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Our members' events programme brings together our unique network to forge new connections, share sectoral knowledge, and access exclusive cultural experiences.

Felispeaks performing at the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Photo: Conor McCabe

Felispeaks performing at the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Photo: Conor McCabe

We bring you highlights, previews or special guests from across the breadth of the Irish arts scene, giving you plenty to talk about and good networking to boot!

If you are an arts member who would like to propose a unique offering for our events programme, get in touch.

If you are a business member, talk to us about designing your own bespoke corporate event with an arts focus.

The 2023 Business to Arts CEO Forum in association with PwC discussed ‘Reimaging the City for a Hybrid Workforce’ with panellists Niall Gaffney, Chief Executive, IPUT; Nathalie Weadick, Director, Irish Architecture Foundation; Neil Freshwater, CEO, Zurich Insurance and Willie White, Chief Executive & Artistic Director, Dublin Theatre Festival. Journalist and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald, moderated discussions.

The 2023 Business to Arts CEO Forum in association with PwC discussed ‘Reimaging the City for a Hybrid Workforce’ with panellists Niall Gaffney, Chief Executive, IPUT; Nathalie Weadick, Director, Irish Architecture Foundation; Neil Freshwater, CEO, Zurich Insurance and Willie White, Chief Executive & Artistic Director, Dublin Theatre Festival. Journalist and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald, moderated discussions.

Upcoming Event

2023 Business to Arts Leadership Forum in association with PwC

09 November 2023

Our annual thought leadership breakfast panel (previously the CEO Forum) moderated by journalist Dearbhail McDonald, convenes leaders from the corporate and cultural sectors in Ireland to share their insights and approaches to cross-cutting strategic issues.

Previous themes:

  • 2022 ‘Reimagining the City for a Hybrid Workforce’
  • 2021 ‘Sustainability in Focus’
  • 2020 ‘Resilience & Stabilisation’
  • 2019 ‘Empowering the Consumer through Digital Technology'

Panelists have included David McRedmond, CEO, An Post, Virginia Teehan, Director, Heritage Council, Liam Kavanagh, former Managing Editor, Irish Times, Tania Banotti, Director, Creative Ireland, Muirne Laffan, former Chief Digital Officer, RTÉ, Maureen Kennelly, Director, Arts Council, and Cathal Marley, former  CEO, Ervia.

Recent Member Events

Tour of Photo Ireland Festival and Ireland Glass Biennale

Tour of Photo Ireland Festival and Ireland Glass Biennale

Previous Event

Tour of PhotoIreland Festival and Ireland Glass Biennale

20 July 2023

We brought our members on an exclusive tour of both the PhotoIreland Festival and Ireland Glass Biennale at Dublin Castle.

We were first treated to a tour of the Biennale led by Karen Donnellan, one of the four judges for the show, who shared their insights on the selection process and why this medium is so compelling.

Then PhotoIreland's Director Ángel Luis González took our members through three different exhibitions, which delved into the complexities of the African diaspora through a thought-provoking collection of contemporary photographs.

The largest of the three exhibits, "I See the Face of Things to Come," was curated exclusively for PhotoIreland Festival. This groundbreaking project brought together nearly 100 women and non-binary artists from the African diaspora who passionately engage with photography as a powerful tool for self-expression, activism, and reclamation.

Valerie Mulvin of McCullough Mulvin Architects presents ‘Join the Dots - 100 small ideas for sustainable change’ centred on the town of Mountrath in Co. Laois at Irish Architecture Fundation’s Housing Unlocked exhibition. Photo: Allen Kiely

Valerie Mulvin of McCullough Mulvin Architects presents ‘Join the Dots - 100 small ideas for sustainable change’ centred on the town of Mountrath in Co. Laois at Irish Architecture Fundation’s Housing Unlocked exhibition. Photo: Allen Kiely

Previous Event

‘Designing the Future’ in association with the Irish Architecture Foundation

08 February 2022

We teamed up with the Irish Architecture Foundation to highlight architecture as an art form at their critically acclaimed Housing Unlocked exhibition, and used the opportunity to run a strategy consultation workshop to design our own future!

We kicked off the evening with a drinks and canapé reception followed by a round-table consultation session, before the main event of a highlights tour of the exhibition with IAF Director Nathalie Weadick and one of Ireland's foremost architects, Valerie Mulvin, of McCullough Mulvin. 

Guests from Helium Arts, The Everyman Theatre, UCC, and Graffiti Theatre enjoying the Crawford Sculpture Gallery at our Cork event. Photo: Clare Keogh

Guests from Helium Arts, The Everyman Theatre, UCC, and Graffiti Theatre enjoying the Crawford Sculpture Gallery at our Cork event. Photo: Clare Keogh

Previous Event

‘An Evening to Celebrate the Power of Art to Engage and Connect’ in association with Cork International Film Festival

02 November 2022

We hosted our first Cork event for our Munster-based members with a reception in the stunning surroundings of the Sculpture Gallery at the Crawford Art Gallery, followed by Cork International Film Festival’s Opening Gala film ‘Aisha’, directed by Frank Berry, starring Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor, a truly moving film that struck a chord with our attendees.

