Visual artist Fergal McCarthy, ‘No Man’s Land’. Image: Andreas Pettersson

Visual artist Fergal McCarthy is one of the three recipients of the 2018 Docklands Arts Fund Small Grants.

Fergal is a visual artist living in Dublin, who originally worked as a painter but in recent years has widened his practice to include installations, photography and film.

He has spent several months researching source material relating to the Dublin Docklands area to create a book, which delivers an engaging and humorous account of the story of the Docklands. This book was distributed without cost to local primary schools in the Docklands area, with Fergal hosting presentations of the project to school pupils.  For information on Fergal’s other work, please see his website here.

Commenting on the Docklands Arts Fund, and working on his project ‘Dublin’s First Port of Call’, Fergal says:

 “Since I moved to Dublin almost 20 years ago I have been fascinated by the Liffey, I refuse to see it in any way that doesn’t involve rose-coloured glasses. I have worked on many art projects over the years responding to the river including ‘Liffeytown’, a small estate of red and green Monopoly-style houses moored on the river for a fortnight and ‘No Man’s Land’, a floating desert island in the Docklands that became my temporary home for a week.

By being awarded a grant from the Docklands Arts Fund, I was enabled to shift my interest in the Liffey further down river to Dublin Port. I spent several happy months reading into the history and geography of Dublin Port and making visits to the area to chat with former dock workers about their time in the port. By the end of my research I was considering moving house to Ringsend just so I could watch the ships come and go all day and maybe join a rowing club. All the information I gathered became the basis of a little book of cartoon-style drawings detailing Dublin Port’s back story. I got to tell such stories as the unexpected formation of Bull Island, Captain Bligh’s commissioning of the North Wall, the shipwrecks on the Kish Sandbank and the Diving Bell’s usage to deepen Dublin Port.

On completion I printed up several hundred copies of my little book, Dublin’s First Port of Call. These books were distributed freely to primary schools in the Dublin Port area which I visited to conduct workshops and readings. I’m glad to report that in the course of ten workshops only one child managed to fall asleep! Most of the children I met in the schools had parents and grandparents who worked in Dublin Port, and they shared their experience of living in a Docklands community. I was pleasantly surprised that many of the pupils I worked with knew far more about Dublin Port than I do. Retired Dockers had already spoken to them in their schools and Fighting Words had initiated writing projects in response to the port and the local environment. The Docklands communities have an incredibly rich history, and I am incredibly grateful to the Docklands Arts Fund for providing me with this opportunity to respond to it with this book.“

Pictured (l-r) at the announcement of the businesses taking part in the match-funded Artist in Residence (AR) Programme with Creative Ireland’s National Creativity Fund and Business to Arts were Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts and Minister Josepha Madigan T.D. with business participants Martina Westphal, Managing Director, BHP Community, Adrienne Harrington, Chief Executive, The Ludgate Hub and Emmet Scully, Managing Partner, LK Shields beside artist James Kirwan’s installation, ‘Portal to a Vague Place’, in the RHA Gallery. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography.

Business to Arts announced the three companies selected to take part in the Artist-in-Residence (AR) Programme, one of 30 initiatives supported as part of the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund.  Expressions of interest were sought from businesses interested in developing new (or significantly enhance their existing) CSR activity through the AR Programme.

The three businesses selected include:

• BHP Insurances (Dublin): BHP Insurances will work with a piano musician to develop a combination of performance and education based initiatives for clients in the not-for-profit sector.
• LK Shields (Galway): LK Shields will work with a performance-based artist, to explore ways of using performance techniques to develop presentation skills and leadership skills, focusing on working with third-level students to prepare them for entering the workforce, and to overcome barriers to progressing their chosen career.
• The Ludgate Hub (Cork): Ludgate Hub will work with a local artist and local community of older people to connect with the older diaspora community through technology and creativity.

The AR Programme covers a broad spectrum of activity and opportunities for artists and companies. The selected programmes involve a minimum of twelve-months of community engagement, staff engagement or work-place creativity activities by the host companies and artists.

At the announcement, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan T.D., commented: “The all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme is now two years in existence and already we are beginning to see the impact of key initiatives such as the National Creativity Fund.

Collaboration and community engagement are core principles of the Creative Ireland Programme and I am particularly pleased that we have supported the Business to Arts Artist-in-Residence (AR) initiative – which encourages and enables active partnerships between business, artists and local communities.

Through initiatives such as the AR Programme, we want to encourage ambition, risk and innovation by harnessing the incredible talent and passion of our artists, our creative communities and local business innovators.  I look forward to following the progress of these partnerships and sharing the outcomes of each as they come to fruition.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, stated:

‘Alongside our Creative Ireland Programme partner, we are looking forward to working with BHP Insurance, The Ludgate Hub and LK Shields as we expand our AR Programme across other regions in Ireland. We look forward to working with these businesses, their resident artists and local community groups, fostering an environment of collaboration, learning and wellbeing through creative practice.’

Any artist interested in working with a company can join the Business to Arts register by emailing info@businesstoarts.ie.

Full details of the Open Call for artists are available here.

Students from St. Joseph’s Co-Ed Primary School in East Wall with A&L Goodbody Writer-in-Residence Catherine Ann Cullen. Picture by Jason Clarke

On Thursday June 13th, A&L Goodbody and Business to Arts hosted a Writer-in-Residence event at St. Joseph’s Co-Ed Primary School in East Wall. Pupils, teachers, family members and A&L Goodbody employees were in attendance to celebrate three years of partnership with the A&L Goodbody Writer-in-Residence Catherine Ann Cullen, under the Docklands Arts Fund. Music and songs composed during the programme by the pupils were performed by the pupils and Catherine Ann, with musical accompaniment by Imogen Gunner.

Catherine Ann has worked with 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th class in St. Joseph’s Co-Ed Primary School in East Wall with a view to improving their creativity and literacy skills. Each week, the pupils ‘commissioned’ her to write a poem on a theme of their devising, and the following week’s session opened with that poem. Catherine Ann has helped the pupils to develop creative writing skills, enabling them to express their thoughts and emotions about daily life in East Wall, as well as their dreams for the future. The students work has been compiled into books called ‘Words for Third’ and ‘Suggestions by Sixth’.

Students from St Joseph’s Co-Ed Primary School in East Wall. Picture by Jason Clarke

Pictured was Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner, Walkers, Walkers photographer in Residence, Kate Nolan and Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts with transition year student Genoveva Nemes (16) of CBS Westland Row at the launch of photographic exhibition titled ‘Docklands Story Walks’.

Business to Arts and financial services law firm, Walkers, joined Irish photographer Kate Nolan, the 2019 Walkers Photographer-in-Residence and transition year students from CBS Westland Row to celebrate the completion of the second year of the Walkers Photographer in Residence. The student’s project work was showcased at Walkers offices alongside Walkers staff photography, highlighting the development of their photographic skills together.

Walkers and Business to Arts also announced the winners of the ‘Walkers Stories from the Docklands Photography Competition’. The three competition categories focused on the themes of community, neighbourhood, work and play. Winners included:

• Children of Walkers staff / Students 11 years and under – Julia Kolasa, Rutland NS student
• Children of Walkers staff / Students 12 to 18 years of age – Yung Kien Chong, CBS Westland Row student
• Walkers Staff – Niamh Pender

Walkers staff, family members, and students from local schools in the Dublin Docklands were eligible to enter. The winning photographs will be displayed in the new Walkers offices in the IFSC.

This project builds on the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence programme which is now its second year. In February 2018, Irish photographer Kate Nolan was announced as the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence. The residency includes a series of workshops, where Kate has introduced documentary photography to CBS Westland Row transition year students through ‘story walks’ of the Docklands. The residency supports Business to Arts’ wider programme of activity, which promotes the Arts collaboratively with businesses, artists, audiences and communities.

Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner, Walkers commented:

‘’The photography competition itself is just one component of the Photographer-in-Residence programme which involves our staff, the students of CBS Westland Row and Visual Artist, Kate Nolan in a manner which we believe reflects the ‘Walkers Way’ of working collaboratively in the community. Introducing art through the medium of photography into the Walkers workplace has had many benefits, including the promotion of enhanced communications between our people and those living and being educated in this community and the creation of a shared Docklands vision on the themes which have been the focus of this competition, namely community, neighbourhood, work and play”

At the announcement, Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts stated:

‘As we build on our partnership with Walkers and the Docklands Arts Fund, we are very happy to see the collaboration between Kate Nolan, the students of CBS Westland Row and Walkers staff continue to evolve. This programme has enabled participants involved to develop their photographic and creative skills while documenting life within the Docklands area. Taking the beautiful backdrop of Dublin Docklands as inspiration, we were delighted with the response to the Walkers photography competition from both staff and students in the local area ’.

Mentors/Artists Liam De Frinse and Bríd Higgins Ní ChinnŽide Photo by Bryan Brophy, Image Photography 

“Creative Company” is a brand new campaign and upcoming television series that aims to find Ireland’s most creative workplace. Placing an artist within a company, workers within ten different Irish companies will be set the goal of making a fantastic piece of art together.

Whether a painting or a sculpture, the workers from all levels in the organisation will be encouraged to operate as a team and make the piece of art on their own premises from concept to completion. Exploring diverse workplaces and diverse workplace cultures, the project aims to reveal how creativity is found in contemporary Irish businesses. Judged by art critics, one company must come out on top.

