Job Description 

Contract: End July 2023 – June 2024 Maternity Leave cover; Applicants should be available to commence the role no later than 24th July 2023.

Salary: €48,000 per annum pro rata

Location: Blended on-site (Dublin 2), client-based (Dublin & National) & remote. 

Deadline: 9th June 2023

Are you a creative comms specialist with a passion for the arts? We’re on the hunt for a dynamic Creative Communications Manager to join our team! Here are the qualities we’re looking for:

• Storyteller extraordinaire: You have a knack for crafting captivating narratives that engage and inspire audiences.
• Social media savvy: You know how to build a buzz on social media and have experience using different platforms to reach diverse audiences.
• Strategic thinker: You can develop and implement comprehensive communications plans that align with organisational goals.
• Collaborative spirit: You thrive in a team environment and can work effectively with different stakeholders, including artists, curators, and external partners.
• Discerning about design: You have a keen eye for design and can work with graphic designers to create visually stunning communications materials.

This is a unique opportunity to really help devise and drive a fresh approach of communications style at Business to Arts through a distinct 10 month period kickstarted by our new website and new strategy launching summer 2023 just before you start. 

If you fit the bill, we want to hear from you! Apply now to join our high-performing and supportive team and help us tell the world about the amazing work we do.

About the Role

At an exciting time for Business to Arts, we are looking for an articulate, organised and creative individual with 5+ years experience to oversee the promotion, protection and development of BtoA brand and mission, fundamental to the success of our engagement with our members and stakeholders. 

The Creative Communications Manager will design and deliver campaign to successfully communicate about Business to Arts’ Membership programmes, events, Awards, curatorial and cultural strategy client services, Arts Funds, Fundraising Fellowship programme and our own new five-year strategy.

Business to Arts is about to launch a new five-year strategy to deliver ever greater impact across the arts sector and value for our members while exploring emerging opportunities to realise the financial value of BtoA’s own specialist services and expertise. This maternity leave role will be key to communicating and leveraging BtoA’s new positioning while seeking opportunities to profile our impact and engagement. 

Reporting to the CEO, the Creative Comms Manager will work closely with the team including the Arts Portfolio Manager, Curatorial Projects Manager, and Membership & Projects Manager,  and will be required to report to the BtoA board. 

Core Competencies

• Brand management
• Crafting and implementing innovative and imaginative communications for a broad variety of audiences, utilising a range of communications tools
• Developing strategic campaign plans that align with our goals and identifying and innovating upon new opportunities or angles to ensure the Business to Arts brand is consistently reaching and influencing its intended audience, particularly leveraging our flagship events and new strategy
• Understanding of how to harness the power of data to support your decision-making 
• This communications expertise will be backed-up with sound financial management, excellent people skills, and a passion for the arts.

Please review the full responsibilities and details of the role here.

To apply for the role 

• Candidates can submit enquiries and their application in confidence to recruitment@businesstoarts.ie with [your name // Creative Communications Manager] in the subject line. 
• Each application must include a concise cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining how they meet the above requirements and CV (max. 2 pages). NB if you are applying through Linkedin, you MUST combine a cover letter with your CV. 
• The deadline for applications is 5.00pm on 9th June 2023. 
• First-round interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 19th June 2023.

Calling all freelance curatorial assistants, graphic designers, researchers, fundraising consultants, and more.

Business to Arts is looking to create an Associate Panel of qualified candidates to support project work at the intersection of business and culture. 

We’re looking for talent from a broad range of areas to help us with producing research and data analysis, workshop design and facilitation, ad hoc design projects, support on curatorial projects, art handling and more. 

When you apply, we’ll be looking for your credentials and rates and, once selected, Panel members will be approached over the course of the next year when appropriate projects arise. Associate Panel members will be listed on our website.

Each year, a new Panel will be convened with up to date information, and this Panel will be live until Summer 2024. The deadline to apply is Thursday, May 18th.

Think you might be a good fit? Or know someone who might be?

Read on below, and then apply using this form.

Context

Business to Arts is inviting applications for an Associate Panel of varied expertise across creative, business, and fundraising areas to augment our in-house competence and support client project work as it arises. Embarking on a growth phase coinciding with the public launch of our new five-year strategy and website in early summer 2023, Business to Arts is looking for brilliant freelancers interested in working at the intersection of the corporate and culture sectors. 

Our people embody the values of Business to Arts – creativity, professionalism, innovation, and adherence to best practices. Our primary goal with this Associate Panel is to enhance how we deliver upon our mission, the strength of our offering, the richness of our activity, and the depth of our impact. 

This process is to identify and vet qualified individuals for a panel of trusted and preferred service providers of relevant expertise (Associates) to be engaged as and when the need arises.

The relevant panel members will be contacted, availability checked, and given first refusal when appropriate project work arises, however, please note that a position on the panel provides no guarantee of set hours/days of work as it is run on a project-by-project basis.

Successful candidates will be listed on the new BtoA website (currently in development)  for full transparency. A place on this panel will suit freelancers.

About Business to Arts

Business to Arts (BtoA)  is a 35-year-old membership-based resource organisation. Our mission is to catalyse strategic creative partnerships between the corporate and cultural sectors and to build new capacity within the arts sector to sustain itself and deliver excellence in the arts. We have 60+ long-term corporate members across professional and financial services, construction, universities, tech and energy companies, government and semi-state agencies, and 150+ arts affiliates ranging from National Cultural Institutions to small arts organisations and individual artists. 

Our activity includes developing a sense of community between arts and business through our networking events and building the capacity of our arts affiliates to generate income, sustain their core activity and go for growth.  We provide a range of strategic advisory, curatorial, and project management services to our businesses who would like to support the arts through arts-based diversity and inclusion programmes, community or employee engagement, or through commissions and the development of art collections. 

Our in-house expertise includes specialist curatorial and arts programming and events management. Our art form experience ranges from visual art to performing arts and festivals, and our business experience from strategic planning and development to marketing and operations.

Service Providers Sought for Associate Panel

1. Curatorial Assistants
2. Art Handlers
3. Cultural & Creative Producers
4. Business Intelligence/Data Analysts
5. Fundraising Consultants
6. Researcher-Writers
7. Graphic Designers
8. Copywriters
9. Workshop Facilitators with design thinking

Associate Panel Expertise Requirements

a. Curatorial Assistants

Seeking experienced freelance curatorial assistants to support our work for clients in art collection management, curating new collections, identifying gaps in collections and opportunities for refinement through sale and and acquisition of works, commissioning, exhibition planning, artwork cataloguing, and documentation, drafting briefs and proposals, artist and client liaison. Must be able to demonstrate a fluency in the contemporary art market in Ireland, and an understanding of the secondary art market and liaising with auction houses (national and international). We are particularly interested in those who have experience in socially engaged practice. Must have strong administrative skills, database management, and budget management experience. 

b. Art Handlers

Seeking experienced freelance art handlers to assist in all aspects of preparation, packing, moving, transporting, installation/de-installation, and safe storage of artworks for clients. The ideal candidate understands that the safety and security of artworks and fellow team members during art handling is paramount. Experience in installing large-scale exterior artwork is an advantage along with a clean driving record. 

c. Cultural & Creative Producers

Seeking experienced freelance cultural and creative producers with a track record in the development and delivery of cultural events and arts programming. Will be required to lead or assist in project management, project scoping and cost modelling, scheduling and managing third-party suppliers and technical support, and liaising with multiple stakeholders. We are particularly interested in those who have experience in socially engaged practice or community projects.

d. Business Intelligence/Data Analysts

Seeking experienced freelance business intelligence/data analysts to help us mine our data, extract key insights and tell our story in a compelling way to inform business decisions and the development of our research and sector reports. 

e. Fundraising Consultants

Seeking experienced freelance fundraisers to support our strategic advisory services for members and arts affiliates. Must be able to demonstrate a proven track record in private-sector fundraising strategy development and implementation.

f. Researchers

Seeking experienced freelance researchers to assist in drafting content for Business to Arts reports and thought leadership. Must be tech-savvy, resourceful, and thorough with an aptitude for researching arts and industry-related topics (combining online sources, interviews, and studies) and for producing synthesised outputs. We are particularly interested in those with knowledge of ESG matters. 

g. Graphic Designers 

Seeking experienced freelance graphic designers to assist with designing ad-hoc printed materials and online campaign content. Designers must have experience delivering brand-related projects, working with already defined brand assets, to deliver high-quality design work in a range of formats. 

We would appreciate those who can bring Service Design experience to the project. 

h. Copywriters

Seeking experienced copywriters to aid us with preparing reports, thought-leadership content, project-specific publications, marketing content, and more. Panel members will have experience writing about business, arts, and culture having worked with leading brands and organisations.

i. Workshop Designers & Facilitators

Seeking experienced freelance workshop designers and facilitators to support our training and development programmes and client projects. Ideally trained in design thinking and skilled at the delivery of innovation workshops, we are also interested in those who have worked on community projects and have facilitated a broad range of stakeholders and participants. 

Technical Requirements across all Service Providers

Business to Arts uses the following communication, business intelligence and project management tools including but not limited to: CRM system ( currently Salesforce), Asana, Google Drive, Slack, and it is expected that our Associates will be able to quickly adapt to interacting with our tools where required. 

Tip

Make sure to highlight any specific USP you have in terms of your expertise or experience that will help you stand out and provide additional value to project work. For example; sustainability, diversity and inclusion, community, placemaking, social sciences background, design thinking training, facilitation skills etc

Where your skill sets cross over more than one of the categories of service outlined above, and you would like to be considered for more than one category, you should apply separately,  and there will be a specific place to note this in the application forms. 

Application Instructions

Your application should include the following information which will be assessed as part of selection criteria:

• Your biog
• 3 x relevant client work and/or case studies
• Client testimonials and referee names
• Daily rate, clearly stating your VAT position (please see specific note on Pricing below)

• This open call and the deadline for submissions constitute Round 1 of convening our Associate Panel
• Your application should be submitted via this form. Applications will not be accepted via any other method. Should you require any access support with the form, please contact us on 01 662 9238.
• Deadline is Thursday 18th May 2023, 5pm. 
• Applicants may be required to interview subsequently and must provide an up-to-date tax clearance certificate. 
• You will not be entitled to claim from BtoA any costs, expenses, or liabilities that you may incur in submitting an application or interviewing irrespective of whether or not your application is successful. 

Pricing

All prospective service providers must comply with the following pricing requirements:

• All prices quoted must be all-inclusive (including but not limited to ancillary services and all other costs/expenses, be expressed in Euro, and must be inclusive of VAT.)
• Prospective service providers must confirm that all prices quoted in the proposal will remain valid for a twelve-month period commencing from the response deadline.
• Any currency variations occurring over the term of the panel appointment shall be borne by the associate service provider. 

Please note

• All information supplied by you by BtoA, either in writing or orally, will be treated in confidence and not disclosed to any third party unless the information is already in the public domain or is required to be disclosed under any applicable laws.

• Nothing in this procurement process will bind BtoA to enter into any contractual or other arrangement with you or any other potential service provider. It is intended that the remainder of this procurement process will take place in accordance with the provisions of this open call, but BtoA reserves the right to terminate, amend or vary (to include, without limitation, in relation to any timescales or deadlines) this procurement process, but will provide notice of same by email to invited service providers. 
• BtoA will have no liability for any losses, costs, or expenses you incur as a result of such actions. 
• Email recruitment@businesstoarts.ie with any queries in relation to this open call before the submission deadline with the subject line; Associate Panel Query

Thank you for taking the time to consider this open call and we look forward to hearing from you!

