Culture Connects: mapping UK Ireland arts & cultural connections
British Council Ireland have commissioned research to explore arts and cultural connections between the UK and Ireland. Through a mixed methods study, the research, conducted by Northern-Ireland based Starling Start, will generate knowledge and insight on artists mobility and cultural connection between the UK and Ireland.
About the Research
The research combines survey responses with interviews, a desktop literature review of policy, and mapping of available data in recent arts and cultural connection between the UK and Ireland. We are gathering insights from both individual practitioners and organisational representatives across the artforms of literature, music, theatre, dance, visual arts and multi-disciplinary practice as well as those engaged in creative and cultural work. Our overall goal is to understand how to foster greater connectivity, mutual understanding, and stronger relationships in the arts / cultural sectors between UK and Ireland.
The study will comprise a mixed methods study - analysing quantitative data in addition to a series of semi-structured interviews with artists and key cultural stakeholders in the UK and Ireland. The research aims to do the following:
- Capture the connections between the UK and Ireland in arts and culture.
- Understand geographic specificity and attraction across the UK and Ireland.
- Explore the motivations (and barriers) associated with this attraction.
- Generate recommendations for the type of interventions, initiatives or supports that could create, or enhance, mobility and connection across the UK and Ireland.
It will be of interest to government agencies, policy makers, analogue organisations, resource agencies and arts and cultural practitioners along with those interested in arts and culture in a UK Ireland context. Find out more here.
About the Researchers
Starling Start is a consultancy based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, renowned for its excellence in managing and delivering transformative, creative, and strategic projects. Starling Start collaborates with a diverse range of organisations, artists, architects, designers, educators, producers, and communities of practice. Amberlea Neely and Jane Morrow of Starling Start are leading our research.
Online webinar
On 19th March from 12-1pm (GMT), we hosted an online webinar to discuss key findings and reflections from this new research by British Council Ireland. Researchers Jane Morrow and Amberlea Neely of Starling Start presented findings and reflections from the report on UK Ireland arts and cultural connections.
We were also joined by Rehana Mughal, British Council Director of Creative Economy, one of the organisation's key global arts programmes. Rehana set the research in the context of the priorities of the Creative Economy programme and how this new publication contributes to and presents a new venture in UK Ireland relations in arts and culture. The session was hosted by Kerry McCall Magan, British Council Ireland Country Director. The session was recorded and you can watch it back below. You can also view the powerpoint slides from the session below.