With one week left to the All-Island Performing Arts Conference, see the full schedule here. With Andrew Eaton, Michael Keegan Dolan, Shona McCarthy, Tania Canas and Richard De Domenici all delivering addresses, it is a packed programme. Also delighted to see such a range of contributors on the stage from all scales and types of work – Brokentalkers, Abbey Theatre, Gate Theatre, Junk Ensemble, Baboro, Anu Productions, Blue Teapot Theatre Company, Outburst Arts and so many others. If you haven’t booked then now is the time!!

Just prior to the All-Island Performing Arts Conference in Cork, there will be a special free lunchtime event in Belfast on Monday 19 June with one of its speakers, Tania Cañas. Possible with the help of colleagues at Terra Nova Productions, and the Brokering Cultural Exchange Research network.

For those not familiar with her point of view she has been writing and working in Australia for some years as an arts professional, working in community engaged practice. Some of her most provocative writing is here.

To attend the event on 19 June, follow this booking link.

Booking is now open for the 2017 conference with Theatre Forum and TheatreNI. As guest curator for 2017 it’s been a really interesting experience to listen to, and explore, current conversations and topics; what people are worried or excited about; how we move forward when things seem so uncertain. The conference theme #TwistorStick is about making choices and decisions. Do something or do nothing. Every decision is a variation on this whether the decision is about making work, protecting our skills, preparing for the future. Full programme will be announced shortly.

If you are interested and couldn’t make it the audio recording and PPTs of the talk on the role of arts and cultural leaders in managing Intercultural Exchange is now online.

You can find out more about the network through their site. They will be hosting two further events in Zurich and London during 2017 before concluding their current programme of research with a final event at Queen’s University Belfast in January 2018.

In advance of next week’s event, I’ve written a short article for Slugger O’Toole about why I think this conversation is important. There are still some tickets left for the free talk on Thursday 6 April at 6.30pm. Hope to see you there.

(The photo has nothing to do with the talk or the article).

 

Next up in my calendar in April 2017, I’ll be part of the Broken Crow residency at the Everyman Palace in Cork on 13 April. I’m delivering a workshop for artists and creative practitioners on how business concepts can help rather than hinder creative thinking.

There are a limited number of spaces so early booking is recommended. Follow this link

I’m delighted to be coordinating and chairing this public talk ‘Brokers and Gatekeepers: Arts & Cultural Leaders in promoting intercultural exchange’ in the Harty Room at Queen’s University Belfast  on 6 April 2017. Tickets (free) are available now by following the link.

It should be an interesting and exciting event drawing on the insights of some top figures in arts management research and opening up discussion about the important roles the heads of arts and cultural institutions play.

It’s a public element of a longer and much more wide-ranging research network set up by Victoria Durrer and Raphaela Henze. You can read more about what they are doing here.

POST UPDATE: The audio recording & PPTs of this event and others in the seminar are now online.