The winning company will not only claim the title of Ireland’s most creative, but their artwork will also be installed in Dublin’s CHQ at the heart of Dublin’s business district for a period of three months.

The businesses will be mentored by two professional artists throughout the entire process and working with the companies involved will be Dublin based painter Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide and Liam de Frinse, a Turner Prize nominated multidisciplinary artist from Belfast.

A fun and entertaining teamwork exercise exploring the connection between arts and businesses, you can get involved by registering at www.creativecompany.ie

TG4’s Commissioning Editor Laura Ní Cheallaigh says, “TG4 are thrilled to be involved in this exciting and creative project which we hope we really capture the imagination of both Irish businesses and the Irish public. We look forward to revealing the innovative and creative pieces they produce as well as following the businesses and their teams on what’s sure to be an entertaining and rewarding journey.”

Business to Arts’ Andrew Hetherington says. “We are very happy to be supporting this project with EZ Films and TG4. Increasingly companies are turning to creativity to engage and retain staff. Creativity and the arts regularly helps to enhance teamwork, problem solve and increase innovation within a company. We look forward to seeing each company’s finished artwork and look forward to finding Ireland’s most creative company.”

Launching the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards, Sean McGrath, CEO, Allianz; Andrew Hetherington , Chief Executive, Business to Arts & Victoria Mc Cormack, Macnas at Dublin Castle. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Today, Business to Arts and Allianz launched the call for nominations for the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards, which champions the unique opportunities that business engagement with the arts provides. At the awards launch, Business to Arts and Allianz encouraged businesses from across Ireland to explore and strengthen their relationships with the cultural community and create meaningful partnerships. Previous award winners include Accenture, Bord Gáis Energy, Dublin Port Company, ESB and Bank of Ireland.

This year marks the 28^th anniversary of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards and Allianz’s 19^th anniversary of involvement and sponsorship of the awards. Allianz is encouraging the business community to become involved again this year and to support and celebrate creative talent across Ireland. There are 11 categories in total focusing on sponsorship, commissioning, CSR initiatives and community engagement as well as mentoring, training and staff programs. The online entry form can be accessed through www.businesstoarts.ie/awards.

This year also sees the 12^th year of the €10,000 Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Bursary, which is open to emerging artist(s) in any art form. Previous winners include Aisling O’Mara (playwright), Clare Monnelly (theatre), pianist Máire Carroll (music), ballet dancer Gearóid Solan (dance) & sculptor Alva Gallagher (visual art).

Sean McGrath, CEO of Allianz Ireland, said:

“The 28^th Allianz Business to Arts Awards represents the crucial importance of the co-creative relationship between businesses and the arts community across Ireland.  Over the last 28 years, we have seen inspiring examples of business and artistic engagement creating truly unique moments of courageous expression for communities and artists with a new voice or message.

Allianz continues to be a strong advocate of creative partnerships between business and the arts, and the courage and dedication it takes to make these initiatives flourish. We look forward to this year’s award nominations and encourage businesses and arts groups throughout the country to get involved.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said:

“In 2019, we look forward to recognising the exceptional creative partnerships that exist throughout Ireland between the business and arts communities. Alongside our partner Allianz, our Awards and mission is to encourage business leaders to consider the arts as a powerful and creative way to enhance community relations and to communicate social issues. We look to recognise these best-in-class relationships on September 3^rd at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre”.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday, May 1st 2019 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.

Today, RCSI, Accenture and Business to Arts unveiled a series of new portraits of historical female leaders in healthcare at RCSI. Women on Walls at RCSI in partnership with Accenture recognises the pioneering achievements of a group of eight extraordinary women and aims to enhance the visibility of historical female leaders in healthcare to inspire future generations.

The portraits were officially unveiled today by Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD and RCSI President Mr Kenneth Mealy. They will now hang in the Board Room of RCSI’s historic building on St. Stephen’s Green and can be seen at scheduled times throughout 2019.

In March 2018, artists were invited to submit a proposal to Business to Arts, project managers of the initiative. A selection committee identified six artists who were commissioned to paints the portraits. The group of artists have worked with RCSI archivists to research their subjects and complete the portraits.

The following artists have completed their commissions, creating a series of eight individual portraits:

Speaking ahead of the announcement, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI CEO said, “We are immensely proud to unveil these portraits of ground-breaking RCSI women today. These pioneers made significant contributions to education and healthcare here at RCSI, in Ireland and much further afield. We hope that by recognising them through this landmark initiative; we might inspire future generations of women and girls to pursue a career in healthcare and science.”   

 “Each of these women had a profound impact and we want history to remember their legacy. It is our duty to help preserve their story and celebrate their achievements. It is right and proper that today they take their place not just on these storied walls of RCSI but also in the history of healthcare.”

Dr Michelle D. Cullen, Managing Director and Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture in Ireland added, “The contribution of women in society is too often invisible. Who we see on the walls, tells us about what we as a society value, about who is welcome, about who fits in. We set out on the journey of Women on Walls with the ambition of making women leaders visible to inspire future generations. It is truly moving to see these magnificent eight portraits being unveiled by RCSI today, reminding us of the impact these women had in healthcare.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts said, “The artists commissioned, have created a powerful series of work highlighting the importance of gender equality. The Women on Walls campaign is a strong example of how art helps to communicate an important message. These eight extraordinary women whose portraits will hang on the walls of RCSI for years to come, represent the exceptional achievements of RCSI graduates and Fellows past, present and future. We salute the achievements of the six artists”.

A new Women on Walls podcast series was announced during the unveiling. The eight-part series celebrates the lives of these eight Irish women who forged careers in healthcare during a time in Ireland when women were expected to stay at home. The first episode features the impact that Dr Barbara Maive Stokes, a paediatrician and pioneering disability campaigner, had on Ireland as a tireless advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. Women on Walls is now available for download from Apple, Google and Spotify podcasts. A new episode will publish fortnightly.

RCSI is committed to promoting gender equality among staff and students for the advancement of the College’s mission to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health. RCSI has been awarded Athena SWAN Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.

Women on Walls is a campaign that seeks to make women leaders visible through a series of commissioned portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland. Accenture’s Women on Walls began in 2016 with the Royal Irish Academy which recognised the achievements of leading female academics and to inspire future generations.

You can read more about Women on Walls at RCSI in partnership with Accenture and find out more about scheduled tour times by visiting accenture.com/womenonwalls and women.rcsi.com.

This year, our long-standing members, Behaviour & Attitudes celebrate 30 years of commissioning Irish artists to make original fine art prints with Graphic Studio Dublin. The prints are given to their clients as gifts, as an alternative to generic Christmas presents.  In an Irish context, the longevity of this commissioning practice is significant. The partnership between B&A and Graphic Studio has also been recognised through the Allianz Business to Arts Awards. ‘The Works’ exhibition of all original prints created through this commission runs from 14^th Feb – 9^th March at Graphic Studio Gallery, Through the Arch, Cope Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

The selected artists are either exceptional printmakers and members of Graphic Studio, a non-profit printmaking centre of excellence, or established painters who work collaboratively with the studio to make prints, that are then printed by hand at the studio.  The commission provides financial support to artists and helps to fund the studio, an organisation that delivers tangible assistance to artists, by delivering subsidised studio space, access to printmaking courses and technical facilities for artists to make prints.

Commissioning achieves a number of objectives for B&A – signaling an appreciation of their business relationship with clients, demonstrating synergy between business and the arts, and highlighting talented Irish artists.  To date, 30 artists have been commissioned to make 79 different images that are printed using various original printmaking processes.

Artists who make up the thirty years of this unique commission include William Crozier, Cliona Doyle, Richard Gorman, Ailbhe Barrett, Hughie O’Donoghue, Pamela Leonard, Gwen O’Dowd and James McCreary to name just a few.

A catalogue has been published to accompany the exhibition, with an introductory text by Aidan Dunne. Available here. 

The full list of artists who have contributed to the commission and are included in the exhibition are:

1989            James McCreary

1990            Tighe O’Donoghue/Ross

1991            Richard Gorman

1992            Felim Egan

1993            Charles Tyrrell

1994            John Kindness

1995            William Crozier

1996            Stephen Lawlor

1997            John Behan

1998            Ruth O’Donnell

1999            Vincent Sheridan

2000            Maria Simmons Goulding

2001            Martin Gale

2002            Mary Lohan

2003            Cliona Doyle

2004            Brian Bourke

2005            Robert Russell

2006            Pamela Leonard

2007            Carmel Benson

2008            Hughie O’Donoghue

2009            Jean Bardon

2010            Charles Harper

2011            Taffina Flood

2012            Donald Teskey

2013            Colin Martin

2014            Louise Leonard

2015            Gwen O’Dowd

2016            Pat Harris

2017            Maser

2018            Ailbhe Barrett

Fundraising Fellows Muriel Foxton (Marketing & Fundraising Executive, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios); Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan (Marketing & Fundraising Executive, Fishamble: The New Play Company); and Anna McCarthy (Development Manager, Helium Arts) with Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, and Iseult Byrne, Interim CEO, Dublin City Council Culture Company, at 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Conor McCabe

Fundraising Fellows Anna McCarthy (Development Manager, Helium); Muriel Foxton (Marketing & Fundraising Executive, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios); and Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan (Marketing & Fundraising Executive, Fishamble: The New Play Company) have graduated from the Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin programme. The programme, which is a joint programme created by Business to Arts and Dublin City Council Culture Company (formerly Dublin’s Culture Connects) aims to develop the pool of fundraising expertise in Dublin-city based cultural organisations. The graduation was held at 14 Henrietta Street.

