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Culture Ireland has been supporting and providing a global platform for Irish artists since its inception in 2005. As the body has grown, so too has the


international recognition our thriving culture deserves, and the focus is set very much on an even bigger future, writes Adam Hyland.


and cultural expression, but a focused business sense and strategy is necessary to harness and promote


A


is ambitious, but achievable, thanks in no small part to the outstanding work done by Culture Ireland. The most logical place for the expansion of


this global footprint to start is with our closest neighbour: Britain. In the wake of Brexit, the geographical divide between the two nations has been joined by a political and soon to be economic one, but the undoubted cultural connections between us provide a permanent bridge, one Culture Ireland is aiming to strengthen over the coming years. “We developed our strategy to go to marketplaces likely to result


in good


opportunities for Irish artists,” says Culture Ireland Director, Christine Sisk, “and where we may have started out with a scattered global approach, we have honed that in to those markets where we have


greater


opportunity for success. “We have a focused plan for next year to


target Great Britain,” Christine says, “and we can put greater resources into this focus to get better outcomes, joining up the connectivity between the different art forms to


present a unified representation of


Irish culture.” Though the strategy was formulated pre-


Brexit, the organisation working as part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and The Gaeltacht under an advisory committee that represents bodies such as IDA Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, recognises the need to keep that cultural connection intact. “Our cultural connections with Britain


are very strong,” says Christine. “Many artists move over and back frequently, many live there or did live there, with huge success. There


is no reason to see a divide there culturally. 53 ISSUE 13


s a nation, we have always prided ourselves on our rich heritage of artistic


worldwide. The Government’s aim to double Ireland’s global footprint


this to audiences by 2025


“There are also key Irish figures in


prominent positions in Britain,” Christine adds, “such as Fergus Linehan (director of the Edinburgh International Festival), and many others who are well-positioned within cultural bodies, theatre companies and other artistic organisations.” That cultural exchange with Britain is


helped greatly by the ongoing success of Irish artists and performers at such major events as the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which together this year celebrated their 70th anniversary. Since


2005, Culture


Ireland has supported more than 70 Irish theatres and dance companies and 100 writers to present at it. “Our reputation is strong,” Christine is


happy to say. “Shona McCarthy, an Irishwoman, is Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe


Society,


so there was, as always, a strong Irish presence there. It was a good year for the Irish in Edinburgh, but


it usually is. We


frequently win awards and help put Irish culture on the map,” Christine points out. This year, writer and actor Joanne Ryan won the Melbourne Fringe Award, and has been invited to Australia to tour her show there, while Oona Doherty, a dance artist, also won a theatre award. It’s a case of onwards and upwards. Next


January, Ireland will be the focus country at Celtic Connections, the biggest Celtic music festival in the world, taking place in Glasgow, and this will be another major opportunity to showcase Irish culture and artists to a British audience and beyond. Before that, Galway-based Macnas, who


were jointly supported by Culture Ireland and IDA Ireland to perform at SXSW in Austin, Texas two years ago, have been invited to perform as part of the farewell event to wrap up the celebrations for Hull’s year as European City of Culture. “Irish artists are very much up there at the


height of their ability,” Christine says, “and we are glad to be able to help get them there.”


1 Town Choir at Dublin Fringe Festival 2017 (image Simon Lazewski); 2 Swan Lake, Loch na hEala by Teac Damsa; 3 Krapp’


s Last T ape at the 2017 Edinburgh International Festival (image Beth Chalmers); 4 Chariot of the Sea at Galway International Arts Festival 2017 (image Andrew Downes)


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