‘Cultural Mobility and Connection: Ireland and the four nations of the UK’ research report captures the importance of artist and cultural professional mobility across Ireland and the four nations of the UK.
It provides insights and information from a contemporary vantage point focusing on the core of the creative ecology on these islands – artists and cultural professionals. It notes the strategic funds, partnerships and intergovernmental frameworks that support collaboration and mobility and provides analysis on data made available by the key national arm’s length bodies and government agencies in the Ireland – UK relationship. This research engaged with arm’s length bodies, arts and cultural policymakers, strategic cultural organisations, arts practitioners and cultural producers across the UK and Ireland. In total, 278 individuals participated through an online survey and semi-structured interviews.
As the first research report of its kind, it underscores the immense potential and appetite for further cultural collaboration between Ireland and the four nations of the UK. It highlights the drive, passion, creativity, and resilience of artists, producers, and cultural organisations and it provides a number of suggestions to drive growth, connection and new partnerships in the cultural ecosystem, building on current funding and initiatives across a range of organisations and bodies.
The opportunities are grouped around policy development (steer), opportunities for strategic collaboration(collaboration), and support for artists and practitioners (support).
The report was made possible by the collaborative spirit and collegiality of Arts Council Ireland, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Culture Ireland, Creative Ireland, Creative Scotland and Wales Arts International along with wider British Council colleagues, cultural organisations and professionals.