As part of the 24-month Fundraising Fellowship Dublin programme, the Fellows worked in a fundraising or marketing & fundraising role within an arts organisation. The programme saw Dublin City Council Culture Company fund 50% of each role, with the partner organisation matching that figure. Over the two years, the Fellows took part in an intensive programme of training and mentorship, worth in-excess of €80,000 per institution led by Business to Arts, Dublin City Council Culture Company and industry experts, to build capacity and to diversify revenue streams. As part of this, leading Irish and international experts offered masterclasses to develop knowledge and understanding, offering practical and real life expertise. The Fellows also worked with Calcutta Run, Common Ground, Dublin Cycling and 100 Archive imparting their expertise to these organisations, thus increasing the reach of the programme to community organisations in Dublin city.

The Fellows have raised a combined €580,000 directly attributable to their role in their organisation. Three case studies have been published highlighting the challenges, implemented strategies and outcomes of the Fellows and their organisations participating in the course. Each can be viewed here:

• Temple Bar Gallery + Studios
• Helium Arts
• Fishamble: The New Play Company

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts states:

“This two-year programme has enabled Business to Arts and Dublin City Council Culture Company to provide an intensive programme of training and support to four arts organisations. It has enabled each organisation to implement their long-term fundraising and marketing strategies. Each Fellow has secured additional funding for their organisation and we are very proud of their achievements to date. Having a dedicated human resource who is focused on building partnerships and new relationships is critical for organisations who want to develop their fundraising potential and invest in their capacity”

At the graduation, Iseult Byrne, Interim CEO, Dublin City Council Culture Company said:

“Capacity building is a core value of Dublin City Council Culture Company (and its predecessor Dublin’s Culture Connects) so we are delighted to have had the opportunity to work in partnership with Business to Arts on developing this programme. Not only has the Fundraising Fellowship Dublin resulted in additional funds raised for the organisations involved, but more importantly, it has invested in developing and sharing a skillset that will impact positively on cultural and community organisations long after the programme has ended. We look forward to following the careers of the Fellows in to the future and wish Business to Arts every success as they grow this initial Dublin programme in to a national Fundraising Fellowship project.”

Sean Reilly, Executive Chairman, McGarrell Reilly unveils ‘Rise’ a new glass sculpture commission installed at the Sharp Building on Hogan Place with artist Alva Gallagher; Photo: Jason Clarke

The McGarrell Reilly Group and Business to Arts have unveiled a new piece of sculpture named ‘Rise’ by artist Alva Gallagher. Gallagher was commissioned to create the new artwork having been selected after an Open Call to Irish and international artists for ‘The Sharp Building Commission’.

The brief to artists was to create an original and innovative sculptural installation in response to unique environment, architecture, historic and cultural references associated with the new building and its location off Hogan Place in Dublin’s South Docklands. ‘Rise’ is a double-height glass sculpture that is visible from both the interior and exterior of The Sharp Building and can be seen by office staff, local viewers and commuters in the Docklands Area.

Award- winning Irish sculptor, Alva Gallagher, is a visual artist whose work involves a continuous exploration of oceanic movements and elements. She is passionate about the sea and mirrors its ferocity and serenity through the manipulation of her chosen mediums (glass and bronze) from their molten to solid states to explore concepts of depth and rhythm. Alva has exhibited extensively. Recent highlights include the Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London; CAST at The Wayne Art Institute Philadelphia; The Traver Gallery Seattle, USA; and The Saatchi Gallery, London. Her work appears in State, National and International Collections, including The OPW, The National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, BMW and in the iconic ‘Gherkin’ building in the city of London.

Alva Gallagher hails from the fishing village of Killybegs, Co. Donegal and said:

“I am so honoured to be the selected artist for The Sharp Building commission and to have my work interwoven into this stunning new landmark building in Dublin’s urban landscape. I am thrilled to have worked along side the Mc Garrell Reilly team, Business to Arts and G&S Stainless Services Ltd and to now see my piece ‘Rise’ ascending within the unique contemporary aesthetic of the Sharp Building as a modern sculptural portrait to signify the evolving future of the City that the Sharp Building exudes.“

Deirdre Reilly, McGarrell Reilly Group states:

“McGarrell Reilly are very proud of the Sharp Building and we decided that it would be fitting to have an impressive work of art to showcase on this prominent street corner. We are delighted and proud to commission the wonderful renowned Irish visual artist, Alva Gallagher, to create an original, fitting and beautiful glass sculpture to showcase in the Sharp Building for the benefit of all who will work here and those passing by on the street.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts states:

“We have been so impressed with the approach Alva and McGarrell Reilly have taken with this commission. This beautiful new glass and stainless steel artwork continues McGarrell Reilly’s tradition of incorporating artwork into new buildings during their construction phase. ‘Rise’ is magnificent and those working, living and commuting in the Docklands will be able to experience the ceiling sculpture as they pass the Sharp Building.”

If you are a business interested in commissioning an artist contact hannah@businesstoarts.ie

Eileen Hanratty. Picture by Conor McCabe

Business to Arts are very happy to announce that Eileen Hanratty has been appointed Senior Manager – Membership & Projects. Eileen rejoined Business to Arts in 2016 as Membership & Project Manager having returned from Canada where she worked as Co-ordinator of Annual Programs & Patron Engagement at the Canadian Opera Company and VIP Ticket Executive at the Toronto International Film Festival.  In 2019, after a period of sustained membership growth, she has been promoted to Senior Manager – Membership & Projects.

In this role, Eileen is responsible for developing our Corporate Membership offering. This includes the expansion of our Artist-in-Residence (AR) Programme and the oversight of our advisory services which engage many businesses and individuals in funding quality arts projects.

Eileen’s expertise lies in the areas of high-level member servicing, working with the Business to Arts team to deliver our members’ events programme, and collaboratively working with internal and external stakeholders to enhance sponsorship and CSR strategies. Read more here.

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Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD at the launch of the AR Programme with Andrew Hetherington and Charley Carroll

Business to Arts in partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund announced that they are seeking expressions of interest from businesses that would like to develop new (or significantly enhance their existing) CSR activity through the AR Programme.

The AR Programme will cover a broad spectrum of activity and opportunities for artists and companies. Host companies will offer artists a working environment or a structure for engagement with their organisation’s CSR Programme and a selected local community organisation.

Up to €7,500 will be provided for the creation (or enhancement) of three AR Programmes in a Corporate Social Responsibility context. Selected programmes must involve a minimum of eighteen-months of community engagement, staff engagement or work-place creativity activities by the host companies and artists. Priority will be given to AR Programmes where a significant portion of the associated activity occurs in regional areas. 

At the announcement, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD., commented:

“The National Creativity Fund enables the Creative Ireland Programme to activate, enable and support a range of innovative initiatives which have creativity and wellbeing at their centre.  As a Programme which has collaboration and community engagement at its core, I am particularly pleased that this initiative of Business to Arts, which encourages and enables active partnerships between business, artists and local communities, is one of the priority initiatives of the Creative Ireland Programme in 2019.

Through initiatives such as this Business to Arts artist residency, we want to encourage ambition, risk and innovation by harnessing the incredible talent and passion of our artists, our creative communities and local business innovators.  I look forward to following the progress of this initiative over the coming weeks and months and to sharing the outcomes of the projects when they come to fruition in 2019.’

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD also commented:

“Through Ireland’s national plan on CSR, ‘Towards Responsible Business’, the Government’s vision is that Ireland be recognised as a Centre of Excellence for responsible and sustainable business practice.  I want businesses to realise that CSR creates a meaningful win/win for business, by supporting and protecting the community and environment in which they operate; while at the same time making businesses more competitive. I warmly welcome this collaborative CSR initiative by Business to Arts with the Government’s National Creativity Fund, and in particular its regional focus.”

Andrew Hetherington stated:

‘Having piloted a number of artist in residence programmes in the Dublin Docklands area under the Docklands Arts Fund, we are excited to expand to other regions across Ireland. Through the AR Programme we look forward to working with businesses, artists and local community groups, fostering an environment of collaboration, learning and wellbeing through creative practice.’

FAQ’s and application details can be accessed here.

Artist Deirdre Byrne with Vincent Harrison, Managing Director, Dublin Airport Business to Arts DAA Picture Conor McCabe

Today, Dublin Airport and NCAD have announced that artist Deirdre Byrne, a NCAD graduate has been selected to have her artwork displayed at Dublin Airport. The work, ‘High Flyers’ which is displayed on a 7m x 2m billboard at one of Dublin Airport’s boarding gate piers, is part of a partnership between Dublin Airport and NCAD known as Creative Journeys. Dublin Airport held an open call this summer inviting anyone to submit a piece of work which would be displayed in Dublin Airport over 1 year. Over 100 entries were received.

As an Irish artist from Wexford, based in Spain, Deirdre was inspired by her journey’s returning to Dublin: “I often look out and try to spot landmarks below. When I learned of the open call, I thought this familiar landscape would make a good image for the billboard. The kites in the image that fly over the coastline were inspired by the work of the Wildlife Control Team in Dublin Airport that use kites depicting birds of prey to deter actual birds from the runway.”