Actor Brendan Gleeson plays the mandolin with fiddle player and filmmaker Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, concertina player/dancer Caitlín Nic Gabhann, and fiddle player and Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive Liam O’Connor at the event ‘An Evening with Brendan O’Connor’ incollaboration with Business to Arts. Photo: Des Gallagher
Actor Brendan Gleeson plays the mandolin with fiddle player and filmmaker Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, concertina player/dancer Caitlín Nic Gabhann, and fiddle player and Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive Liam O’Connor at the event ‘An Evening with Brendan O’Connor’ incollaboration with Business to Arts. Photo: Des Gallagher
Previous Event

‘An Evening with Brendan Gleeson’ in association with the Irish Traditional Music Archive

03 November 2022

We invited members with an interest in traditional music and film to an exclusive night with leading Irish actor Brendan Gleeson of live music, discussion, and exclusive clips from Brendan’s new film in post-production ‘When the Music Stops’ - a love letter to Hughes’ Pub in Dublin 7, a former haven of the trad music scene.

We heard from Brendan, ITMA Director Liam O’Connor, fiddle player and filmmaker Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, and concertina player/dancer Caitlín Nic Gabhann about the legacy of Hughes’ and why this film was so important. Guests were then treated to an intimate gig followed by drinks and canapés. 

Pictured was Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, Niall Gaffney, Chief Executive, IPUT, Nathalie Weadick, Director, Irish Architecture Foundation, at Grand Canal Dock, typically a hub of both cultural and business activity in Dublin. O’Reilly, Gaffney, and Weadick took part in a discussion on ‘Reimagining the City for a Hybrid Workforce’ and the impact of the virtualisation of work on our cities as part of Business to Arts‘ CEO Forum in association with PwC.

Pictured was Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, Niall Gaffney, Chief Executive, IPUT, Nathalie Weadick, Director, Irish Architecture Foundation, at Grand Canal Dock, typically a hub of both cultural and business activity in Dublin. O’Reilly, Gaffney, and Weadick took part in a discussion on ‘Reimagining the City for a Hybrid Workforce’ and the impact of the virtualisation of work on our cities as part of Business to Arts‘ CEO Forum in association with PwC.

Previous Event

‘Reimagining the City for a Hybrid Workforce’ 2022 Business to Arts CEO Forum in association with PwC

10 November 2022

Our annual CEO Forum and Business Breakfast returned in person at PwC’s Spencer Dock in 2022. The topic ‘Reimagining the City with a Hybrid Workforce’ resonated deeply with both sides of our membership, with corporates keen to learn more about strategies to entice staff back into the office, and art organisations striving to encourage venue attendance. The desire to collaborate on designing strategies for the city to thrive was the key takeaway from the morning, with corporate and cultural leaders deep in conversation as the event ended.

A lively panel discussion included Niall Gaffney, Chief Executive of IPUT, Willie White, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dublin Theatre Festival, Neil Freshwater, CEO of Zurich, and Nathalie Weadick, Director of the Irish Architecture Foundation. The panel was moderated by journalist and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald. 

Artist & illustrator, Fuchsia MacAree, speaks about her experience creating large-scale works, including a mural for the Google Data Centre, at Business to Arts’ ‘Placemaking’ event in partnership with Linesight and CBRE. Photo: Allen Kiely

Artist & illustrator, Fuchsia MacAree, speaks about her experience creating large-scale works, including a mural for the Google Data Centre, at Business to Arts’ ‘Placemaking’ event in partnership with Linesight and CBRE. Photo: Allen Kiely

Previous Event

‘Placemaking: Supporting Artists, Enhancing Communities’ in association with Linesight and CBRE

15 June 2022

Collaborating with our Patrons Linesight and CBRE, we hosted a bespoke event for the property and construction industries with an exclusive reception, talk, and guided highlights tour of the RHA’s 192nd annual Summer Exhibition from our Curatorial Projects Manager Rachel Assaf, and we heard from artist Fuchsia MacAree about her illustration work to large-scale placemaking projects such as data centers and national schools. 

Dean Arts Studio resident Leah Hewson gives a studio tour to attendees during our April event to mark the Studios' launch. Photo: Killian Broderick

Dean Arts Studio resident Leah Hewson gives a studio tour to attendees during our April event to mark the Studios' launch. Photo: Killian Broderick

Previous Event

Private preview tour of the Dean Arts Studios

06 April 2022

For our first in-person member’s event of 2022 we organised a first-look artist-led tour of the new Dean Arts Studios and exhibition from its first residents, artists Leah Hewson, Salvatore of Lucan, Brian Teeling, and Ruth Medjber.

Our members were welcomed to a reception in the newly refurbished gallery space and heard from our new CEO Louise O’Reilly, as well as Press Up CEO Ben Barclay, about the importance of contributing to Dublin’s cultural ecosystem with much-needed studio space. 

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