Pictured making some noise about the 2023 Business to Arts Awards nominations launch was Noel Eccles, internationally acclaimed percussionist and TU Dublin Percussion Lecturer leading Awards partners Michelle Cullen, Accenture, Susan Jackson, Irish Life, Ger McNaughton, TileStyle, Denise Charlton, Community Foundation Ireland, and John McGrane, Kmend.

Tuesday, 21st March 2023

Today, Business to Arts launches its annual call for nominations, running from 21st March to Thursday 27th April.

The Business to Arts Awards is Ireland’s only event that recognises excellence in creative partnerships, where a business, philanthropic organisation or individual has supported the arts in a compelling way.

The Awards feature a range of categories that celebrate arts sponsorship, commissioning, philanthropy, staff engagement programmes, corporate social responsibility, access programmes, creative community initiatives, and more.

This year sees a new Award join the slate, the ‘Creative Access Award’ supported by the Community Foundation Ireland, which recognises corporate-sponsored creative programmes that allow marginalised or underrepresented communities to engage with the arts, be it through education, equipment, funding or more.

Speaking about the Award, Community Foundation Ireland’s Chief Executive Denise Charlton said:

“Community Foundation Ireland shares a mission of equality for all in thriving communities with its donors, supporters and 5,000 community partners. Access to arts is an equality issue. As Ireland’s philanthropic hub, the Community Foundation, is proud to sponsor the new Creative Access Award to acknowledge those who continue to break down barriers to make art, creative and colour open to all.”

The Awards has a total of 12 categories in 2023, that recognise the hard work of partnerships that range from small, community-based initiatives, through to large-scale, and long-term engagements with national reach.

Applications are welcomed from projects of all sizes and approaches, with the judges looking to award relationships that show true collaboration; considered investment of funds, time, or expertise; innovative concepts or relationship models; fresh ideas, and genuine impact.

This year’s new and returning Awards partners include Innovation Partner Accenture, the Arts Council, Community Foundation Ireland, daa, ESB, Irish Life, Kmend, The Irish Times, and TileStyle.

The annual Bursary programme features a total of three monetary prizes from TileStyle, Accenture, and daa. These bursaries will support emerging artists, digital artists, creative producers, and a chosen arts organisation from the main nominations to further their nominated project/programme.

Speaking about the launch of the nominations Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Business to Arts:

‘We are thrilled to launch this year’s Business to Arts Awards nominations. The Awards provide a unique opportunity to show just how meaningful and impactful arts partnerships can be for both the corporate sector and the communities they serve. We are excited to learn about a new generation of creative partners and welcome our new Creative Access Award supported by Community Foundation Ireland.’

Michelle Cullen, Managing Director with Accenture in Ireland said:

‘As Innovation Partner, we continue to be inspired by the exciting ways in which Ireland’s corporate and cultural sectors collaborate to produce new perspectives and approaches to art. In awarding the Digital Innovation in Art bursary once again, we’re proud to provide support to an artist whose creations deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity.’

Martin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of the Arts Council said:

‘We are very happy to return as sponsor of the Best Philanthropic award for the third year running. As we seek to develop the arts in Ireland, philanthropic investment is as critical as Government investment in creating an environment that enables discovery and development in the arts sector. We are delighted to work with Business to Arts in highlighting the importance of continued support for artists and the arts sector.’

Cathy Burke, Head of International Communications, daa said:

‘As a proud supporter of Business to Arts for over 30 years, daa is once again delighted to commission the award sculpture, which each year aptly captures and reflects the close relationship between the corporate and arts partner. We are really looking forward to reading this year’s submissions, including those for the daa Arts Award, as they always show imagination and creativity and great relationship management when working with the corporate world.’

Máire Scully, Corporate Brand and Strategic Marketing Manager, ESB said:

‘As a long-time supporter of the arts in Ireland, ESB is delighted to once again sponsor the Best Creativity in the Workplace Award. We know the vital role the arts can play in enriching our working life, fostering staff wellbeing and building a vibrant work environment.
This category always delivers a diverse and innovative approach to using the arts to build healthy resilient businesses, and we look forward to the same high standard this year.’

Oisin O’Shaughnessy, Managing Director, Irish Life Corporate Business said:

‘Irish Life is delighted once again to be in such good company in sponsoring the Business to Arts Awards, which is a fantastic project that we feel genuinely privileged to be associated with. The award for Best Creativity in the Community is particularly close to our hearts and minds. Helping the people of Ireland to build better futures is something we strive to do every day, in every facet of our business. So, we are exceptionally proud to shine a light on the immensely important role that creativity plays in inspiring, uplifting and cultivating better communities throughout Ireland, every single day. ‘

John McGrane, Co-founder and Director General, Kmend said:

‘We are excited to sponsor the “Best Small Sponsorship” Award at the Business to Arts Awards and look forward to recognising the individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to the arts community. At Kmend, we believe in the power of community and networking, and we are delighted to support this celebration of arts and culture, which brings people together and enriches our lives.’

Deirdre Veldon, Group Managing Director, The Irish Times Group said:

‘The Irish Times is delighted to support an awards programme which does so much to celebrate the creative endeavours of artists and arts organisations. As a long-time champion of the arts in Ireland, we are steadfast in our belief in the positive impact of strong collaboration between the business and arts communities. We are very pleased to once again sponsor the Best Long Term Partnership category.’

Gerry Butler, Managing Director, TileStyle said:

‘The annual Business to Arts Awards provides much needed recognition and championing of the support of the arts and culture sector in Ireland. TileStyle greatly values the opportunity to celebrate both excellence in commissioning and provide a €10,000 to support an Irish-based artist to develop their work and further their career. Investment in the arts contributes to a richer society and we are honoured to take part as a supporter of this ceremony once again.’

Closing date for applications is Thursday, April 27th 2023.

Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.

Today, Business to Arts is pleased to announce sponsors for the 2023 Awards season with a new award joining the slate. This year’s sponsors include Innovation Partner Accenture, and category partners daa, ESB, Irish Life, Kmend, the Arts Council, The Irish Times, and TileStyle. 

The National Concert Hall will return as the Awards’ venue partner and events company Catapult will continue to support the Awards as production partner.

A new award, the ‘Creative Access Award’ supported by Community Foundation Ireland, will recognise corporate-cultural partnerships that offer the opportunity for marginalised and underrepresented groups to participate in the arts. This may take the form of an education programme, the provision of equipment, or a programme specially designed to include these kinds of groups.

Speaking about the new Award, Community Foundation’s Chief Executive Denise Charlton said:

“Community Foundation Ireland shares a mission of equality for all in thriving communities with its donors, supporters and 5,000 community partners. Access to arts is an equality issue. As Ireland’s philanthropic hub, the Community Foundation, is proud to sponsor the new Creative Access Award to acknowledge those who continue to break down barriers to make art, creative and colour open to all.”

The annual call for nominations for the Business to Arts Awards will launch later in March this year and the Awards will take place at the National Concert Hall on Tuesday, 12th September.

After 12 years of crowdfunding creativity in Ireland, Fund it closed on 15th February 2023.

Founded in 2011, Fund it was the first Irish-owned crowdfunding website to support creative projects. Over the years, Fund it successfully supported project creators in crowdfunding over 1,700 creative projects ranging from new albums to poetry publications, community festivals to photography exhibitions, radio studios to documentaries. 

Fund it worked directly with project creators to provide confidence and guidance on their crowdfunding journey, which contributed to the platform’s high success rate. In recent years, the crowdfunding landscape has changed significantly, with new platforms arising from commercial companies with the resources to provide competitive user-focused functionality. Fund it has seen a decline in new projects and funders, making it too challenging to support the operating costs required to keep Fund it running.

While it is disappointing to have to make this decision, the Fund it team is immensely proud of the service provided to all of the project creators that have successfully launched projects on the platform and the funders who have supported them.

The Fund it website will remain online as an archive for one year.

For all further questions relating to Fund it’s closure, head to the Fund it FAQs.

Job Description

Contract: Fixed Term (full-time), three years

Salary: €42,000 – €47,000 (+ performance-related bonus)

Location: Blended on-site (Dublin 2), client-based (Dublin & National) & remote. 

Full job description

Deadline:  23rd Feb 2023

Are you a driven and dynamic person with a passion for the arts and an entrepreneurial mindset? Do you have a proven track record in increasing revenue streams? Could you combine your business acumen and creativity to play a critical and strategic role in helping Business to Arts to achieve its ambitions? At an exciting time for Business to Arts, we are looking for a dynamic individual to join our high-performing and supportive team, in a varied role fundamental to the success of Business to Arts corporate and donor engagement. 

Our key activity includes Capacity Building in the arts sector, providing Curatorial & Cultural Strategy Services to the corporate sector, and Community Building between arts and business. For more information, see the notes at the end of this document. 

Business to Arts is in the process of developing a new five-year strategy to deliver ever greater impact across the arts sector and value for our members while exploring emerging opportunities to realise the financial value of BtoA’s own specialist services and expertise. This senior management role will be a key player in the future of BtoA and our impact, and in the innovation of our operations and activity, so this appointment is a critical one to ensure our ambition is supported by the most highly engaged and dynamic fundraising and delivery team possible.  

About the Role

The Head of Business Development is a fundraising and business development role that takes a portfolio approach to lead, develop, and deliver Business to Arts’ Membership programme—including corporate and private donors, and oversee the development and delivery of member projects, which include Advisory Services and Arts Funds. 

Reporting to the CEO, as the Head of Business Development you will form part of our executive leadership team and will work closely with the Head of Communications & Partnerships, the Arts Portfolio Manager, and the Curatorial Projects Manager to support the development and delivery of our wider services, and line-manage the Membership & Projects Manager. You will coordinate with the Board of Business to Arts’ to leverage their expertise, insights, and networks. 

Core Competencies

The Head of Business Development will be an experienced fundraiser, business development executive, account manager, or similar who knows how to quickly mobilise new prospect pipelines and convert leads, attracting, building, and maintaining relationships across the corporate sector and beyond. 

The successful candidate must have the drive to reach challenging revenue targets and KPIs. You must combine commercial acumen and budgeting expertise to ensure a sustainable future for Business to Arts by proactively increasing opportunities for corporate engagement and the retention of these relationships. 

You will be a consummate networker with a proven track record of winning business and working successfully with corporate clients or members and/or private donors. The team at Business to Arts is mission-led and business-focused, and we seek someone with similar values who can inspire those you interact with to commit to and support our mission to support the arts, driving value for all parties involved.

Read full job description, key responsibilities, and terms and conditions here.

To apply for the role 

• Candidates can submit enquiries and their application in confidence to recruitment@businesstoarts.ie with [your name // Head of Business Development] in the subject line. 
• Each application must include a concise cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining how they meet the above requirements and CV (max. 2 pages). 
• The deadline for applications is 5.00pm on 23rd Feb 2023. 
• First-round interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 27th Feb 2023. 
• Applicants should be available to commence the role (ideally) in March 2023.

Business to Arts is an equal opportunities employer. 

This year we supported the arts sector through grants, commissions, capacity-building, and more…

As our members and affiliates emerged from the pandemic full of optimism and momentum, we ushered in a new era at Business to Arts by welcoming our new Chief Executive Louise O’Reilly in April.

While 2022 brought new socio-economic challenges, BtoA continued to add value to our community of corporate and cultural members through unique events and experiences, grant-making and capacity-building programmes, and curatorial and commissioning expertise. 

Our advisory and consultancy services with both sectors range from strategic development to arts innovation workshops, and one-to-one mentorship.  

Brendan Gleeson, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, Caitlín Nic Gabhann, and ITMA Director Liam O’Connor at our private event at the Irish Traditional Music Archive

Convening our corporate-cultural community…

Although we began this year worrying that it might be a long time before we would be able to invite our members and affiliates to an in-person event, we were lucky to host some really unique and interesting experiences in 2022.