At the unveiling of the work, Deirdre Byrne noted:“I’m really delighted that my work was selected by NCAD, Dublin Airport, and Business to Arts for the Creative Journeys Billboard Project. My work has never been printed to such a large scale before and it felt great to see the finished billboard in place at a busy spot in Terminal 1 where it will be seen by so many people passing through.”

Vincent Harrison, Managing Director, Dublin Airport said: “We are delighted to feature Deirdre’s work here in Dublin Airport as part of our Creative Journey’s partnership with NCAD and Business to Arts. The finished piece is hugely impressive, and it is notable how many passengers are stopping to take it in. The various installations that form part of the Creative Journey’s partnership are individually and collectively transforming the visual landscape of Dublin Airport for our passengers. Dublin Airport provides the first welcome and last goodbye to Ireland for tens of millions of people every year and ‘High Flyers’ is already a firm favourite among both passengers and staff – our wildlife control team included.”

Supported by Business to Arts, the Creative Journey’s partnership will deliver a full public art programme at Dublin Airport over the next two years. Seven sites have been chosen across the airport campus to host works within Creative Journeys. The sites are located in landside and airside areas to allow both departing and arriving passengers to view the works of art. This enables members of the public who are at the airport but not travelling to view some of the installations. For full details see below.

(LtoR)Padraic Rowan, Andrew Hetherington, Gerard McNaughton, Ruth McCarthy, Clare Monnelly, Rory Nolan & Jamie O Neill at the TileStyle showrooms. Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

For our final 30^th Anniversary event, we collaborated with TileStyle our long-term patron. This event included performances by Rory Nolan, Clare Monnelly & Jamie O Neill and bass-baritone Padraic Rowan. Guest were taken on a theatrical promenade through the TileStyle showrooms with each performance located in a different section – bathrooms, wood rooms and stone rooms.

Introduced by Tony Award winning, Artistic Director of Druid, Garry Hynes, Rory read a emotive excerpt from Tom Murphy’s ‘A Whistle in the Dark’. This was followed by beautiful performances of ‘Non piu andrai’ from Le Nozze di Figaro and ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ by Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Bursary winner, Padraic Rowan, accompanied by Mairead Hurley. Our final performance of the evening saw Clare Monnelly and Jamie O Neill perform scenes from ‘Minefield’, a new work by Monnelly who is also a past McNaughton/TileStyle bursary winner.

Here are some thoughts from Andrew on the occasion:

“My sincere thanks to all our performers and contributors tonight to Gary Hynes and Rory Nolan and the team at Druid Theatre Company and to the talented Clare Monnelly and Padraic Rowan. 

For me, Rory’s reading from ‘A Whistle in the Dark’ is particularly relevant. The play was written and developed between 1959 – 1961 by Tom Murphy and made the audience think about the impact of power structures on Irish society at the time. Move forward almost 60 years and the arts and cultural industry continues to refocus our attention on the importance of diversity, inclusion and equality in modern Ireland. Over recent years, the Business to Arts team have been proud to support initiatives such as Waking the Feminists, Women on Walls, Gaze Film Festival by securing financial and other supports to develop their mission’s and to make Ireland a more inclusive and equal society.

As you may know, this year is Business to Arts 30^th Anniversary year and we have hosted a range of events in corporate settings. For this our final event of 2018, a special thanks to our hosts, TileStyle and our Chair, Ger McNaughton, Michele, Robin, JP and Ruth for everything they do to support Business to Arts. I also feel it is important to remember our former Chair Jim McNaughton. I did not meet Jim, but everyday, I am reminded of his impact on and importance to Business to Arts.

In an article from 1991 about Jim he discussed art and his involvement with Business to Arts. He said he had “started visiting places and seeing sights that he had never seen before”. He had spent too much of his life by being so “completely involved with the world of work and that there was this wonderful world waiting out there” in the arts. I believe each one of us know what he meant by that.”

Jamie O Neill & Clare Monnelly perform excerpts from ‘Minefields’. Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

Business to Arts’ next member’s event will take place on February 6^th at 14 Henrietta Street.

Transition year students Casey Swaine, Caitlin Tucker and Csenge Horvath of CBS Westland Row at the launch of photographic exhabition titled ‘Docklands Story Walks’. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Walkers and Business to Arts have announced the ‘Walkers Stories from the Docklands Photography Competition’. Walkers staff, family members, and students from local schools in the Dublin Docklands area are eligible to enter.

The deadline for entry is 5pm on Wednesday 6th February 2019.

The winning photographs will be displayed in the new Walkers offices in the IFSC and each winner will receive a professionally produced and mounted copy of their image. Additionally, voucher prizes will be given to category winners.

There are three competition categories for people to enter:

• Children of Walkers staff/Students 11 years and under
• Children of Walkers staff/Students 12 to 18 years of age
• Walkers Staff

The competition looks to find great images, which focus on the themes of community, neighbourhood, work and play. For further details and to enter, please click here.

This project builds on the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence programme which is now its second year. In February 2018, Irish photographer Kate Nolan was announced as the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence. The residency includes a series of workshops, where Kate has introduced documentary photography to CBS Westland Row transition year students through ‘story walks’ of the Docklands. The residency supports Business to Arts’ wider programme of activity, which promotes the Arts collaboratively with businesses, artists, audiences and communities.

Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner, Walkers commented:
‘We are immensely proud to support this initiative as an extension of our successful Photographer-in-Residence programme which is a key part of the annual CSR calendar at Walkers. The Docklands is an historic, vibrant and diverse area of Dublin City Centre and we look forward to seeing it captured in the photographs submitted for competition.’

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts stated:
‘As our Docklands Arts Fund programme continues to expand, we are delighted to build on our partnership with Walkers on this new photography competition. Taking the beautiful backdrop of Dublin Docklands as inspiration, we look forward to seeing staff family and student entries that focus on community, neighbourhood and work life in the local area’.

Andrew Hetherington with Aibhlínn Doheny, Music Generation Student from Portlaoise, Sean McGrath, Allianz CEO & Rosaleen Molloy, Music Generation National Director. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

Today, Allianz and Business to Arts published the 2018 Arts, Festivals and Music Sponsorship – Summary Report, following on from the success of the recent 27^th Allianz Business to Arts Awards held at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in September. The annual report, launched at the Irish Film Institute (IFI), was published by Business to Arts from data supplied by sponsorship and marketing managers from the corporate and cultural sector during the 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards campaign. This report adds to the membership organisation’s research and insight services providing an enhanced layer of insight and analysis for sponsors, rights holders and the public about this segment of the sponsorship market.

The report looks at sponsorship objectives that differentiate the arts, festivals and music over other types of sponsorship areas. It looks at sponsorships that are both one-off event relationships or multi-annual partnerships; sponsorship spend between 2017 and 2018, as well as anticipated spend in 2019; methods used to activate relationships and how success is measured.

Key outputs include:

• Sponsors would choose an arts sponsorship over another type of sponsorship because it increases awareness of an organisations brand (80%); engages staff (78%) or creates unique events/experiences for a variety of stakeholders (78%) than other types of sponsorship
• The most popular forms of activating sponsorships in the arts, festivals and music include branded signage, PR, printed literature, advertising (88%), digital campaign’s (72%) and staff engagement activities (67%)
• Sponsors surveyed report that in 2019, 42% will increase their spend
• All respondents were asked to nominate brands that they feel are best-in-class in their engagements with culture, and Accenture, Audi, Dublin Airport, ESB/Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy are among those identified

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts stated:

“It is vital and encouraging, to see that 92% of respondents say that their sponsorship spend will remain the same or increase in 2019. The data analysed reflects a degree of mixed sentiment in the arts, festival and music sponsorship market, particularly as Brexit fast approaches. Trends point to an increase in staff engagement and digital activation of creative partnerships.  In 2019, we look forward to working with our partners to broker, enable and support partnerships.”

Sean McGrath, Chief Executive of Allianz Ireland, said:

“As title sponsor of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards we are delighted to partner the publication of the Arts, Festivals and Music Sponsorship – Summary Report 2018.  We welcome its many insights on the significant collaboration benefits generated when our business and artistic communities collaborate – not just for themselves, but for their communities and for society at large.  Business to Arts is to be commended for brokering, enabling and supporting these partnerships and for having the foresight to collect and publish the experiences, learnings and insights of those who have successfully participated in the 2018 projects.”    

Read the report here.

Andrew Hetherington, Máire Carroll, Crash Ensemble, & Shane Hennessy with Bill Whelan. Picture Jason Clarke

For the fifth event of our 30th Anniversary year, we collaborated with Bank of Ireland, partner of Fundit.ie to celebrate our three-year sponsorship. The event showcased performances by successful Fundit.ie project creators Máire Carroll, Shane Hennessy and Crash Ensemble. The highlight of the evening was the world premiere of ‘Educo’ composed by renowned composer Bill Whelan to mark the occasion.

Bill was inspired by our “advocacy work and the mentoring role Business to Arts plays in an artist’s career”. Through support and training, we encourage artists to discover their own potential and artistic expression. In this composition, the guitar stands for the artist and the piano represents the support that can stimulate and inspire. The piece was composed for pianist Máire Carroll, guitarist Shane Hennessy, & members of Crash Ensemble. What connects these artists is the fact they have used Fundit.ie to fund a project.

Here are some thoughts from Andrew on the occasion:

“Over the last three years, we have had a partnership with Bank of Ireland on our crowdfunding website Fund it. It has included sponsorship of the website and a national programme of crowdfunding clinics at Bank of Ireland workbenches. This investment in Fund it has allowed us to redevelop the website, make it relevant for more projects and it has helped us to future proof our technological needs.

