Building Capacity for Cultural Industries: Towards a Shared-Island Approach.

The professional performing arts (dance and theatre) are an interconnected cultural industry on the island of Ireland, both in terms of the performative nature of the artforms, but especially in relation to the economic, administrative, and cultural all-island ties that are realised through the policies and practices of this cultural industry. Funded by the Irish Research Council's New Foundations Scheme (https://research.ie/funding/new-foundations/), under the Shared Island Initiative Strand supported by the Shared Island Unit (https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c3417-shared-island/), this project brings together existing academic and sector-based research to understand how all-island relations within the professional performing arts (dance and theatre) may be nurtured.  Over a series of workshops, individuals in academia and the arts will work together to collate and explore existing data regarding the extent to which the professional performing arts currently relates across the island and what might enable or hinder the nurturing of those relationships. The project is led by Dr. Victoria Durrer (UCD) (https://people.ucd.ie/victoria.durrer) in partnership with Dr. Aoife McGrath (QUB) (https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/aoife-mcgrath), Theatre & Dance NI (https://theatreanddanceni.org), Arts Council Northern Ireland (http://www.artscouncil-ni.org), Dance Ireland (https://www.danceireland.ie) and Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre (https://www.dylanquinndance.com). Cavan County Council Arts Office (http://www.cavanarts.ie/Default.aspx?StructureID_str=1), the British Council (https://www.britishcouncil.ie) and Arts Council Ireland /  An Chomhairle Ealaíon (https://www.artscouncil.ie/home/) are core research participants with Dr. Emma McAlister supporting the work as Research Assistant. The process, which will involve hearing from and valuing the experiences of broader groups of individuals and organisations engaging in the professional performing arts across the island, will culminate in a report of findings to the Department of the Taoiseach’s Shared Island Unit. It will also involve opportunity for the exploration of potential further study and exchange in Europe and beyond with our international advisor, Dr. Milena Dragićević Šešić, prof. emerita, former President of University of Arts, Belgrade, Founder of UNESCO Chair in Interculturalism, Art Management and Mediation.