Online Members’ Meeting Thursday 16 April

Meeting Info:

This was a meeting of three parts designed to support our theatre and arts centre, festival and production company members. Contributors shared their immediate and future contingency plans and first thoughts about how the arts might adapt to the post-crisis reality.

In the first part, we talked about how arts centres are working to stay connected with colleagues, artists and audiences in the upcoming months. We had short updates from arts centres about online artist-in-residence initiatives, and from festivals and production companies about different online initiatives adopted since the crisis began.
Contributors: Niamh Ferry of The Civic, Marie O’Byrne from the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Mark O’Brien of axis Ballymun, Carina McGrail of Dublin Dance Festival, Dara McGee from Áras Éanna, and Conor Coyle of Ticketsolve. 

The second part explored how others are planning to adapt and evolve their post-crisis relationships with their team, artists, audiences and communities. We heard what colleagues are planning for in uncertain times, likely scenarios, 2021 funding and planning with a focus on finance, working with artists and effective marketing communications.
Contributors: Jim Culleton of Fishamble, Chantal McCormick of Fidget Feet Aerial Dance, the Irish Aerial Dance Festival and Irish Aerial Creation Centre and Michael Barker Caven of The Civic.

The last part was an Q&A about 2020-2021 Arts Centre, Touring and Arts Council applications and deadlines with Val Ballance online to answer queries about the Arts Council Arts Centre application date/application window for 2021, application planning for 2021, possible funding scenarios and views on local authority funding.