The support from Bank of Ireland has also enabled us to unlock matched-funding from the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht to achieve this. To date, Fund it has helped 1,500 Irish projects launch and raise funds on the website. In doing so, close to €5m has been committed by more than 80,000 people around the world.

As part of Business to Arts 30th Anniversary celebrations, tonight we are showcasing some of the exceptional musical talent that have used the website to help their own ideas come to life. Nights like tonight only happen when there is an alignment of trust, connection, commitment and talent.”

Our final 30^th Anniversary event will take place at TileStyle on November 28^th.

Picture Jason Clarke

PwC once again hosted the annual Business to Arts’ CEO Forum. The Forum is a group of over 100 leaders from business and the arts in Ireland who come together to discuss new challenges and strategies, and share their insights.  The 2018 CEO Forum focused on how data and data insights are informing business decisions and helping business growth. Our panellists included:

• Vincent Harrison, Managing Director, Dublin Airport
• Sandra Collins, Director of The National Library of Ireland
• Michael Duffy, CEO, Royal Dublin Society
• Leonard McAuliffe, Director, PwC

As part of preparation for the CEO Forum, a two-phase PwC & Business to Arts survey was carried out among arts and cultural organisations affiliated to Business to Arts. It aimed to identify the levels of preparedness, opportunities and challenges that were presented by GDPR. The first survey was carried out in April 2018. Those who had participated in the first survey were contacted again in September 2018 to examine their position in relation to GDPR four months after the implementation deadline.

PWC & Business to Arts research reveals:

• In April 2018, 68% of respondents said they had started the process to become GDPR compliant. In September 2018, 100% of respondents reported that they are continuing to take steps to ensure their GDPR compliance
• In April 2018, respondents expected that GDPR compliance would create challenges in relation to their marketing and fundraising performance. Namely:

89% expected increased administration

63% expected additional governance and compliance requirements

58% expected increased human resource time

30% expected increased risk and financial cost

• In September 2018, respondents identified that the most difficult aspects of becoming GDPR compliant were understanding what was required, allocation of appropriate time, and ensuring appropriate levels of staffing
• In September 2018, 57% of respondents reported that they have seen benefits of GDPR implementation. Benefits include enhanced targeting of audiences, increased open rates of email communications and increased transparency

Speaking about the survey findings,

Leonard McAuliffe, Director, PwC Cyber practice, said: “Business and arts organisations collate personal data for events, sponsorship and another reasons and each organisation, regardless of its size, must ensure that this data is protected and properly held in accordance with the regulations. In our experience, businesses and arts organisations have employed significant resources, time and expense, to be GDPR compliant, and this work is ongoing. It is important that the benefits of GDPR, including improved transparency over safe data storage, better engagement with stakeholders and enhanced public trust, are realised by all organisations, including those in the arts and cultural sector.”

Chief Executive of Business to Arts, Andrew Hetherington states:

‘With organisations more focused on enhancing audience insight and data usage, the corporate and cultural sectors have much to learn from each other about ways they can interact with and understand their audience or consumer. Importantly, in this new era of data regulation, our CEO Forum is focusing on the decisions that are informed or made using data analysis and insights as well as those that are informed by our experience’. 

Tamar Keane, Smashing Times Theatre Company, Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, Artist Fergal McCarthy and pianist Máire Carroll at the Pearse Street Piano for the announcement of the recipients of the 2018 Small Grants Scheme under the Docklands Arts Fund. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Today, Business to Arts announce this year’s recipients of the 2018 Small Grants scheme under the Docklands Arts Fund. The objective of the Docklands Arts Fund is to enhance and develop the appreciation of quality art experiences in the Docklands area. Fergal McCarthy (visual artist), Máire Carroll (pianist) & Smashing Times Theatre and Film Company will receive funding for each of their projects, which will be based in Dublin’s Docklands over the next year.

The Docklands Arts Fund, is a partnership between Business to Arts, Dublin City Council and local businesses and individuals. In 2017/2018, 60 people supported the Docklands Arts Fund through donations of cash and proceeds from the sale of the annual Docklands Arts Fund Print Commission. The three projects are:

• Fergal McCarthy will spend several months researching source material relating to the Dublin Docklands to create a book, delivering an engaging, humorous account of the story of the Docklands. This book will be distributed without cost to local primary schools in the Docklands area, with Fergal hosting presentations of the project to school pupils. blogspot.com/

• Pianist Máire Carroll will bring her Hidden Piano’s music series, aimed at bringing contemporary and classical music to new audiences in unexpected places, to primary school students in the Docklands area. Máire will work with students to engage and encourage them to explore music, and together compose a piece using their individual musical and lyrical ideas. mairecarroll.com

• Smashing Times is a professional company involved in performance, training and participation. The company will deliver 4 participatory drama workshops, theatre performances and post-show discussions in the Docklands area to promote positive mental health and suicide prevention as part of ‘Acting for the Future’. smashingtimes.ie

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts states:

‘Local community engagement is at the core of Docklands Arts Fund activity. Each year it continues to build a reputation for quality arts experiences that bring those who live and work in the environment together through creative collaborations. Our 2018 Small Grants recipients will create performances, workshops and publications, which respond to audiences and the context of the Docklands’.    

To learn more about the Docklands Arts Fund click here

‘Tríocha bliain ag cothú comhpháirtíochtaí’. Over the past 30 years, Business to Arts have enabled, developed and supported creative partnerships between the corporate and cultural sectors in Ireland through commissioning, sponsorship, staff engagement, training and bespoke events. The creation of ‘Tríocha’, in conjunction with Terroirs marks this special milestone and celebrates the achievements of Business to Arts to date.

When Seán and Françoise Gilley of Terroirs realised that 2018 would mark Business to Arts 30th Anniversary they wanted to make a special contribution. Since the early 90’s the Gilley’s have been fervent supporters of Business to Arts creative and professional projects within the art world.

Wine-making is also a form of artistry. Since 1994 Françoise and Seán Gilley have been focusing on sourcing and importing hand-selected wines produced by family-owned properties who respect nature.

The Gilley’s approached wine grower and wine maker Sylvain Morey of Bastide du Claux from the Luberon in Provence. An art lover, Morey farms his vineyards organically and crafts excellent wines in Provence and also in Burgundy. Sylvain was indeed thrilled and proud to produce two special wines for Business to Arts 30th Anniversary in conjunction with Terroirs.

Such a special wine deserves a distinct name. ‘Tríocha’ was an obvious name for the occasion. In a subtle way it denotes the 30 years that Business to Arts have persisted in developing and supporting creative partnerships between the corporate and cultural sectors in Ireland.

With a high proportion of Grenache Blanc and Vermentino from thirty year old vines, ‘Tríocha’ white 2016 displays subtle and fine aromas of honeysuckle and stone fruit which both entice and satisfy. ‘Tríocha’ is delicate, fresh and pristine which makes it a great partner for seafood.

The perfectly ripe berries of Syrah and Grenache noir from thirty five year old vines produced the very attractive ‘Tríocha’ rouge 2016. The palate delivers notes of delicate black and red fruit followed by a subtle layer of spices. Vibrant and luxurious with a silky texture, this wine will pair beautifully with grilled meats and cheese.

‘Tríocha’ was served to guests at the 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards on Sept 4th at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

‘Tríocha’ can purchased for €23.50 at Terroirs in Donnybrook & a percentage of sales will be donated to our Arts Fund. Corporate packages are available and Business to Arts members will receive a 20% discount. Please contact info@businesstoarts.ie for further details. 

This year, Business to Arts celebrates its 30th anniversary and it is the right time to look forward and set out a plan for what we can achieve over the period 2018–2023.

We believe that our work advocating for, supporting and developing creative partnerships has never been more relevant. This five-year plan is inspired by the resilience we have witnessed in recent years and by our stakeholders’ ambitions for the future.

Since our foundation in 1988, we have brokered, enabled and supported a wide range of creative partnerships between businesses, individuals and the arts. This work involves multi-layered relationships with our corporate members and arts affiliates in order to develop solutions in areas such as sponsorship, CSR, commissioning, philanthropy, staff engagement, art collections, internal and external communications and client events. In addition to this, we also work with our arts affiliates providing a range of training opportunities to help diversify income streams, grow audiences and improve efficiencies.

Our corporate membership base and network ranges across the business sectors from local family-run companies, SMEs, semi-state companies to FDIs and corporate foundations. Our arts affiliate base extends from individual artists to the National Cultural Institutions, and includes all art forms.

We invite feedback on this Strategic Plan from our stakeholders. Please direct any observations, feedback or suggested enhancements before 5pm, Monday 15th October 2018 to info@businesstoarts.ie or +353 1 662 9238.

Business to Arts Strategic Plan 2018 – 2023 (Low Res 1MB)
Business to Arts Strategic Plan 2018 – 2023 (Hi Res 6MB)

Andrew Hetherington, with Aibhlínn Doheny, Music Generation Student from Portlaoise who are currently participating in Music Generation’s national programme, now in its 8th year, Sean McGrath, Allianz CEO and Rosaleen Molloy, Music Generation National Director, pictured together at the announcement of U2 & The Ireland Funds with supporters Bank of America and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation as winners of the Best Long-Term Partnership for ‘Music Generation’ at the 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards.’ Pic. Robbie Reynolds

Hennessy, William Fry, BNP Paribas, Colourtrend, Bank of America were among the winners in 11 categories at the 27^th annual Allianz Business to Arts Awards ceremony at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre tonight.