In April, we had an exclusive first look at the soon-to-open Dean Art Studios with behind-the-scenes studio tours. In June, we hosted our first event for the construction and development industry with our Placemaking talk and bespoke curated tour of the RHA Annual Summer Exhibition.

In August our Friends were treated to private rehearsals of THISISPOPBABY‘s Fringe hit WAKE, and then in September, we brought our annual Awards ceremony back in person to the National Concert Hall.

We had a bumper November, kicking off with our annual CEO Forum in association with PwC tackling the ongoing challenge of re-imagining our cities for a new way of working. We followed that up with a unique and intimate evening with actor Brendan Gleeson at the Irish Traditional Music Archive, with an exclusive preview of a work-in-progress film highlighting his passion for traditional Irish music and its community. 

Finally, we took a long overdue trip to Cork and hosted our Cork members, friends, and affiliates at a reception and a curator-led tour of Corban Walker’s exhibition at the Crawford Art Gallery before bringing our guests to the Cork Opera House for the Cork International Film Festival Opening Gala film screening of Aisha.

Sculptor John Rainey at the installation of the RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery commission of two new sculptures to celebrate pioneering women in nursing and midwifery: Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth O’Farrell.

Curating and commissioning for new beginnings and landmark moments…

This year we facilitated 10 commissions worth almost €123,000, and worked on art collections for members old and new.

In March we developed a new collection for Iconic Offices for their Viscount House building which opened on Fitzwilliam Square in April. We followed up that work with another collection for Iconic’s newest location in the NSQ2 building in Cork.

We worked with our patron RCSI on a number of exciting arts initiatives this year, including a landmark sculptural commission by John Rainey for the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery; and the unveiling of a new artwork from 2020 RCSI Art Award winner Colin Martin that reflected on the pandemic’s impact on RCSI’s staff, students, and alumni.

We worked with another patron CBRE on a commission with sculptor Donncha Cahill for their New Century House building; our patron Bank of Ireland commissioned Jen Donnery to create their annual Staff Recognition Awards Sculpture, and An Post recently released their stamp to commemorate the centenary of Saorstát Éireann featuring a design by Brian Gallagher that was selected via a BtoA open call.

Finally, we worked very closely with our patron Irish Life to oversee a major conservation project as part of their art collection and to curate a selection of works from their broader collection to display in their customer care centre in Dundalk.

Samuel Yakura, part of the collective We Are Griot who were awarded a grant with Festival in a Van as part of Round 3 of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts.

Building capacity in the arts across Ireland

Corporate membership of Business to Arts subsidises the work we do with arts organisations across the country, supporting them to become more sustainable.

This year began with the announcement that €250,000 had been awarded to five organisations through the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund. These projects engage communities around sustainability and the energy transition and will continue into 2023.

In April we launched the recruitment campaign for the ninth and tenth Fundraising Fellows. Sing Ireland and Graffiti Theatre were chosen to participate in a two-year programme that provides a match-funded fundraising or marketing and fundraising position in an arts organisation alongside a structured mentorship and training programme.

As part of our Awards in September, we awarded a total of €20,000 through two bursaries: the Jim McNaughton/TileStyle €10,000 Bursary for Artists awarded to Afghan photographer Barialai Khoshhal, and the inaugural Accenture €10,000 Digital Innovation in Art Bursary awarded to Nadia J. Armstrong to further her practice in the technological medium.

In October, we announced the 27 projects that have been awarded as part of Round 3 of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, they join the previous 75 projects that have been awarded since the Fund began in 2020.

We are keenly aware of the need to support the Irish cultural sector in the face of rising costs and uncertain revenue streams. 

Download our Private Investment in the Arts Report

Today we launch our annual Private Investment Report which provides our sectoral intelligence and insights into investment in the arts sector across the past five years, arising from data captured during our annual Awards process.  In addition, we asked leading sponsorship consultancy ONSIDE and fundraising and philanthropy consultants O’Kennedy Consulting to provide their observations on the trends they are seeing emerge. 

You can access the report here, please note that members and affiliates will receive free access to this report.

Recommend us!

If the work we do has had a positive impact on you personally, your arts practice, arts organisation, company or corporate network, please share your appreciation online.  

We are always looking to welcome new members, friends, and affiliates into our network, so please recommend us to anyone you know with interest in having a positive impact on the arts sector by developing compelling corporate-cultural partnerships, strategic investment in the arts, curatorial or commissioning work, innovative capacity-building or creative community and inclusion programmes, and more.

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 on Thursday, 3rd November as part of Business to Arts‘ CEO Forum in association with PwC.

The Business to Arts’ annual CEO Forum in association with PwC took place on Thursday, 3rd November with the theme of ‘Reimagining the City for a Hybrid Workforce’. The Forum is a group of 100 leaders from the corporate and cultural sectors in Ireland who come together to share their insights and approaches to key cross-cutting strategic issues. 

The rise of the virtualisation of work has had an impact across all sectors as many businesses and cultural organisations rely on footfall from those working in the city centre. The more people work from home rather than returning to the city centre, the more that companies of all kinds face long-term employee, customer and audience engagement challenges and the experience of a vibrant city-centre is at risk of being hollowed out.

This challenge has no quick solution. This year’s CEO Forum brought together leaders from across the corporate and cultural sectors to discuss new approaches to overcoming these issues and creating an environment that is connected, inclusive, and productive for all.

Panellists include: 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.

Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner, PwC, said:

“PwC’s recent Hopes and Fears survey amongst a global workforce revealed that over half (52%) of Irish respondents said that their job could not be done remotely.  At the same time it also revealed that hybrid working is here to stay. There is no doubt that the pandemic has accelerated pre-existing working, office and business trends. At the same time access to talent is a key consideration for businesses assessing how they work and where they locate. But the role of the office will continue to be very important in the future as a place of collaboration, learning and personal interaction. Businesses and cultural organisations will no doubt see a period of adjustment where a new equilibrium is found, bringing new opportunities and, enabled by new technologies, opening doors to a whole new audience.” 

Chief Executive of Business to Arts, Louise O’Reilly, states: 

“The past three years have brought about a paradigm shift in the way we feel about our work-life balance and our approach to spending time in our city centres and cultural hubs. Many organistions are still reacting to the impact of virtualisation and other post-pandemic factors shaping their organisational cultures and programmes. We believe an opportunity lies in exploring such challenges from the perspectives of the corporate world and the arts sector. The CEO Forum seeks to facilitate this exchange and develop forward-thinking strategies for sustaining a vibrant ecosystem in our cities.”

Niall Gaffney, CEO, IPUT states:

“Our concept of ‘workplacemaking’ encourages the embedding of culture and the arts within the built environment. This can take many forms, from the commissioning of public art or the provision of spaces within and around buildings that allow for greater collaboration with the cultural community. We believe that such initiatives help to reinforce the value of culture in making Dublin a more vibrant place, knitting work-life with the social fabric of the city.”

Pictured is Samuel Yakura from WeAreGriot, a collective of Nigerian-Irish poets and storytellers who will perform as part of the Festival in a Van programme in 2023.

18.10.22 – Bank of Ireland, in partnership with Business to Arts, has announced the projects that will receive financial support from the Begin Together Arts Fund.  Since 2020, the all-island Begin Together Arts Fund has allocated €1 million in arts funding to support artists and arts projects in communities across the island of Ireland.  

Over €300,000 is being awarded in the third round of funding for projects taking place between October 2022 and December 2023. 

For this round of the Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts, the projects supported aimed to inspire and uplift their local communities. Arts Fund grant recipients will receive up to €15,000 to support the creation of new works in music, theatre, dance, traditional arts, and the visual arts, and the aim is for the projects to benefit a wide range of audiences.

Laura Lynch, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Bank of Ireland, said:

 “We’re delighted to support such a broad range of artists and local arts organisations around the island of Ireland through the Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts.  

“The arts and community projects like these each play a role in enhancing lives and connecting people, and so represent an important part of Bank of Ireland’s support for communities across Ireland through our Begin Together initiative”.    

Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, said: 

“Bank of Ireland is demonstrating an authentic engagement with their local communities through the Begin Together Arts Fund, by supporting a diverse range of artistic projects that seek to improve wellbeing. The response of the arts community itself has been overwhelmingly positive, knowing that a national institution has their back during difficult times.”

Festival in a Van, a mobile live arts event venue that tours concerts, performances and plays nationwide is one of the groups to receive funding under the Begin Together Arts Fund.

Festival in a Van Director Gemma Tipton, said:  

“While Festival in a Van was originally set up to create performance opportunities during Covid, The Begin Together Arts Fund has enabled us to imagine beyond. Through the fund, we have been able to dream up and, crucially to realise projects with very brilliant artists. From King Lear in a Van going to schools during Lockdown, to Cormac Begley visiting Men’s Sheds for memorable music sessions, it is a wonderful opportunity to turn ideas into reality. Now as the vehicle for WeAreGriot to create a new performance work to go to Direct Provision Centres, The Begin Together Arts Fund has allowed us to create art where it didn’t exist before, and to bring it to places it wouldn’t have been seen before” 

Among the projects to receive support are: 

• Behind the Mask, will see Gaiety School of Acting bring the Manifesto Method of Theatre Creation to the young people at Ozanam House, allowing them to express their inner emotions and creativity now that masks are no longer worn.
• Ballina 2023, will create an arts programme that is of, by and for Ballina’s Traveller Community.  Ballina 2023, along with lead artist Alice Dixon, will give a voice to the community and will mark 300 years since the founding of the town. 
• Festival in a Van and WeAreGriot will involve three Nigerian-Irish poets creating and performing spoken word pieces specifically developed for those living in Direct Provision. This project will forefront difficult conversations which confront existing inequities in Irish society.
• In Flight | On Landing, a collaboration between Photo Museum Ireland and artist Varvara Shavrova will offer participatory, haptic-focussed workshops to members of the Ukrainian refugee community.
• Strong Women Science ISL and Visual Vernacular, will see a version of award-winning StrongWomen Science (SWS) interpreted for deaf audiences go on tour as well as the creation of an interactive hands-on circus science show for Deaf children and families.
• Coming Out is a large arts installation with audio/visual elements creating an interactive experience where participants can travel through 12 rainbow-painted closets to ‘come out of the closet’ on the other side.
• Ceannairc Beag Bideach – Tiny Mutiny, an artist, physical theatre performer, Gaeilgoir singer, and music and sound artist collective will bring together two ensembles of children to create a vision for a child-centred cultural space in Galway.

A full list of 2022 grantees is available here: http://www.bankofireland.com/begintogether

The 30th Anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards took place on Tuesday, 20th September and featured leading creatives and commissioning companies including Nadia J. Armstrong, Digital artist, Barialai Khoshal, Photographer, Louise O’Reilly, Business to Arts, Etain Seymour, Accenture, Lar Joye, Dublin Port Company, Anna McGowan, St Patrick’s Festival and Ben Barclay, Press Up Hospitality Group. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

St. Patrick’s Festival & TikTok, Sample-Studios & Gurranabraher Credit Union, Zurich & National Gallery of Ireland with Crawford Art Gallery, Poetry Ireland & The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation, and Emmet Kane and John Sisk & Son were among the winners at the 30th anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards last night.

This year’s winners proved that creative partnerships between the corporate and cultural sectors thrived under incredibly challenging conditions during lockdown. The winning partnerships showed ingenuity and agility in their approach, activation, delivery, and investment. 

Bursaries and monetary awards given on the night included the inaugural Accenture Digital Innovation in Art Bursary, which offers €10,000 to support an artist creating work exclusively in the digital space. It was awarded to Nadia J. Armstrong whose work engages with the symbiosis between human and machine using video and digital animation. 

