Consultancy & Evaluation
I’m currently working on a range of small-scale and informal advisory projects for independent arts organisations.
I have done advisory work for An Chomhairle Ealaion/Arts Council of Ireland since 2017 in programmes on festivals, theatre and artists development and engagement with local authorities/regional cultural planning. From 2016 – 2018, I worked as an independent Artistic Assessor for Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Previous work includes strategic review and development work for Vault Artists Studios, Outburst Queer Arts Festival, Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre and Prime Cut Productions; independent artistic reviews for other festivals; conceiving and preparing artistic programmes, strategic and business plans for Young at Art and Replay Productions.
I was a Strategic Advisor for Belfast City Council on the joint bid for European Capital of Culture with Derry & Strabane District Council, #WeAre2023.
In 2015, I worked on a documentation report of Brace or Breakthrough, a symposium organised by Prime Cut Productions and the MAC on producing models for performing arts. While the report was initialled published online, it is no longer available but you can access a copy here.
Training & Mentoring
Currently, I am leading the Future Foundation programme as part of Future Screens NI. Devised as a pandemic response to support creative practitioners exploring new avenues and approaches to their practice, it began in early 2021. Individuals can apply on a rolling basis and receive one-to-one mentoring as well as free access to a range of workshops, sharing events and discussions.
I’ve been a guest speaker for the MA in Festive Arts students at University of Limerick a number of times, also addressing their MA cohort about leadership in the arts and particularly festivals.
I worked as a mentor for Arts & Business NI, as a host mentor on their Creative Internships Programme in 2013 and as an individual mentor on their Creating Futures Programme in 2014.
In 2011 – 2012, Volunteer Service Bureau approached me to offer training in volunteer policy development to their Sports Volunteer Champions in the run-up to the Olympic year.
Voluntary Work & Board Membership
Most recently, I was part of the founding team of Fighting Words Belfast and became their first Chair and Trustee in 2016 as the organisation was legally incorporated. Stepping down in 2018, I continue to be an avid supporter of their work.
Other work has included founding and supporting a range of campaigns for support for arts and culture spanning 25 years; founding trustee of TheatreShop (now the Irish Theatre Institute); NI Board member of TYA UK (Theatre for Young Audiences UK); and Chair of the Play Resource Centre. In 2015, I was invited to be a member of the then DCAL Ministerial Arts Advisory Forum.
Ali FitzGibbon 