This year’s Allianz Business to Arts Awards, attracted a high levels of entries, increased regional activity and long-term partnerships that continue to evolve through diverse activation campaigns. Over €13m spent on arts sponsorships submitted. The Awards recognise businesses, artists and arts organisations that develop creative partnerships and bring businesses and the arts into mutually beneficial relationships across society. The evening was a celebration of the most innovative and creative partnerships in Ireland in 2017/2018.

The 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards Winners are:

Best Use of Creativity in the Community

Bray Municipal District with Bray Credit Union, Megazyme & Platform Pizza with Chris Judge and Donna Carroll for ‘Brave Maeve Children’s Myth & Art Trail’

Best Creative Staff Engagement

William Fry & Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation for ‘Incognito’

Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice   

MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre & Ani Mollereau for ‘Kilkenny Famine Experience Sculpture’

Jim McNaughton / TileStyle €10,000 Bursary for Artists   

Aisling O’Mara

Allianz Community Art Award

The Forget-Me-Nots Choir

daa €5,000 Arts Award

Waterford Walls

Best Small Sponsorship – under €15,000 value 

Colourtrend & Waterford Walls for ‘Waterford Walls International Street Art Festival’

Best Long Term Partnership

U2 & The Ireland Funds with support from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for ‘Music Generation’, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by the Department of Education and Skills & Local Music Education Partnerships

Best Large Sponsorship – over €50,000 value  

TileStyle for ‘TileStyle Supporting the Arts’

Best Mid-Size Sponsorship – over €15,000 – €50,000 value

BNP Paribas & IMMA for ‘IMMA Collection: Freud Project 2016-2021’

Judges’ Special Recognition Award for Portfolio of Investment  

Hennessy for ‘Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA’, ‘Hennessy Literary Awards’ with New Irish Writing and The Irish Times, and ‘Hennessy Lost Friday’ with Royal Hibernian Academy
Leading the congratulations among over 500 business and arts leaders at the theatre was Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD. 

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said:

“The Awards play a vital role in benchmarking models of good practice in Ireland, and a platform to showcase ideas. With the central tenets of the Awards being innovation and creativity, they constantly attract the best creative talent in Ireland to create a memorable event that inspires those who attend to engage more with Ireland’s cultural community and industry.”

Speaking at the announcement of the winners, Sean McGrath, CEO of Allianz Ireland, said:

“The 30th anniversary of Business to Arts as an organisation this year gives us even more reason to celebrate. As partners of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards for 18 years now, we have seen how this process of arts and business collaboration has enriched us in ways you cannot measure. Ireland has changed beyond recognition. In that time, and even now, the one constant was the arts’ contribution in helping us better understand our cultural identity and how it helps Ireland thrive in challenging times.

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts, said:

‘As we celebrate Business to Arts’ 30^th Anniversary, we recognise the importance of the Awards to our organisations mission – to enable, develop and support creative partnerships. Celebrating and showcasing best-practice national and regional partnerships that have taken place this past year, encourages businesses in Ireland and abroad to look to the arts and identify ways to address business, social and environmental needs.’

2018 marks the 27^th anniversary of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards, which recognise businesses, artists and arts organisations that develop and sustain creative partnerships. The awards recognise large, mid-sized, small and long-term sponsorships, staff engagement activities, commissioning, corporate social responsibility programme, community engagement and portfolio-based partnerships.

For the 27th anniversary of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards, the awards sculpture once again has been commissioned by daa. This year’s sculpture was created by Dublin based artist Ed Miliano.  Ed took inspiration for ‘Shine’ from the skyline he passed by in Tokyo on the way from his home to his studio. A sun, imagined as a cut-out circle, rises above the city and sheds light, allowing light and creativity to flow through the city.

Artists Enda Griffin & Mick O Dea with Dr. Michelle Cullen, Managing Director, and Head of Inclusion and Diversity, Accenture Ireland; Professor Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive, RCSI and artists Molly Judd, Benita Stoney, and Catherine Creaney with Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts Picture Jason Clarke

Today, RCSI, Accenture and Business to Arts announced the six artists commissioned to create a series of new portraits of historical female leaders in medicine at RCSI. Women on Walls at RCSI in partnership with Accenture will recognise the pioneering achievements of a group of extraordinary women and enhance the visibility of historical female leaders in healthcare. The new portraits will be hung in the Board Room of RCSI’s historic building on St. Stephen’s Green.

In March 2018, artists were invited to submit a proposal to Business to Arts, project managers of the initiative. A selection committee identified six suitable artists to be commissioned. The group of artists will now work with RCSI archivists to further research their subjects and develop their concepts. It is anticipated that completed artworks will be unveiled in Spring 2019.

The following artists have been commissioned to complete 8 individual portraits:

Welcoming today’s announcement of the six selected artists, Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO, RCSI said: “Promoting greater gender diversity in healthcare is an important strategic priority for RCSI. By shining a light on the women of RCSI who broke boundaries to become leaders in medicine, we hope to provide inspiration for current and future generations of women in medicine and healthcare. We are delighted that such a talented and diverse group of artists will now begin their work on a series of portraits which will bring the legacy of these women to life and we look forward to seeing the completed portraits hang in our historic St Stephen’s Green building.”

Dr Michelle Cullen, Managing Director, and Head of Inclusion and Diversity, Accenture in Ireland added: “Today is a very important day in the Women on Walls campaign. Accenture, RCSI and Business to Arts set out on this journey earlier in the year with an ambition to change how we look at gender inequality in medicine, and to start to represent the many, often overlooked, contributions of women in medicine in order to inspire future generations. I am delighted that we also will have great diversity in the artists selected for this important commission to hang on the walls of the historic RCSI building.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts said: “Alongside our partners, RCSI and Accenture, we are thrilled to be working with some of Ireland’s foremost portrait artists on this important initiative. Through portraiture, these artworks celebrate and represent the extraordinary achievements and legacy of female RCSI Fellows and graduates. We look forward to the public unveiling in 2019.”

RCSI is committed to promoting gender equality among staff and students for the advancement of the College’s mission to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health. RCSI is a signatory of Athena Swan, a Charter that recognises and celebrates good practice towards the advancement of gender equality and enables representation, progression and success for all.

Women on Walls is a campaign that seeks to make women leaders visible through a series of commissioned portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland. Accenture’s Women on Walls began in 2016 with the Royal Irish Academy.

Learn more here

www.accenture.com/womenonwalls

Kerrie Patten, dancer with Sean McGrath, Chief Executive, Allianz & Andrew Hetherington

The 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards received a record number of entries in its 27^th year, showcasing a diverse range of arts from visual art, architecture, literature, dance, theatre, design and music.

The 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards will be presented on September 4^th at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.  The awards recognise businesses, artists and art organisations that develop creative partnerships. The shortlist shows collaboration between business and arts which takes place through sponsorship, staff engagement, commissioning, CSR initiatives or community engagement. Many of the collaborations are the result of long-term relationships.

This year’s Allianz Business to Arts Awards saw high levels of entries from expanding sponsorship portfolios, increased regional activity and long-term partnerships, that continue to evolve through diverse activation campaigns.

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts, said:

“In our special Business to Arts’ 30^th anniversary year, we are inspired and motivated by the level of creativity, partnership and commitment those recognised on the shortlist display. Each year our Awards highlight the best examples of creative partnerships between the corporate and creative communities. We look to forward to celebrating these partnerships on September 4^th as we mark our significant 30^th Anniversary milestone with our partners, members and friends’.

Commenting on this year’s entries, Sean McGrath, CEO of Allianz Ireland, said:

“As Business to Arts celebrates its 30^th anniversary, we look back in pride at our association with the Allianz Business to Arts awards that showcase the best in collaboration between the Irish Artistic and Business communities.  From an Allianz perspective, it has been very fulfilling to be able to help encourage and acknowledge partnerships that have and continue to deliver lasting value for our artists and for business. It has been our privilege to see the hugely positive impact such partnerships have on communities across the country and on our society at large”.

