CULTURE
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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.”
This was not always the case. In 2005, Ireland was the only EU
state that didn’t have an organisation dedicated to the promotion of its national culture, but the establishment of Culture Ireland changed all that. Having started out as a grant-giving body, the organisation has expanded its remit and helped bring the wealth of artistic talent fostered on our shores to the eyes and ears of the world. Showcasing Irish artists at high-profile cultural events at home and
abroad, hosting international delegations who are given the chance to experience performances, exhibitions and artworks, and providing the platform upon which Irish artists can develop, Culture Ireland places an emphasis on the talent it fosters, rather than trying to position itself as a brand. “Irish culture
itself has an international recognition,” says
Christine. “We supported 450 projects in 60 countries in 2016. They are so diverse in terms of theatre, dance, music, literature, and each of our acts are so individual, that we have always had a view that when each artist does well, the benefits for ‘Ireland Inc’ flow from that, rather than from any overall branding or messaging.” Out of the 450 projects mentioned, 250 full-time jobs were
generated. Live audience reach was 4.5 million, online reach 15.5 million, so the opportunity to be seen is there, and this is because of Ireland’s creativity in the main. “It’s the creativity of the nation, as seen through very individual talent,” as Christine says. At home, Culture Ireland continues to host international presenters
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who get to experience performances and meet artists at a variety of events. These range from the likes of the Dublin Theatre Festival and Dublin Fringe Festival to indie rock event Hard Working-Class Heroes to the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival, which recently saw representatives from Folk Alliance International visit from the US. “Having delegates come to Ireland goes beyond their seeing artists
and performances and getting a sample of the cultural offerings we can show them, it gives them a good sense of Ireland as a country and where the inspiration comes from,” Christine says. “In 2016 we had 160 international presenters in to experience Irish
works directly. They all have conversations with the artists, spend time in Ireland, and take that positive experience home with them, becoming advocates or promoters of Ireland and Irish culture. “These presenters and delegates operate in small circles within
their particular art forms and they talk to each other about the works they have seen, so the word is spread, and we help to spread that word by facilitating it all.” The event in Clonakilty proved particularly successful, and
according to Christine, “You couldn’t have invented a better setting, the sheer Irishness of it – the music, the people, the atmosphere.” This unique experience sometimes proves too hard to resist.
Christine recalls inviting a delegate over from Australia for the Galway International Arts Festival in mid July, and meeting her
INNOVATION IRELAN REVIEW “Our cultural connections with Britain are very strong.
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(Top L-R): 1 Macnas at SXSW; 2 Swan Lake, Loch na hEala by Teac Damsa; 3 Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society; 4 Sharon Carty in The Second Violinist, Landmark Productions and Wide Open Opera; 5 Peter Whelan and Ensemble Marsyas; 6 The People Build, Galway International Arts Festival 2017 (image Andrew Downes)
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