The 14th Jim McNaughton/TileStyle €10,000 Artist’s Bursary was awarded to Barialai Khoshhal, a photographer and refugee from Afghanistan whose work documents the lives of Afghani refugees as they arrive and live in Ireland.

The daa €5,000 Arts Award was awarded to That’s Life and Dublin Dance Festival for Bounce Club Night, a club night for adults with intellectual disabilities that offers a welcoming and safe space to dance and socialise with friends.

The Business to Arts Awards recognise businesses, philanthropists, artists, and arts organisations that develop compelling creative partnerships. Shortlisted partnerships focus on arts sponsorship, philanthropy, commissioning of artists, and CSR initiatives, such as employee and community engagement. This year an exciting new bursary, the Accenture Digital Innovation in Art Bursary, was introduced to support an artist working exclusively in the digital space. 

The 2022 Business to Arts Awards Winners are:

Leading the congratulations among business and arts leaders at the National Concert Hall was Catherine Martin T.D. 

Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said: 

“I am pleased to congratulate the winners of this landmark 30th anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards. This year’s partnerships mark not only a long history of corporate-cultural partnerships but a remarkable strength in the face of adversity during the depths of the pandemic. We hope to see many more cross-sectoral partnerships continue to flourish and receive recognition at the Business to Arts Awards.”

Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Business to Arts, said: 

“These winners all demonstrate the real power in partnership across sectors and disciplines, and through challenging times. Whether it be a dance club for people with intellectual difficulties, or salving the soul of inner-city communities through shared spoken word, or igniting discussion of our collective future on earth or in the digital realm, these endeavours have been enabled and empowered by visionary partners in both business and arts. I was overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of so many entries arising from a time of lockdown – the passion and perseverance of our arts sector in Ireland is a model for all.”

Etain Seymour, Director of Marketing and Communications at Accenture in Ireland said: 

“I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all the winners this year. As ever, the submissions were of an incredibly high standard, showcasing a diverse and innovative approach to creative partnerships. We’re proud to offer the first Accenture Digital Innovation in Art Bursary to Nadia J. Armstrong. Nadia’s impressive work truly encapsulates the power of technology and human ingenuity working together.”

Orla O’Connor, Chair, Arthur Cox said: 

“We are very pleased to continue our support of Ireland’s arts community through our partnership with Business to Arts. Congratulations to all the nominees and special congratulations to the winner of our category, St. Patrick’s Festival and TikTok for their innovative and cutting-edge Solas project. Once again it’s been a privilege to see such worthwhile submissions from organisations around the country, reinforcing the importance of partnership to maintaining our vibrant and engaged arts sector.”

Oisin O’Shaughnessy, Managing Director, Irish Life Corporate Business said:

“Irish people are natural-born storytellers and our poets are some of the finest contributors to world literature. Irish Life would like to congratulate Poetry Ireland & The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation for the ‘Catherine Ann Cullen, Poet-in-Residence’ initiative. Their chosen partnerships and innovative approach to sparking engagement with poetry in diverse communities is the definition of creativity.”

Marguerite Sayers, Deputy Chief Executive, ESB said: 

“As a long-term patron of the arts, we appreciate the vital role that artists can play in engaging communities and stimulating innovation and creativity. We are proud to support the Business to Arts Award for Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace, which celebrates an arts project that brings creativity into the workplace and engages staff and other audiences in a meaningful and impactful way.” 

Paul Mulvaney, Managing Director, The Irish Times Group said:

“Congratulations to Zurich & The National Gallery of Ireland with Crawford Art Gallery. The Irish Times Group is proud to support the Best Long Term Partnership Award and is delighted to celebrate the success of Zurich Portrait Prize which this year has seen 26 artists shortlisted for the prestigious award. Congratulations to them and to the 20 young artists aged from just 4 to 18 shortlisted for the Zurich Young Portrait Prize. This partnership is a great example of how a long term commitment to a project can support and celebrate the work of artists.”

 

Gerry Butler, Managing Director, TileStyle said:

“As long-standing supporters of Business to Arts and the Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice, TileStyle is delighted to congratulate ESB and Fishamble: The New Play Company on their exceptional and timely project. Commissioning art to address important and complex concepts helps us to connect and understand, something that both this project and this year’s TileStyle Artist’s Bursary winner, Barialai Khoshhal make clear. We look forward to seeing what they do next and are pleased to have recognised their work this year.”

Martin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director, Arts Council said:

“The Arts Council is delighted to be able to again support the Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts Award.  The importance of philanthropic giving to the arts has never been so important and the shortlist of award winners is indicative of the developing strong commitment to arts philanthropy. It also proves inspirational to all recipients and other potential donors alike.”

Pictured was sculptor John Rainey with Cathy Burke, Head of Internal Communications, daa, and Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Business to Arts with the Awards sculpture for the 30th Anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards, taking place on Tuesday, 20th September at the National Concert Hall. Rainey was commissioned by daa as part of the longest-running corporate art commission in Ireland.
Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

5th July, 2022:

Today, Business to Arts announces the shortlist for this year’s Business to Arts Awards, taking place at the National Concert Hall on Tuesday, 20th September.

This year’s shortlist represents the corporate-cultural partnerships undertaken, enhanced, and delivered during the depths of the pandemic, giving insight into the creativity, resilience, and adaptability of the arts sector when engaging with the corporate world.

The Judging Panel featured representatives from Accenture, The Irish Times, ESB, Mermaid Arts Centre, daa, Irish Life, the Arts Council, TileStyle, and Arthur Cox and was chaired by Clare Duignan, a board member of Business to Arts and The Chester Beatty Library, The Irish Times, IMRO and Fáilte Ireland.

The Business to Arts Awards recognise businesses, philanthropists, artists, and arts organisations that develop compelling creative partnerships. Shortlisted partnerships focus on arts sponsorship, philanthropy, commissioning of artists, and CSR initiatives, such as employee and community engagement. This year an exciting new bursary of €10,000, the Accenture Digital Innovation in Art Bursary, was introduced to support an artist working exclusively in the digital space. 

Award winners will be presented with a limited edition award sculpture created by sculptor John Rainey. The Award Sculpture ‘Assemblage’ has been commissioned by daa for the 30th year. John Rainey uses both old and new methods of object-making, such as ceramic casting and 3D printing. The title of his award sculpture ‘Assemblage’ refers to the bringing-together of people and things, and the sculptural practice of unifying separate elements. The sculpture combines references to art, design, technology and the built environment  as a representation of innovative collaboration between business and the arts.

The 2022 Business to Arts Awards will take place on Tuesday, 20th September at the National Concert Hall. A total of €25,000 will be presented to successful artists and arts organisations through bursaries and awards on the night.

Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Business to Arts, said: 

“The shortlist for the 30th anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards showcases the incredible resilience and ingenuity of creative partnerships between the corporate and cultural sectors. The nominees have gone above and beyond to bring art to their communities when they needed it most, often tackling challenging subject matter  or providing a creative sanctuary during the pandemic. We are honoured to recognise these exceptional partnerships and look forward to finally celebrating them in person on September 20th.”

Clare Duignan, Judging Chair, said:

“It was a real privilege to chair the Business to Arts Awards judging panel in this the 30th Anniversary year of the Awards.  These entries were all for projects realised and delivered during the Covid 19 pandemic. I was very struck by how imaginative and adaptable so many arts organisations were in how they managed to deliver their work despite the restrictions of lockdown. I was also encouraged by the way in which their sponsorship partners were willing to stick with projects, allowing them to, for example, move online, or perform to very small audiences, or in some cases to be completely re-imagined. The strong desire from locked-down audiences for access to drama music, poetry, film, literature, opera- so many art forms-and their appreciation of the work, was inspiring.”

2022 Business to Arts Awards shortlist: 

Best Large Sponsorship supported by Arthur Cox

• St. Patrick’s Festival & TikTok for ‘Solas’
• Dublin Port Company, ANU Productions & Landmark Productions for ‘The Book of Names’
• Zurich & the National Gallery of Ireland with the Crawford Art Gallery for the Zurich Portrait Prize & Zurich Young Portrait Prize
• KPMG & Children’s Books Ireland for ‘Free To Be Me’ and KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards

Best Small Sponsorship

• Henry J Lyons & Temple Bar Gallery + Studios for ‘Dublin Art Book Fair 2021: Manual’
• Gurranabraher Credit Union & Sample-Studios for ‘Photogo’
• Arthur Cox & the National Concert Hall for ‘Notes from a Quiet Land’
• ESB Energy for Generations Fund & Cork International Film Festival for ‘Illuminate’ and ‘Intinn’

Best Long-Term Partnership supported by The Irish Times

• Accenture’s Women on Walls with Dublin City University, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, and The Royal Irish Academy  
• Zurich & the National Gallery of Ireland with the Crawford Art Gallery for the Zurich Portrait Prize & Zurich Young Portrait Prize
• KPMG & Children’s Books Ireland for ‘Free To Be Me’ and KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards
• National University of Ireland, Galway & Galway International Arts Festival

Best Use of Creativity in the Community supported by Irish Life

• An Post & Dublin Pride for ‘PRIDE/BRÓD’ Stamps
• The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation & Poetry Ireland for Catherine Ann Cullen, Poet in Residence
• Northern Trust & ESB Energy for Generations Fund with Dublin Dance Festival and That’s Life for Bounce Club Night.
• Press Up & The Dean Arts Studio

Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace supported by ESB

• An Post & Dublin Pride for ‘PRIDE/BRÓD’ Stamps
• John Sisk & Son & Emmet Kane
• Bank of America & The Abbey Theatre

Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice supported by TileStyle

• Arthur Cox & Alva Gallagher for ‘Soar’
• ESB & Fishamble for ‘Tiny Plays for a Brighter Future’
• Behaviour & Attitudes & Graphic Studio Dublin
• BioMarin & Rachel Doolin for ‘The Giving Tree’

Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts Award supported by the Arts Council

• Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund
• Community Foundation for Ireland and Children’s Books Ireland
• The Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation & Poetry Ireland for Catherine Ann Cullen, Poet in Residence
• Ballinglen Arts Foundation & Museum

Judges’ Special Recognition Award supported by Accenture

• Wexford Festival Opera and Danone, Arachas Insurance, Datapac, and PwC
• Arthur Cox & National Concert Hall & Alva Gallagher
• Cork International Film Festival & Murphy’s, Gate Cinemas, and ESB Energy for Generations Fund
• ESB & Fishamble, Cork International Film Festival & Bounce Club Night

The following awards will also be presented on the 20th September 

Jim McNaughton / TileStyle €10,000 Artist’s Bursary

Accenture Digital Innovation in Art Bursary

daa €5,000 Arts Award

The Judging Panel was:

• Clare Duignan (Chair), Board Member of Business to Arts, The Irish Times, Chester Beatty Library, Fáilte Ireland, IMRO
• Etain Seymour, Accenture
• Ailish Finnerty, Arthur Cox
• Julie Kelleher, Mermaid Arts Centre
• Tony Lawless, Canada Life (Irish Life)
• Bevin Cody, ESB
• Mark O’Kelly, NCAD (Arts Council)
• Cathy Burke, daa
• Gerard McNaughton, TileStyle
• Laura Slattery, The Irish Times

Pictured was Louis Lovett and Lola Metcalfe from Theatre Lovett, one of the groups to receive funding as part of Round 2 of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts. Theatre Lovett is one of the leading companies in Ireland making theatre for all ages.

The third round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts was launched today. The all-island Begin Together Arts Fund will make a total of €1 million in arts funding available over three years, with the third round being awarded to projects taking place between October 2022 and December 2023.  A total of €300,000 will be awarded during this period.

The criteria for this round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund has been updated to focus on projects that enhance the wellbeing of their communities. The total amount of funding available per project has also been raised to €15,000.

