On May 6, Fergal Dennehy, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Ireland, visited Western Ave Studios and Lowell Makes alongside Denis Barrett, Cork City Council’s UNESCO Learning City Coordinator.
The visitors toured our maker space with President Carol Fournier and Shop Admiral Shawn Ashe, who shared the story of Lowell’s vibrant creative community and the collaborative spirit that makes it thrive. The Lord Mayor was “stunned” by the incredible range of activity happening within our maker and artist enclave, as well as the generosity with which members share their time, skills, and knowledge.
The visit celebrated Lowell’s recent designation as the first U.S. member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and highlighted the growing partnership between Lowell and Cork as both cities continue working to support lifelong learning and community engagement.