The winners of the 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards will be announced on 4 September at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

The Allianz Business to Arts Awards 2018 Shortlist:

Best Large Sponsorship – over €50,000 value

• Aer Lingus & Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland for ‘Irish Filmmaker Competition’
• Axonista & Irish Film Institute for ‘IFI Player’
• Goodbody & IMMA for ‘IMMA 1000’
• TileStyle for ‘TileStyle Supporting the Arts’

Best Mid-Size Sponsorship – over €15,000 – €50,000 value

• Airbnb & Irish Architecture Foundation for ‘Open House Dublin’
• BNP Paribas & IMMA for ‘IMMA Collection: Freud Project 2016-2021’
• Colourtrend & Sirius Arts Centre for ‘One Here Now: The Brian O’Doherty/Patrick Ireland Project’
• The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards in association with TileStyle

Best Small Sponsorship – €15,000 value and under

• Bray Municipal District with Bray Credit Union, Megazyme & Platform Pizza with Chris Judge and Donna Carroll for ‘Brave Maeve Children’s Myth & Art Trail’
• Colourtrend & Waterford Walls for ‘Waterford Walls International Street Art Festival’
• KPMG & Children’s Books Ireland for ‘Bold Girls’
• Medtronic & Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Best Long Term Partnership

• A&L Goodbody & Suas
• Bank of America Merrill Lynch & Trinity College Dublin for ‘The Early Irish Manuscripts Project’
• BNP Paribas & Helium Arts
• U2 & The Ireland Funds with support from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for ‘Music Generation’, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by the Department of Education and Skills & Local Music Education Partnerships
• TileStyle for ’10 Years of the Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Bursary for Artists’

 Best Use of Creativity in the Community

• Bray Municipal District with Bray Credit Union, Megazyme & Platform Pizza with Chris Judge and Donna Carroll for ‘Brave Maeve Children’s Myth & Art Trail’
• Colourtrend & Waterford Walls for ‘Waterford Walls International Street Art Festival’
• Dublin City Council & Dublin’s Culture Connects for ‘The National Neighbourhood’
• Iarnród Éireann & John Murphy Piano Tuning and Repair

Best Creative Staff Engagement

• Bank of Ireland ‘Be Our Inspiration’
• Diageo & Beta Bajgart for ‘Press for Progress: International Women’s Day European Photographic Exhibition’
• KPMG & Children’s Books Ireland for ‘Bold Girls’
• William Fry & Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation for ‘Incognito’

Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice

• Bray Municipal District with Bray Credit Union, Megazyme & Platform Pizza with Chris Judge and Donna Carroll for ‘Brave Maeve Children’s Myth & Art Trail’
• MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre & Ani Mollereau for ‘Kilkenny Famine Experience Sculpture’

Judges’ Special Recognition Award for Portfolio of Investment

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch for ‘The Early Irish Manuscripts Project’ at Trinity College Dublin and their support of ‘Music Generation’ via The Ireland Funds
• Hennessy for ‘Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA’, ‘Hennessy Literary Awards’ with New Irish Writing and The Irish Times, and ‘Hennessy Lost Friday’ with Royal Hibernian Academy
• IMMA for ‘IMMA Collection: Freud Project 2016-2021’ with BNP Paribas, ‘IMMA 1000’ with Goodbody, ‘Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA’ with Hennessy, ‘New Art at IMMA’ with Matheson, O’Hara’s Irish Craft Beer and The Dean
• RTÉ for ‘RTÉ Supporting the Arts’

Allianz Community Art Award

• Brave Maeve Children’s Myth & Art Trail
• Brokentalkers Theatre Company
• Martina Galvin
• The Forget-Me-Nots Choir

Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

On Monday May 29^th, A&L Goodbody & Business to Arts hosted a Writer in Residence event at St.Joseph’s Co-Ed Primary School in East Wall. Pupils, teachers, family members and A&L Goodbody employees were in attendance to celebrate two years of partnership with the A&L Goodbody Writer in Residence Catherine Ann Cullen under the Docklands Arts Fund. Music and songs composed during the programme by the students were performed by the students with Catherine Ann, accompanied by musician Imogen Gunner.

Catherine Ann has worked with the pupils at St. Joseph’s Co-ed Primary School in East Wall in Dublin with a view to improving their creativity and literacy skills. Each week the pupils ‘commissioned’ her to write a poem on a theme of their devising, and the following week’s session opened with that poem. Catherine Ann compiled her poems into books called ‘Themes for Third’, ‘Fourth Class Favourites’ and ‘Scribbles for Sixth’.

As well as working with the children to create poems and develop their creative writing, Catherine Ann has written songs together with each class, such as ‘East Wall Thank You Stew’ and ‘Jumper Justice’.

Students from St Joseph’s Co-ed Primary School in East Wall, Alisa Usacova and Alesia Tuca both aged 9. Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

A specially commissioned artwork was presented to the school by Sinéad Smith, Corporate Responsibility Manager at A&L Goodbody. Catherine Ann composed a short poem, and Chris Judge added the visual characters, to represent the spirit of creative writing and poetry, which have been part of the Residency.

By Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts

This is the second article in our ‘Preparing for Brexit’ series and is a follow up to the article by John Ward (of the Global Freight Group, Maurice Ward).

Increasingly, the team at Business to Arts are being asked more focused questions about the impact of Brexit on the arts sector. These questions started to develop out of our annual Arts, Festival and Music Sponsorship Report. This report identified a softening of sentiment toward sponsorship/marketing spend (in 2016 & 2017) as a result of market volatility created by Brexit. In early May 2018, we also co-hosted a panel discussion with English National Ballet at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre during Dublin Dance Festival where Brexit was the focal point. In this article, I’ve brought together a range of resources and opinions (including our own) that might be helpful for artists and arts organisations.

To start with, here are some things we know about Brexit’s impact on Ireland:

Foreign exchange volatility. Since the UK’s vote to leave the EU in June 2016, we’ve seen a volatile performance of sterling. The general trend has been a weakening of sterling versus the euro. Currently at €1 to £0.88p (as of 23 May 2018)

Competitiveness of British arts/cultural product. In Sept 2017, Failte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly outlined the agencies position on the impact of Brexit, namely “volatility generated by Brexit during the last year would have led to significant revenue and job losses had other traditional markets, particularly the US, not performed so well.” He warned the Irish tourism sector and its stakeholders, “We cannot always assume that other markets will continue to compensate in this fashion – particularly as we now face a challenge in those markets from a British tourism product made much more competitive by the lower sterling value.”

Reduction in numbers of UK-based visitors to Ireland. In January 2018, Dublin Airport reported that, “Traffic between Dublin and British airports increased by 1% to just under 10 million last year [2017]… The impact of weaker sterling following the Brexit vote in the UK contributed to a decline in British originating traffic last year, but this was more than offset by an increase in both Irish outbound business and transfer traffic to the UK.”

Focus on Retention of Common Travel Area. In an interview with The Irish Times, John Hickey of The Irish Film Board emphasised that audio-visual productions in Ireland are often located on both sides of the Border, as well as in Britain and Ireland. His warning was that, “Any tightening of the Common Travel Area between the Republic, the North and Britain would be harmful to the audio-visual industry”

Below are examples of some of the questions we are being asked in relation to Brexit:

Typical question: I don’t know if Brexit will impact me/my organisation? In what scenarios is it more likely that Brexit will impact me/my organisation?

In our opinion, Irish artists and arts organisations that are more likely to feel the impact of Brexit are those that have significant UK activities. For example, those that:

• are programmed into UK venues and festivals and as a result travel to the UK regularly (e.g . for performances / exhibitions etc)
• export artworks to and/or from the UK (e.g. prints, original works of art etc)
• have a portion of their audience that travel to Ireland from the UK
• have significant relationships with suppliers based in the UK (e.g. designers, manufacturers etc)
• are UK-based Irish artists who return to Ireland regularly to perform/sell/exhibit etc

Typical question: I know Brexit will impact me/my organisation. What should I do?

Firstly, don’t panic! The exact impact of Brexit on artists and arts organisations is yet to be seen. It is highly likely much of the finer detail will remain unknown until last-minute agreements are made between the UK and the EU… and for years afterwards as these decisions are implemented.

If you want to plan as best as you can, why not start with some of the following:

• Start a Risk Assessment that is appropriate to the size and complexity of your UK activities (travel, sales, audiences etc). You can start by analysing the amount of:

(a) Goods and services you / your organisation procures from UK-based people / organisations. Try to calculate the average value of this over the last three years.

(b) Travel you undertake between the UK and Ireland. Take particular care to identify costs of hotels in GB£ and stipends/per diems you may have for people that work for you in GB£

(c) Audiences based in the UK that travel to Ireland to see your work. Understand their value to your organisation. Know how you segment this audience profile, communicate with them and sell your organisation to them. This is particularly relevant to some of Ireland’s larger music and arts festivals and venues. This audience profile could be at risk… particularly if sterling continues to weaken.

By doing the above, you start to build a better picture of the exposure your organisation might have to Brexit. You can then rank the financial exposure(s) you/your organisation has as either low/medium or high risk.

• Talk with UK-based partners, co-producers, commissioners, peers or customers/audiences. Ask them how they are planning for Brexit or the impact they believe it will have on them. I’ve always believed in the importance of sharing knowledge among arts/cultural professionals and the value of this tradition in terms of business planning/strategy.
• Talk to your accountant and other professional advisors. It is highly likely they have started to think about the implications of Brexit for other clients.

Typical Question: What implications does Business to Arts expect? Are there any opportunities?

• Additional human resources and/or time required for dealing with customs/excise. As the UK will exist outside of the EU, it is certain that some forms of customs and trade registrations will be required. For example, if you travel or export your artistic goods or services to the US, you will be aware of some of the red-tape that is involved. You can begin to consider which declarations, registrations, authorisations and reliefs are required OR will need to be put in place.
• Revenue Commissioners Responsibilities, Cashflow and Binding Tariff Information Considerations To understand more about this, read part one of this series by John Ward, CEO of Maurice Ward and Co Ltd.

Among some of the potential opportunities identified (among our network) include:

• Potential for increased EU Funding. Ireland will become the only English speaking country in the EU as a result of Brexit and has the potential to become a more attractive EU funding partner as a result. This may be more relevant if you have UK-based comparators/competitors that already avail of EU funding. Keep an eye on the work of:

(a) The EU Lab at Dublin’s Culture Connects https://www.dublinscultureconnects.ie/eu-lab/

(b) Creative Europe Desk Ireland at the Arts Council of Ireland http://www.creativeeuropeireland.eu/culture

• Focus on growing Irish Tourism Markets We expect the US and German markets to remain a focus of Tourism Ireland with some additional investment in new opportunities from Asia and the Middle East. The global popularity of Star Wars film locations in Ireland is expected to continue too.