The Fund supports or commissions artists and arts organisations to develop arts projects that engage the individuals, audiences and communities involved. All art forms are eligible to apply to the fund.

During the second round of the Arts Fund over €300,000 was distributed to 39 projects across the island of Ireland. Projects such as ‘Takeaway Theatre’, an interactive performance at home for people with disabilities and their families in Co. Down; The Little Museum of Dublin’s ‘My Name is Eileen’ exhibition which tells the story of Senator Eileen Flynn, the first Traveller to become a member of the Oireachtas; and ‘Sensory SongTales’ by Baboró, a unique and innovative multisensory arts experience designed for young children with additional needs.

Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said,

“As arts and culture continue to reopen to in-person audiences and visitors, I welcome the third round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund launched today, supported by my Department, in partnership with Business to Arts. This third round will help artists and arts organisations to reconnect with their communities and contribute to their wellbeing now and into the future.”

Oliver Wall, Chief of Staff and Head of Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland said,

 “The role of artists and arts organisations in connecting communities through you the pandemic has been critical. I’m delighted that the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts, continues to support new work and artistic practice.  I’m particularly happy that more audiences will now get to enjoy these works in person. 

 The focus this year on projects that enhance the wellbeing of their communities represents an important part of our wider support for communities across the island of Ireland”. 

Louise O’Reilly, CEO, Business to Arts said,

“The arts provided the greatest solace to us all during the pandemic, so we are grateful to Bank of Ireland for recognising the central role of the arts in enhancing the wellbeing of our communities through this Fund, and with continuing to support the arts sector whose own resilience has been sorely tested over the past two years.”

About the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund:

This Fund provides fees to artists or groups of artists to create new work and help maximise the budgets of partner organisations (e.g. arts organisations, community/voluntary organisations, etc.) for their programme of activity.

Artists or groups of artists applying must work with a partner organisation (e.g. a venue or event, arts organisation, community/voluntary organisation or another funding agency/organisation). Applicants can request funds between €5,000 – €15,000 / (STG equivalent), and average grants will be €10,000 / (STG equivalent), with maximum grants of €15,000 / (STG equivalent). Arts projects with larger budgets that have secured funds elsewhere are encouraged to apply.

Closing date for the third round of applications is Thursday, 23 June 2022 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/artsfund/bank-of-ireland for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.

Louise O’Reilly – photo by Renato Ghiazza

Today, Business to Arts is pleased to announce that Louise O’Reilly will be joining the organisation as Chief Executive. Louise has over 20 years of experience in developing and delivering purpose-driven and mission-led strategic initiatives and special projects at the intersection of art and science, culture, and innovation. She has a proven track record in engaging, influencing, and establishing cross-sectoral multi-stakeholder partnerships in both Ireland and international contexts that deliver transformative results.

Louise’s depth of expertise in arts management and cultural projects ranges across visual art, film, socially-engaged practice, music, theatre, heritage, architecture, art-science, technology, and innovation, from start-up to execution and evaluation. She was also a founding team member of a new social sciences, arts, and humanities lab at The Dock, Accenture’s global research and innovation hub. Immersed in the latest thinking around ESG standards she has pioneered conscientious innovation, helping global corporate leaders move beyond good intentions in creating value for people and society.

Louise previously led on the strategic network development of new Science Gallery locations in London, Melbourne, Bangalore, and Venice, on the international development of the Irish Film Institute Player, and on the operational establishment of Dublin City Council Culture Company. She has also worked as a lobbyist and coordinator for the National Campaign for the Arts and is an alumna of the international Clore and Common Purpose Leadership Programmes.

Louise currently sits on the Board of Directors for Irish Architecture Foundation, and CREATE, the National Development Agency for Collaborative Art, providing her with invaluable governance, HR, legal, financial oversight and risk management experience. Having led the development of five-year strategies for both organisations, her work has been central to leveraging strategic funding increases and driving organisational and strategic momentum.

In 2020 Louise graduated with a Diploma in Legal Studies from The Honorable Society of The King’s Inns and in 2021 received her Diploma in Intellectual Property and Tech Law from the Law Society.

Speaking about her appointment Louise said:

“I have long been motivated to create the conditions for artists to make great work, and I believe Business to Arts can unlock real value for our clients across the private and public sector, arts, and culture. I look forward to leading Business to Arts, its team, and activities, in catalysing conversations between Ireland’s cultural and corporate communities, and in building partnerships that lead to projects with real societal impact.”

Davina Saint, Chair of Business to Arts said:

‘I am really looking forward to working with Louise and to her joining the Business to Arts team. Louise brings a wealth of experience with her to the role, and I believe that she will broaden our stakeholder engagement and develop Business to Arts in line with our strategic vision.’

Louise will join Business to Arts on 4^th April.

Pictured at this year’s Awards venue, the National Concert Hall, was Tina Segner, performance artist and co-founder at Tumble Circus street theatre company based in Belfast with Awards partners Etain Seymour, Marketing and Communications Director at Accenture, Susan Jackson, Senior Marketing Manager for Irish Life Corporate Business, Orla O’Connor, Chair for Arthur Cox, Gerard McNaughton, Creative Director for TileStyle, Bevin Cody, Corporate Reputation Manager for ESB, and Clare Duignan, Board Member for Business to Arts and Chair of this year’s Awards Judging Panel.

Today, Business to Arts, their innovation partner Accenture, and category partners Arthur Cox, daa, ESB, Irish Life, The Arts Council of Ireland, The Irish Times and TileStyle launched the call for nominations for the landmark 30^th anniversary 2022 Business to Arts Awards.

The Awards celebrate the power of partnerships between two sectors that can generate learning, wellbeing, joy and innovation during times of hardship. At the awards launch, Business to Arts and the awards partners encouraged businesses and philanthropists to look to the cultural sector for inspiration and support in providing engaging, insightful and enjoyable experiences both within and outside of the workplace. Previous award winners include Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail, An Post, Flogas, Grant Thornton, Dublin Port Company, Irish Film Institute, and the Naughton Foundation.

This year marks a landmark year in the Awards history and also represents the highest level of monetary support to the arts offered with €25,000 available through bursaries and awards.

Now in its 13^th year, the €10,000 Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Bursary, is open to emerging artist(s) in any art form. The inaugural year of the ‘Accenture Digital Innovation in Art’ Bursary will offer €10,000 to an artist whose work is created digitally and showcases how harnessing the combination of technology and human ingenuity can produce new perspectives and approaches to art. The daa €5,000 Arts Award honours an arts organisation in recognition of its effective and imaginative collaboration with a business. Additionally, the Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts award, supported by the Arts Council, recognises outstanding examples of sustainable and impactful arts philanthropy.

There are 11 categories in total focusing on sponsorship, commissioning, CSR initiatives and community engagement as well as mentoring, training, philanthropy, and staff programmes. The online application form can be accessed through www.businesstoarts.ie/awards.

Clare Duignan, Chair of this year’s judging panel and Board Member of Business to Arts said:

‘The 30th anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards ceremony will combine physical with virtual to celebrate the very best in creative partnerships from the last 18 months. As we emerge and recover from the effects of pandemic it is vital to celebrate new, innovative, and sustained corporate partnerships that support artistry, creativity, and society.

In our work, we are increasingly seeing business organisations connect with important issues around sustainability, equality, technology, and wellbeing by engaging with the arts, and we hope to see this reflected in this year’s nominations.’

Etain Seymour, Marketing and Communications Director for Accenture in Ireland said:

‘The last couple of years has reminded us all of the comfort we get from the arts when surrounded by so much disruption in our lives. Now more than ever, creative partnerships between businesses and the arts can bring hope and joy across society. We’re thrilled to offer the inaugural ‘Digital Innovation in Art’ Bursary and look forward to seeing how the submissions showcase the exciting possibilities of technology and human ingenuity working together.’

Oisín O’Shaughnessy, Managing Director, Irish Life Corporate Business said:

‘Irish Life is thrilled to sponsor the Business to Arts Award for Best Use of Creativity in the Community once again this year. Supporting the arts is a real privilege for us, as I’m sure it is for all of the businesses associated with this fantastic project.

Helping the people of Ireland to build better futures is something we strive to do in every facet of our business, every single day. So, we are exceptionally proud to support the arts and in particular, the crucial role that creativity plays in inspiring, uplifting and cultivating better communities all over Ireland, both now and into the future.’

Orla O’Connor, Chair, Arthur Cox said:

‘We are delighted to partner with Business to Arts for the 30th anniversary of the awards. In Arthur Cox we have always been passionate about supporting the arts both through our commissioning programme and our own art collection. Over the last two years, creative corporate partnerships have been so important in terms of providing support to the arts sector and we look forward to seeing the shortlisted projects.’

Martin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of the Arts Council said:

‘The Arts Council welcomes, appreciates and encourages partnerships between socially minded businesses and philanthropists. We welcome applications that demonstrate best-practice in the area of sustainable arts philanthropy and we look forward to working with our colleagues in Business to Arts in this important area.’

Bevin Cody, Corporate Reputation Manager, ESB said:

‘As a long-time supporter of the arts in Ireland, ESB is delighted to once again sponsor the Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace Award. We know the vital role the arts can play in enriching our working life, fostering staff wellbeing and building a vibrant work environment. This category always delivers a diverse and innovative approach to using the arts to build healthy resilient businesses, and we look forward to the same high standard this year.’

Cathy Burke, Head of Internal Communications, daa said:

‘daa has a strong and fruitful relationship with the Business to Arts team and has been a proud sponsor of the awards for close on three decades. We are delighted to once again commission the award sculpture, which has an added significance this year, as it not only marks 30 years of the awards but also our association with this event. We are very much looking forward to seeing all the submissions, including those for the Arts Award, which never fail to impress with their creativity and imagination.’

Paul Mulvaney, Managing Director, The Irish Times Group said:

‘The importance of support and partnership by business to the arts community has been more evident than ever over the past few years. The Irish Times Group is once again proud to support the Best Long-Term Partnership Award. Congratulations to the Business to Arts team as they celebrate the 30^th anniversary of these Awards.’

Gerry Butler, Managing Director, TileStyle said:

‘We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Business to Arts Awards in this landmark year and to provide crucial Bursary support for an artist to develop their work. These awards shine a light on the great things that can be achieved when corporate and cultural communities connect and get creative together.’

Pictured at today’s announcement at Fitzwilliam 27, ESB’s new headquarters, are Davina Saint, Chairperson Business to Arts, Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive, ESB and dancers Robyn Byrne and Vitor Bassi, representing Dublin Dance Festival, one of the fund recipients. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

• €250,000 ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund, delivered in partnership with Business to Arts, to support arts and arts organisations aiming to engage communities around sustainability and the energy transition
• Five projects, in Carlow, Waterford, Limerick, Derry and Dublin selected from over 85 submissions across the island of Ireland.

 ESB, in partnership with Business to Arts, has announced five projects spanning theatre, poetry, music, dance, sculpture, gardening, visual arts and soundscapes, that have been selected to receive funding from the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund. The €250,000 fund was established in 2021 to support artists and arts organisations to deliver creative projects that will promote awareness of climate change and inspire positive action around sustainability and the energy transition.

The five selected projects are:

• Future Limerick – a multidisciplinary climate arts festival which is a collaboration between Sunday’s Child Theatre Company and the Lime Tree Theatre | Belltable in Limerick. This project will see performances, workshops, projections, and more take place in Limerick in May 2022.
• Theatre Royal Biodiversity Garden, Waterford – a partnership between Theatre Royal and Waterford City & County Council, this project will see a pollinator-friendly willow sculpture by artist Elaine McDonagh installed in a new biodiversity garden adjacent to the Theatre Royal.
• Future Light from Distant Stars, Carlow – a partnership between artist David Beattie and the Visual Centre of Contemporary Art in Carlow to create a colourful greenhouse installation powered by solar panels, emitting light, and acting as a growing space, workshop venue and meeting place.
• Almanac for a Walled City, Derry – a partnership between sound artist Christopher Steenson and the Nerve Centre, Derry to explore solutions to the climate crisis by looking at Ireland’s unique relationship with the weather.
• Moving Futures – Dublin Dance Festival – a partnership between Dublin Dance Festival and specialist Irish lighting / technology company Lightscape (www.lightscape.ie) to create a site-specific performance at ESB’s newly redeveloped Head Office in Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2, exploring the themes of sustainability and human connection.

