration of the living and the dead. The Dragon has now entered the folklore of the City, and Cork Community Art Link is proud to be a part of this collaborative project that has over 25,000 people coming out on to the streets of Cork to participate in the clamour and mayhem of this night time spectacle. So, if you want to know more about us or get involved in one of our projects then get in touch.