Typical Question: What other resources are out there for me?

• Failte Ireland’s ‘Get Brexit Ready’ http://www.failteireland.ie/Supports/Get-Brexit-Ready.aspx Fáilte Ireland has developed a suite of supports to assist businesses through Brexit volatility. They include, Training programmes, Market diversification tactics, Competitiveness resources, GB & NI tourism statistics, Research and insights, and a Calendar of Support.

• British Irish Chamber of Commerce and particularly the output / policies of their Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism Committee http://www.britishirishchamber.com/culture-arts-sports-tourism-committee-cast/ Have a read of ‘A Post-Brexit Vision to 2020 : A Policy Paper by the Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism (CAST) Committee of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce’ available here.

• Brexit Advisory Services for Business from your auditors, banks and other professional advisors. Particularly those for Small to Medium Enterprises. Some examples include:

AIB https://fxcentre.aib.ie/resource-centre/brexit

Bank of Ireland https://businessbanking.bankofireland.com/business-supports/sectors/prepare-for-brexit/

EY http://www.ey.com/ie/en/issues/business-environment/ey-brexit

KPMG https://home.kpmg.com/ie/en/home/campaigns/2016/10/brexit.html

Mazars https://www.mazars.ie/Home/Our-expertise/Brexit

PwC https://www.pwc.ie/campaigns/brexit.html

Pupils in the classroom drawing fruit, as part of ‘Coastlines, Maps and Melons’, Martina Galvin’s visual art project 2017/18

We are very happy to announce that Business to Arts are seeking applications for the Docklands Arts Fund Small Grants 2018 from artists and not-for-profit, charitable & voluntary arts organisations.

The objective of the grant round is to contribute funds to a range of artists and arts organisations with projects focussing on longer-term impact on the Dublin Docklands area.

Providing funds to artists and arts organisations which have strategic partnerships supports our mission to develop quality arts experiences with a lasting impact on the local community in the Dublin Docklands area.

Approximately 3 grants of between €2,000 and €5,000 each will be given to projects by September 2018.

The Open Call for Projects is live until Thursday, 28th June 2018 at 5pm.

We support activities that enhance the practice, appreciation and development of quality arts experiences in the Dublin Docklands area. These include:

• New/innovative art commissions/projects
• Projects that are delivered by OR involve professional artists
• Projects that involve partnerships with other cultural providers (show evidence)
• Projects that widen access to participation to arts activities and arts education for underrepresented groups, such as persons from low-income background, those with disabilities, older people etc.
• Projects that provide opportunities to engage in safe and productive out-of-school arts activities for young people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities
• Projects that promote arts/cultural awareness and understanding and develop new audiences
• Once-off arts events (performances/productions, festivals) that will occur in the Docklands area, and which show evidence of development of event or concept
• Projects that will take place between September 2018 and June 2019.

For full details, please click here.

For any queries on the application process, please contact Eileen.

The Docklands Arts Fund was established in 2015 to create Ireland’s first Arts Fund supported by companies, organisations and individuals located in the Docklands Area. It is a collaboration initiated by Business to Arts and Dublin City Council. Together with corporate and organisational partners, we plan to enhance the practice, appreciation and development of quality arts experiences in the Dublin Docklands Area.

John McGrane, Justin Bickle, Tamara Rojo, Andrew Hetherington, Stephen Faloon, Michael Seaver, Helen Carroll at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Picture Conor McCabe Photography

On May 4^th, Business to Arts and Justin Bickle, Chief Executive of Glenveagh Properties and Chairman of English National Ballet hosted the second event in our 30^th Anniversary series at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Ahead of English National Ballet’s stunning performance of Akram Khan’s Giselle in association with the Dublin Dance Festival, Business to Arts’ corporate members attended a private pre-show panel discussion. The panel moderated by Michael Seaver, Arts Critic, Irish Times included Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director, English National Ballet (ENB), Stephen Faloon, General Manager, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, John McGrane, Director General, British Irish Chamber of Commerce and Justin Bickle, Chair of ENB and host of the event

To start proceedings, Benjamin Perchat, Artistic Director, Dublin Dance Festival outlined some of the highlights of this year’s festival. This followed with a brief overview of dance traditions in Ireland, recognising one of the most influential figures in the history of ballet, Wicklow born Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet. The career of Tamara Rojo, from her training in Madrid to Scottish National Ballet to the Royal Ballet and now Artistic Director of ENB offered our audience insight into the life and motivations of one the most celebrated dancers of our time. Tamara discussed the challenges of bringing an international ballet company on tour, considering the impact Brexit may have on ENB’s future touring productions and how important it is that her productions reflect and respond to present time and society. Stephen Faloon having sought to bring English National Ballet to Dublin in the early 2010’s spoke about the process of bringing a production to Dublin noting the importance of educating audiences on contemporary ballet verses the ever-popular classical repertoire. In relation to the motivations for companies to support dance as an art form Tamara noted:

“Dance is a growing art form. It is an art form that attracts a lot of young people. So it is an art form that should interest the business community because it can reach people that otherwise you may not”  

Stephen Faloon, Justin Bickle, Michael Seaver, Tamara Rojo & John McGrane at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Picture Conor McCabe Photography

Justin Bickle discussed his unexpected introduction to ballet almost 10 years ago, recognising the athleticism and commitment of the dancers. His passion and belief in English National Ballet has enabled and supported the artistic and executive team in the realisation of the London City Island project, a partnership with Ballymore, which is now home to ENB’s new studios. Justin Bickle outlined what business people can bring to an arts organisation in addition to financial resources:

“What you can contribute by common sense or asking the awkward or obvious question in the room, that’s valuable to arts organisations. Having a different perspective and a different background” Justin Bickle on his role as Chairman of English National Ballet.

John McGrane discussed the opportunities of Brexit for Ireland, promoting the cultural offering of Ireland as an important factor that potential incoming workers consider when selecting a new home. A key takeaway is that Ireland may well be positioned attract more EU funding and co-production investment.

“It’s about pitching the Ireland story internationally. You’ve got a situation, you need a solution. You do not want to walk away from the remaining 50 million consumers and citizens in the EU. Ireland and frankly Dublin are your gateway to the future” John McGrane

The performance of Akram Khan’s Giselle by English National Ballet was a powerful, thought-provoking and magnificent reimaging of a traditional classic. We hope that Irish audiences who may not have previously witnessed contemporary ballet are now encouraged to see new work by both domestic and international world-class talent.

Gerard McNaughton, Helen Carroll & Andrew Hetherington. Picture Jason Clarke

Business to Arts are very happy to announce that Helen Carroll has been appointed Head of Communications & Partnerships at Business to Arts. Helen has worked at Business to Arts since 2016 as Senior Manager- Marketing & Strategic Partnerships. This senior management team role will further develop current and potential partnerships at Business to Arts. Helen oversees the communications and sponsorship relationships of key Business to Arts events and programmes including the Allianz Business to Arts Awards, Fundit.ie, The New Stream Programme supported by Dublin City Council and Department of Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht, Business to Arts’ CEO Forum & special member’s events.

On accepting the position, Helen states:

‘I have been on an incredible journey since starting with Business to Arts two years ago. Alongside our team and Board, I hope to continue to champion new and innovative partnerships beyond our 30^th Anniversary year. As Business to Arts continues to expand, I look forward to further engaging and developing relationships with all of our stakeholders’

To read more about Helen see her profile on the about us section of our website and on linkedin.

Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner, Walkers, Walkers Photographer-in-Residence Kate Nolan and Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts with transition year student Hollie Hanevy of CBS Westland Row. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Business to Arts and financial services law firm, Walkers, joined Irish photographer Kate Nolan and transition year students at CBS Westland Row to celebrate the completion of the first year of the Walkers Photographer in Residence project. The students’ project work was exhibited at the Walkers offices alongside Walkers staff photography, showcasing the development of their photographic skills together.

Kate’s residency included a series of workshops, where Kate introduced documentary photography to CBS Westland Row transition year students through ‘story walks’ of the Docklands. These workshops were led by the students themselves, who selected the locations to be photographed. Each week students explored a different theme, visually strategising their stories through photographic walks of the Docklands. On these walks, students learned new technical skills and aesthetic decisions. The images created were brought back to the classroom to discuss and combine with text.

Transition year students Casey Swaine, Caitlin Tucker and Csenge Horvath of CBS Westland Row at the launch of photographic exhibition titled ‘Docklands Story Walks’. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

The exciting venture marks the first time that a business in Ireland has engaged a Photographer-in-Residence programme with Business to Arts and Dublin City Council. The residency supports Business to Arts’ wide programme of activity, which develops quality arts experiences for artists, businesses, communities.

Commenting on the milestone, Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said:

“This collaboration between Kate Nolan, the students of CBS Westland Row and Walkers staff has enabled the students and staff involved to develop their photographic and creative skills while documenting life within the Docklands area. We have enjoyed watching the student’s photographic work evolve, capturing the essence of life in the Docklands and look forward to seeing how the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence evolves in the future.”

Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner at Walkers said:

“We were delighted to be part of this project not just as sponsors but as active participants.  The artistic output of the students was impressive and we are looking forward to having it on display on the walls of our new office, The Exchange IFSC, for years to come.”

To learn more about the Docklands Arts Fund click here or contact one of our team today.