Speaking at the announcement, Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive of ESB, said: “As a long-standing supporter of the arts in Ireland, ESB recognises the important role that artists play in helping communities not only to understand and interpret past and current events, but to imagine our future. Through this fund, we want to support artists and organisations committed to engaging and supporting communities to achieve a net zero future. The selected projects reflect the diverse and creative approach that was evident across all submissions, and we look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition over the next two years.”

Davina Saint, Chairperson of Business to Arts, said: “The five incredible projects across the island of Ireland that are being funded by the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund demonstrate how artists and arts organisations uniquely interpret and communicate critical issues in creative ways. ESB is a long-term supporter of Business to Arts and the arts. We champion companies that are committed to supporting the arts and we are proud to partner with ESB on this innovative fund.”

For more information on the fund or selected projects visit:

www.esb.ie/arts

Andrew Hetherington – Chief Executive, Business to Arts. Photo by Conor McCabe Photography

It is with both sadness and appreciation that we share the news that Andrew Hetherington has today announced his departure from Business to Arts after more than seven years in the role of Chief Executive and fourteen years with the organisation. He will leave in March to take a new senior role in the arts sector, details of which will be announced soon.

Commenting on his time with Business to Arts, Andrew said…

“I’ve been enormously privileged to work with Business to Arts for over fourteen years. Our membership and executive team has increased in recent times and they have designed, built and delivered projects and solutions that have demonstrated our commitment to the challenges and future trends in the cultural sector, including…

• Our work with our many corporate patrons and members enabling their sponsorships, events, art commissions and art collections
• Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together Arts Fund, which was created to support artists and arts organisations as they respond to the challenges created by the pandemic
• Our New Stream Fundraising Fellowship, which is a partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media and is incrementally building fundraising capacity in the arts sector
• ESB’s Brighter Future Arts Fund, which was created to imagine a brighter future as we shift to a low carbon energy future
• Establishing Fundit.ie, which is Ireland’s leading rewards-based crowdfunding website for the creative sector
• Championing and recognising excellence in partnership with the arts through the annual Business to Arts Awards
• Our work with Government informing and contributing to The COVID-19 Arts & Culture Recovery Taskforce, Culture 2025, The National CSR Stakeholder Forum & The Forum for Philanthropy & Fundraising

Importantly, I would like to thank Davina Saint (Chair) and the Board of Business to Arts, my current colleagues Emily, Michelle, Eileen, Rachel and Mella, all former colleagues and Board members for their support both professionally and personally and their commitment to the organisation.

I will remain a strong advocate of the work of Business to Arts. Its reach and impact on an annual basis is exceptional and I’ve had the pleasure of being able to collaborate with so many senior stakeholders in the arts, business and public sectors. As I embark on the next stage of my career, I know that the organisation is primed for future successes and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing the next phase of its development.”

Speaking about the announcement, Davina Saint, Chair of Business to Arts said:

“Andrew has been a passionate and driven change-maker for Business to Arts. He has worked so hard to manifest the organisation that we have today. As a Board we are all proud of his achievements and wish him every success with the next stage of his career; knowing that he will always be one of our champions.”

The Board of Business to Arts have begun the process of identifying a new Chief Executive. More information on this will follow. Andrew will leave Business to Arts in March 2022.

See businesstoarts.ie/recruitment and The Irish Times from 7th January 2022 for further details.

We are seeking a Senior Manager – Membership & Projects to join Business to Arts.

Salary: €40,000 – €50,000 (+ performance-related bonus)

3 year contract.

Location: Blended – Involving onsite (Dublin 2), client-based (Dublin & National) & remote.

Summary & Job Description

The Senior Manager – Membership & Projects is one of Business to Arts’ most central roles. Reporting to the CEO and Head of Communications & Partnerships, the successful candidate will guide and deliver Business to Arts’ Membership programme, and oversee the development and delivery of member’s projects, which include Advisory Services and Arts Funds.

The Senior Manager – Membership & Projects will be an excellent communicator and relationship manager, who adapts to a broad range of project needs and knows how to attract, build and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

The successful candidate will also have an eye for detail and have the drive to reach challenging revenue targets and KPIs. They will inspire those they interact with to commit to and support our mission to support the arts. They will form part of our executive leadership team and work with our Board to deliver on Business to Arts’ Strategic Plan. They will actively deliver our strategy to increase opportunities for corporate engagement with Business to Arts and retain these relationships.

Download the Senior Manager – Membership & Projects Business to Arts Job Description 2021.

TO APPLY FOR THE ROLE

• Candidates can submit their application in confidence to recruitment[@]businesstoarts.ie Each application must include a concise cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining how they meet the above requirements and CV (max. 2 pages)
• The deadline for applications is 5.00pm on Friday 7 January, 2022
• First round interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 17 January 2022 and will be subject to relevant COVID-19 guidelines at the time.
• Applicants should be available to commence the role (ideally) in March 2022 or sooner.

Business to Arts is thrilled to announce the partners for the 30th anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards in 2022.

Accenture, Arthur Cox, ESB, daa, Irish Life, The Arts Council of Ireland, The Irish Times and TileStyle will once again support the Awards.

Accenture has expanded its support of the Awards as this year’s ‘Innovation Partner’, with a focus on delivering a digitally-enabled ceremony and the introduction of a new bursary of €10,000 awarded for ‘Digital Innovation in Art’.

Speaking about the partnership Etain Seymour, Director of Marketing & Communications at Accenture in Ireland said:
‘We are delighted to evolve our support of the annual Business to Arts Awards and introduce a new Digital Innovation in Art bursary. The last couple of years has reminded us all of the comfort we get from the arts when surrounded by so much disruption in our lives. Now more than ever, creative partnerships between businesses and the arts can bring hope and joy across society. For that reason, our role as Innovation Partner will bring the best of technology and innovation together with artists and performers to ensure the awards ceremony reaches a broad audience digitally in 2022.’

The landmark 30th anniversary judging panel will be chaired by Clare Duignan, a Business to Arts board member as well as a member of the boards of the Irish Times, Fáilte Ireland, IMRO and the Chester Beatty Library. Clare chaired the 2020 Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce and has previously served on the boards of the Arts Council, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Dublin International Film Festival and more. Her career at RTÉ saw her serve in a number of senior executive positions including Head of Independent Productions, Director of Programmes TV, and Managing Director Radio and Performing Groups.

The Arts & Culture Recovery Taskforce Chairperson, Ms. Clare Duignan pictured with Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, T.D. at the launch of the Taskforce’s report. Photo Fennell Photography 2020

On the announcement, Clare said:
‘I am thrilled to Chair the judging panel for the 30th anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards in 2022. Over the past 30 years the Awards has been a crucial moment to recognise how creative partnerships enrich the corporate world while advancing the practice of our cultural sector. Art and culture helps us to process, understand and gain perspective during challenging periods and we look forward to seeing how this year’s applicants have innovated in the face of the last 18 months.’

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts added:
‘The last 24 months has challenged and changed us in many ways. What has remained the same is the need to champion the arts and those that choose to support the arts through their sponsorship, philanthropic, CSR and commissioning programmes. For our 30th anniversary Business to Arts Awards ceremony in 2022, we are delighted to welcome back our partners Accenture, Arthur Cox, The Arts Council, daa, ESB, Irish Life, The Irish Times and TileStyle. As we maintain our focus on evolving the Awards, we are happy to welcome Accenture’s enhanced support as “Innovation Partner”.’

The 2021 Business to Arts CEO Forum in association with PwC will take place virtually on Thursday, 4th November 2021.

Sustainability is now a central part of every conversation about the future of the corporate and cultural sectors.

In 2021, PwC conducted a CEO Survey which found that in Ireland, just 32% of leaders are factoring climate change into their strategic risk management.

The 2021 Business to Arts CEO Forum in association with PwC invites CEOs and leaders across business and the arts sectors in Ireland to share knowledge and discuss emerging ideas in their sectors.

This year’s Forum will have 5 speakers from a diverse range of industries discussing their sustainability strategies, how they are tackling challenging targets and the power of communications in our journey to Net Zero.

This year’s panellists include:

Tania Banotti, Director of Creative Ireland

Cathal Marley, CEO at Ervia Group

Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council

David McRedmond, CEO of An Post

Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner at PwC

With moderation from Dearbhail McDonald, Journalist & Broadcaster and opening remarks from Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive at Business to Arts.

Access to the event is available for Business to Arts’ Members and Affiliates. For more information email Emily.

Pictured are Louis Lovett and Lola Metcalfe from Theatre Lovett, one of the groups to receive funding, along with Bank of Ireland Interim Chief Marketing Officer Laura Lynch. Theatre Lovett is one of the leading companies in Ireland making theatre for all ages.

Bank of Ireland, in partnership with Business to Arts, have announced the 39 projects spanning music, theatre, dance, film, craft and the visual arts that will receive support from the second phase of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund.

Funding of €335,000 will be provided to artworks or arts projects which have been inspired by the experience of living through COVID-19 or have been adapted in response to the pandemic. The all-island Begin Together Arts Fund will open for a third round of applications in 2022 and will make a total of €1 million in arts funding available between 2020 and 2022.

Francesca McDonagh, Group Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland, said:

“The arts enrich our lives, but this sector has been one of the most seriously impacted during the pandemic. The Begin Together Arts Fund has helped sustain the development of new work and artistic practice during the pandemic and the new projects announced today will continue to enrich our lives and communities into the future.”

Among the 39 artists and projects funded, the Begin Together Arts Fund grants will support:

Theatre Lovett, The Girl who Forgot to Sing Badly, by Finegan Kruckemeyer, directed by Lynne Parker is a highly-acclaimed theatrical performance presented by Theatre Lovett. In partnership with Theatre Royal, this project will reframe the performance, digitally, for a new generation of young audiences. Teachers will receive free access to a pre-recorded performance from the Sydney Opera House, and a tailored teaching resource pack to support classroom engagement. In addition, each classroom around the county will have access to an inspiring Q&A session with actor Louis Lovett live from Theatre Royal. The Girl who Forgot to Sing Badly was originally commissioned by The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children and produced by The Ark in association with Theatre Lovett.

Connecting Communities will see artists Kathryn Boyle and Ciara Dunne working in partnership with Beat Carnival to facilitate the creation of an outdoor winter lantern parade connecting neighbouring communities through the crafting of festival floats and lanterns.

The Music Box, conceptualised by visual arts duo Cleary Connolly in partnership with Sample Studios and Cork City Council’s Glow Festival, will see the Cork Youth Orchestra perform while motion capture technology turns their movements into light projections, bringing a sound and light show to both interior and exterior audiences.

The Music Network Roscommon Teaching Residency, led by musician Cathy Jordan will take a hybrid approach to music residency, providing participants with a course of one-to-one lessons, both in-person and online, culminating in a series socially distanced ensemble performances.

Please see here for the full list of supported projects.

Minister Catherin-Martin with Gill Fenton of Lime Tree Theatre (L) and Catherine Hearn of Music Network (R) with Business to Arts CEO Andrew Hetherington. Credit Conor McCabe

Business to Arts is delighted to announce applications are now open for the third round of the 24-month Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland programme in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland will offer two cultural organisations 50% part-funding toward the employment of full-time ‘fundraising’ or ‘marketing & fundraising’ professionals over a 24-month period. The recruited Fellows will be supported by a structured programme of training and mentorship with Business to Arts. The aim is to equip the recruited fellows and their cultural organisations with skills to build fundraising capacity in their organisations.

Grants will be for a maximum of €15,000 per annum over a 24-month period and are aimed at subsidising the cost of full-time or contracted (minimum two-year) Fundraising or Marketing & Fundraising Executive.

For Business to Arts and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the overall objective of the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland is:

• to continue and enhance prior investment by national and regional cultural organisations in the development of human resources and capacity building.
• to create stronger cultural organisations who are committed to long term sustainability, based on business minded planning and a cultural strategy.
• to facilitate cultural organisations in gaining knowledge so they can leverage and increase resources in a long-term and sustainable way thereby maintaining and improving their longevity.
• to address the 6 key barriers identified in the 6-year review of New Stream programme review 2016 http://www.businesstoarts.ie/newstream/.

Lime Tree Theatre and Music Network are organisations currently completing the programme. Past participants under Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland include Druid Theatre and Cork International Film Festival. Past participants under Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin include Helium Arts, Temple Bar Gallery + Studies & Fishamble: A New Play Company. Druid Theatre, Cork Film Festival and Dublin Theatre Festival.

For full details & to apply please click here.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 24th November 2021. 

Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland is a partnership between Business to Arts & the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Job Description 

Contract: End July 2023 – June 2024 Maternity Leave cover; Applicants should be available to commence the role no later than 24th July 2023.

Salary: €48,000 per annum pro rata

Location: Blended on-site (Dublin 2), client-based (Dublin & National) & remote. 

Deadline: 9th June 2023

Are you a creative comms specialist with a passion for the arts? We’re on the hunt for a dynamic Creative Communications Manager to join our team! Here are the qualities we’re looking for:

• Storyteller extraordinaire: You have a knack for crafting captivating narratives that engage and inspire audiences.
• Social media savvy: You know how to build a buzz on social media and have experience using different platforms to reach diverse audiences.
• Strategic thinker: You can develop and implement comprehensive communications plans that align with organisational goals.
• Collaborative spirit: You thrive in a team environment and can work effectively with different stakeholders, including artists, curators, and external partners.
• Discerning about design: You have a keen eye for design and can work with graphic designers to create visually stunning communications materials.

This is a unique opportunity to really help devise and drive a fresh approach of communications style at Business to Arts through a distinct 10 month period kickstarted by our new website and new strategy launching summer 2023 just before you start. 

If you fit the bill, we want to hear from you! Apply now to join our high-performing and supportive team and help us tell the world about the amazing work we do.

About the Role

At an exciting time for Business to Arts, we are looking for an articulate, organised and creative individual with 5+ years of experience to oversee the promotion, protection and development of BtoA brand and mission, fundamental to the success of our engagement with our members and stakeholders. 

The Creative Communications Manager will design and deliver a campaign to successfully communicate about Business to Arts’ Membership programmes, events, Awards, curatorial and cultural strategy client services, Arts Funds, Fundraising Fellowship programme and our own new five-year strategy.

Business to Arts is about to launch a new five-year strategy to deliver ever greater impact across the arts sector and value for our members while exploring emerging opportunities to realise the financial value of BtoA’s own specialist services and expertise. This maternity leave role will be key to communicating and leveraging BtoA’s new positioning while seeking opportunities to profile our impact and engagement. 

Reporting to the CEO, the Creative Comms Manager will work closely with the team including the Arts Portfolio Manager, Curatorial Projects Manager, and Membership & Projects Manager,  and will be required to report to the BtoA board. 

Core Competencies

• Brand management
• Crafting and implementing innovative and imaginative communications for a broad variety of audiences, utilising a range of communications tools
• Developing strategic campaign plans that align with our goals and identifying and innovating upon new opportunities or angles to ensure the Business to Arts brand is consistently reaching and influencing its intended audience, particularly leveraging our flagship events and new strategy
• Understanding of how to harness the power of data to support your decision-making 
• This communications expertise will be backed-up with sound financial management, excellent people skills, and a passion for the arts.

Please review the full responsibilities and details of the role here.

To apply for the role 

• Candidates can submit enquiries and their application in confidence to recruitment@businesstoarts.ie with [your name // Creative Communications Manager] in the subject line. 
• Each application must include a concise cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining how they meet the above requirements and CV (max. 2 pages). NB if you are applying through Linkedin, you MUST combine a cover letter with your CV. 
• The deadline for applications is 5.00pm on 9th June 2023. 
• First-round interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 19th June 2023.

Merrion Square, Dublin, Tuesday 13th July: Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive ESB with his granddaughter Eve (2) and Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, painting a sustainable future with a 3D artwork by artist Mark Cronin at the announcement of ESB’s Brighter Future Arts Fund. Photo: Conor McCabe

ESB today announced a new ‘Brighter Future Arts Fund’, in partnership with Business to Arts. The €250,000 fund will support artists working with organisations on creative ideas that will engage the public in a positive way around the energy transition. The projects can be in any art form, and the fund is open for applications until 8^th September 2021.

Speaking at the launch of the Brighter Future Arts Fund, Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive of ESB said: “Artists have a unique perspective that can inspire people and communities to see the world in new ways, helping to start conversations, spark imagination and ignite new ideas. Through this fund, we hope to attract artists from a range of art forms who share our vision for a brighter, more sustainable future, and demonstrate the benefits that businesses and the arts can achieve by working collaboratively on issues of common interest.”

Through the Brighter Future Arts Fund, ESB will support projects that imagine a more sustainable world, look towards a brighter future, consider the steps necessary to get there, and the importance of this in tackling climate change. These artworks and arts projects can be in any art form that takes place on the island of Ireland including visual arts, spoken word, music, theatre and much more.

Artists are encouraged to work in collaboration with a partner organisation such as festival, venue or event organisers, arts, community, environmental, technological or heritage/architectural organisations or another funding agency to develop and realise their work and projects.

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said: “Among the many important roles art plays in society is its power to interpret, communicate and educate us about complicated issues in original and enlightening ways. With this new Fund, ESB is creating a mechanism to enhance their long-term support of the arts and are linking this to an area of global significance. At Business to Arts, we champion this type of thinking and are proud to partner with ESB for the Brighter Future Arts Fund.”

About the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund:

The ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund will distribute a total of €250,000 between 2022 and 2023 for a range of artworks and arts projects connected to the question of ‘what does a Brighter Future look like?’.

The Fund has two strands, the first being an open call to artists across the island of Ireland to create artworks or arts projects in collaboration with a partner organisation that sustainably enhance their communities.

The second strand is a limited call to environmental artists to create an artwork or project that will be exhibited or performed at ESB’s new headquarters at Project Fitzwilliam, Dublin 2.

Themes or interests for works could be:

What does a Brighter Future look like?

A low-carbon future

Best-practice in environmental sustainability

Addressing environmental issues and sustainable development goals

Enhancing participation of communities and audiences

Active partnership between artists and partner organisations

For more information on the fund, and details on how to apply, visit www.businesstoarts.ie/artsfund/esb/

Business to Arts Board Appointments Davina Saint, Myles Clarke & Fiona D’Arcy. Pictured is a piece by Orla Whelan, winner of the inaugural Merrion Plinth Award. Credit Conor McCabe

Myles Clarke, Managing Director of CBRE Ireland and Fiona D’Arcy, Chief Marketing Officer of Linesight have joined the Business to Arts Board of Directors. They join Davina Saint, who is Independent Non-Executive Director, and was appointed as Chair of Business to Arts in 2020.

Speaking about the appointments, Andrew Hetherington said “These new appointments align with Business to Arts’ strategic objectives, which include creative place-making and the integration of art and design into the recovery of cities and towns across Ireland.”

In October 2020, Business to Arts was appointed to the Arts & Culture Recovery Taskforce by Minister Catherine Martin TD. Among the recommendations of the taskforce report were to work in partnership with the private sector to activate appropriate public spaces for arts and cultural events and commissions. Business to Arts is responding to this recommendation through the development of donor-advised Arts Funds with a variety of donors and enhancing our advisory services team for the commissioning of art in the public realm.

• Davina Saint was appointed Chair of Business to Arts in 2020. Previously the Head of Branch for BNP Paribas Securities Services in Ireland, Davina joined the Board of NAMA in January of 2021. Davina is a senior level banking executive and qualified solicitor. She has extensive legal experience with 19 years as head of legal and general counsel for BNP Paribas’ operations in Ireland. She is also a chartered director and has built corporate governance and risk management experience across multiple boards and executive committees.
• Myles Clarke has 20-years’ experience running businesses in banking, capital markets and real estate in London and Dublin.  Myles was appointed Managing Director of CBRE Ireland in 2018 – Ireland’s largest real estate advisory firm.
• Fiona D’Arcy  has over 25 years’ national and international experience in B2B organisations ranging from start-ups through to large multinationals developing and implementing business and marketing positioning strategies. At Linesight, a global consultancy firm providing cost, project and program management services to a multitude of industry sectors, Fiona is passionate about driving growth in international markets and building brand profiles, brand positioning and brand awareness.

On their appointment Davina Saint, Chair of Business to Arts said: “I am so pleased to welcome Myles and Fiona to the Board.  They bring a wealth of experience and will add genuine stakeholder engagement to our organisation.   We are always looking to broaden the industry sectors with which we engage and these appointments deepen and broaden this base.”

On his appointment Myles Clarke said: “I am delighted to join the Business to Arts board at this critical time for artists and the arts sector. I have long admired the ethos and great work of the team at Business to Arts in supporting the importance of culture  world. I look forward to contributing to Business to Arts’ important mission and furthering the long-term strategy to champion the arts with businesses in Ireland”

On her appointment Fiona D’Arcy said: “All too often the value of arts and culture in the busy world of business can be overlooked. It has never been more important than it is now, as we live through a global pandemic, to recognise the positive impact that an immersive culture experience or beautiful artistic or creative place-making can have on our daily lives. We must continue to reinforce to our government and business communities alike the value that organisations such as Business to Arts can deliver. I am excited to have been welcomed to join such a coveted group of Board members in Business to Arts and relish the opportunity to make an impactful contribution to the roll out of their strategy and hope to act as an advocate for the organization both in Ireland and globally.”

Launching the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts, Francesca McDonagh, Group Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland and Andrew Hetherington, CEO, Business to Arts at the Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre. Picture Robbie Reynolds.

The second round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts was launched today. The all-island Begin Together Arts Fund will make a total of €1 million in arts funding available over three years, awarded to projects that are adapting due to the pandemic, or are inspired by and responding to our recovery.

The Arts Fund supports or commissions artists and arts organisations to develop arts projects that engage the individuals, audiences and communities involved. All art forms are eligible to apply to the fund. With this second round, Bank of Ireland and Business to Arts are encouraging more applications from artists who specialise in fine-art film and craft-related disciplines and from community arts organisations, who were under-represented in round one.

During the first round of the Arts Fund over €300,000 was distributed to 36 projects across the island of Ireland. Projects such as ‘Yes, But Do You Care?’, a collaboration between visual artist Marie Brett, choreographer/performer Philip Connaughton, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, and the Dementia Carers Campaign Network that recently launched online via the Irish Museum of Modern Art; Mobile Music Ensemble’s ‘Covid Care Concerts’ which toured hospitals and care homes during 2020 and will continue their concerts in coming months; and ‘Locked up in Lockdown’, a theatre collaboration between the Lyric Theatre, Belfast and members of a young offenders’ centre about their experiences of the pandemic.

Oliver Wall, Chief of Staff and Head of Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland said, “I’m delighted that the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund continues to support new work and artistic practice during these challenging times for the arts. It represents an important part of our wider support for communities across the island of Ireland. The projects supported by the Fund will have an important role to play in helping us all to reflect on the last 12 months and look to brighter days ahead.”

Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said, “The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown what we value most into sharp relief. It is both poignant and powerful to see the eagerness with which cultural content is being consumed and craved, as we now look hopefully towards better times.  Thanks to funding provided by my Department, this second round of the Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts, will support artists and arts organisations in realising their projects in innovative and engaging ways. I am delighted to see this Fund continue to benefit the sector.”

Andrew Hetherington, CEO, Business to Arts said, “The Begin Together Arts Fund is a vital source of private sector funding for the arts.  The projects funded in round one demonstrate the adaptability and resilience of Ireland’s arts sector. Business to Arts is proud work in partnership with Bank of Ireland as we progress the fund, reach more communities and help realise quality arts experiences for people across the island of Ireland”.

About the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund:

This Fund provides fees to artists or groups of artists to create new work and help maximise the budgets of partner organisations (e.g. arts organisations, community/voluntary organisations, etc.) for their programme of activity.

Artists or groups of artists applying must work with a partner organisation (e.g. a venue or event, arts organisation, community/voluntary organisation or another funding agency/organisation). Applicants can request funds between €3,000 – €10,000 / (STG equivalent), and average grants will be €5,000 / (STG equivalent), with maximum grants of €10,000 / (STG equivalent). Arts projects with larger budgets that have secured funds elsewhere are encouraged to apply. With each grant round, the Fund aims to provide funding to an arts project in each county on the island of Ireland.

Closing date for the second round of applications is Wednesday, 23 June 2021 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/artsfund/bank-of-ireland for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.

Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland with her children Fiadh (age 5) and Sadhbh (age 3) winner of this years Business to Arts Awards Judges’ Special Recognition Award supported by Accenture. Photograph Conor McCabe Photography.

Aerogen & Druid, Flogas & Galway International Arts Festival, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail & Christopher Steenson were among the winners in nine categories at the 29th annual Business to Arts Awards ceremony which was broadcast online from the GPO.

Despite the significant challenges faced by businesses and the arts over the past year, entries to the 29th Business to Arts Awards were significant. The winning nominations showcase the impact that can be made through collaborative partnerships and demonstrate the importance of supporting the arts at a critical time. Outstanding examples of creative partnerships, which are adapting to the current environment and are setting new standards for arts engagement and backing were celebrated at this evening’s online Awards Ceremony.

The Business to Arts Awards recognise businesses, philanthropists, artists and arts organisations that develop creative partnerships. Winning partnerships focus on arts sponsorship, commissioning of artists, staff engagement and CSR initiatives, philanthropy and community engagement. Many of the collaborations are the result of long-term relationships.

The 2021 Business to Arts Awards Winners are:

Leading the congratulations among business and arts leaders was Catherine Martin T.D.
Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said:

“In the face of such an unprecedented year, the Business to Arts Awards remind us of the resilience and ingenuity of creative partnerships and the positive impact that they can deliver. The innovation and resourcefulness of this year’s nominees reminds us of our inherent agility and the importance of culture and arts as a source of inspiration and comfort for many people over the last year. My congratulations to everyone shortlisted and the winners.”

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

“Whether it is the books you are reading, the drama and films you are watching or the music you are listening to, there can be no doubt that the arts have played a significant role helping us and entertaining us over the last year. With the winners of the Business to Arts Awards, we recognise the best sponsorships and partnerships of the last 18 months and acknowledge their contributions to society. Congratulations to each winner.”

Etain Seymour, Director of Marketing + Communications at Accenture in Ireland said:

“We are very proud to support the Judges’ Special Recognition Award this year. Congratulations to all nominees selected by the judging panel for their contributions to the arts over many, many years. It was heartening to see the strength of submissions from arts organisations in particular this year, reinforcing their journey and commitment to the arts sector. I’m delighted for our winner, Children’s Books Ireland, for all they do to engage so many children nationally in a meaningful way to inspire a love for books and develop a fondness for reading from a very young age.”

Orla O’Connor, Chair, Arthur Cox said:

“Arthur Cox is delighted to partner with Business to Arts to support the awards and Ireland’s arts community. I would like to congratulate the winners, who are all worthy recipients.

We recognise and support the role that the arts play in creating a vibrant, engaged and creative community. They inspire us, and lift our spirits, and are more important than ever, as we live through the challenges of life in a global pandemic.”

Tony Lawless, Head of Strategy Europe, Canada Life (Irish Life) said:

“Irish Life is delighted to support anything that brings creativity into the community and inspires or engages people. As such, it is fantastic to see something like the ‘Mirror Pavilion’ overcoming the challenges posed by the current pandemic to lift the spirits of those in Galway and beyond. Congratulations to Flogas & Galway International Arts Festival and John Gerrard for such an inspirational collaboration – a worthy winner.”

Martin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of the Arts Council said:

“The Naughton Foundation’s substantial financial support enabled the project to be realised, ultimately delivering a major cultural institution that is both an homage to Joyce and a much needed physical focal point for Irish literary life which is fully accessible on all floors. This is why it is most fitting that we honour and celebrate MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland and the visionary generosity of the Naughton Foundation – what an inspired act of philanthropy!”

Pat O’Doherty, CEO, ESB said:

“As a long-term patron of the arts in Ireland, ESB recognises the important role that artists play not only in recording and interpreting social and economic developments, but also in engaging communities and stimulating innovation and creativity. We are very proud to support the Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace Award, and the ongoing work of Business to Arts. Congratulations to Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail and Christopher Steenson for ‘On Chorus’. This is a unique and really imaginative project to bring creativity into the workplace and actively engage staff and the public around the issue of biodiversity.”

Liam Kavanagh, Managing Director, The Irish Times said:

“As sponsor of the Best Long-Term Partnership Award, The Irish Times is delighted to congratulate An Post on their much deserved success. Since the partnership commenced in 2018, An Post has demonstrated great commitment to the Irish Books Awards and has been instrumental in further raising their profile and championing this celebration of Irish writing which brings together a huge community in the literary world including readers, authors and booksellers.”

Gerry Butler, Managing Director, TileStyle said:

“As long-standing supporters of Business to Arts and the Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice, TileStyle is delighted to congratulate Accenture, Paul Harrison and Fuchsia MacAree on their worthy success. It is more important than ever to support the arts and commissioning art, in all its forms, is a vital way of doing this. It contributes hugely to the development of an artist’s practice which consequently greatly contributes to the cultural landscape of Ireland. At TileStyle we are proud to be championing some of the best art being commissioned today.”

An Post commissions artworks for 2022 stamp

The An Post Saorstát Éireann Stamp Commission supported by Business to Arts is a new open call to artists and an associated stamp commission. Artists are invited to submit details of an original artwork, which commemorates the centenary of Saorstát Éireann in 2022. The selected artwork will be purchased for the An Post Art Collection and (subject to approval by Government) will feature on a new stamp commemorating the centenary of Saorstát Éireann in December 2022. The selected artist will work with a designer appointed by An Post to present the selected artwork on the design for the Saorstát Éireann postage stamp before it is submitted for approval.

An Post and Business to Arts would like to receive details of artworks that are available for purchase, commemorate the centenary of the Irish Free State / Saorstát Éireann in 2022 and can be presented clearly on a stamp.

Fee Applicable

A total fee of €10,000 will be paid to the selected artist for the purchase of the original artwork and for the use of an image of the artwork on the Saorstát Éireann stamp. In order for the selected artwork to feature on the Saorstát Éireann stamp, An Post require appropriate image usage rights of the selected artwork.

The selected artist will be required to read and sign the full An Post Commissioning Document, which states all the terms and conditions connected to the copyright of the artwork design for the stamp, which An Post will own.

How will the Selected Artist be chosen?

An assessment panel, Chaired by Mick O’Dea PPRHA and Chair of An Post’s Stamp Design Advisory Committee, will be convened to review eligible entries

The assessment panel will consist of six members – two representatives of An Post (e.g. executive or ambassadors), a representative of Business to Arts, and two external panellists including an artist and a curator / graphic designer

Key Dates

Call for Entries Opens: Thursday April 15th 2021

Information Webinar for Artists: Wednesday April 28th 2021, 12:30pm (watch back here)

Applications Close: Wednesday June 16th 2021, 5pm

Please note the entry deadline; this date is final and there will be no extensions provided. The system will automatically prevent entries after the deadline

Successful/Unsuccessful Entrants Notified: before Friday July 30th 2021

Key Documents

Terms and Conditions

Entry Questions (for reference only)

Frequently Asked Questions

Support

There was an information webinar for artists / gallerists on Wednesday April 28th, which was recorded. You can watch the recording here.

If you have any queries about the An Post Saorstát Éireann Stamp Commission, please contact the Business to Arts team by email on anpost@businesstoarts.ie

In keeping with our Memorandum and Articles of Association, below you will find notice of our AGM, which will be held on Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 6pm via Zoom Meeting. Please contact info(@)businesstoarts.ie for joining details and to submit any Proxy Forms.

Please note that our AGM is a simple administrative process and lasts less than ten minutes.  You can download related documents on links below:

1. AGM Notice – AGM_2023_Notice_Signed

2. AGM Proxy Form – AGM PROXY FORM 2023

3. AGM – Directors Reports & Financial Statements (31/10/22)

A Summary of Our Impact in 2021-22

Business to Arts would not have the impact it has without your investment and support. Our membership base is our primary source of funds and without your subscription we would not achieve our mission. To give a recap on some of 2022’s activities:

• • As our members and affiliates emerged from the pandemic full of optimism and momentum, we ushered in a new era at Business to Arts by welcoming our new Chief Executive Louise O’Reilly in April.
  • We welcomed our members back in person for a series of behind-the-scenes and industry-focused events including a look at the new Dean Arts Studios, an event on placemaking for the construction industry in the RHA, an exclusive preview of THISISPOPBABY’s show WAKE for our Friends, an in-person 30th-anniversary Business to Arts Awards at the National Concert Hall, a CEO Forum in association with PwC highlighting the need to reimagine the city for a hybrid workforce, a unique event collaboration with the Irish Traditional Music Archive and actor Brendan Gleeson highlighting a new film they had produced celebrating the Irish traditional music scene, and finally an event at the Crawford Art Gallery and Cork Opera House for the Cork International Film Festival’s Opening Gala screening of Aisha.
  • We distributed €711,850 to the arts in 2021/22 through Arts Funds, bursaries, commissions, and grants. We also advised/supported many ongoing partnerships
  • We appointed two new Fundraising Fellows to our Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland Programme, from Graffiti Theatre Company (Cork) and Sing Ireland (National). The Fellowship is a partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media
  • We also facilitated 10 commissions worth €123,000 for clients including RCSI, CBRE, Bank of Ireland, and An Post.
  • We continued to develop and manage a number of corporate art collections, including two new collections for new member Iconic Offices, as well as longer-term projects for Bank of Ireland and Irish Life.

On behalf of the Board and Executive of Business to Arts, we would like to thank you for your continued support. If you would like further information on our activities please do not hesitate to contact us.

Accenture’s Women on Walls portraits arriving to the Stokes Building at DCU for installation. Credit: Conor McCabe

On International Women’s Day, Monday, March 8th 2021, a collection of commissioned portraits of five inspirational females from the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) were unveiled at the virtual launch of Accenture’s Women on Walls at DCU.

In collaboration with Accenture, DCU and Business to Arts, the portraits are in recognition of the ground-breaking work of Beatrice Alice Hicks (painted by Blaise Smith RHA), Katherine Johnson (painted by Jackie Hudson Lalor), Dr Marie Maynard Daly (painted by Bríd Higgins Ni Chinnéide) and Irish duo Kay McNulty (painted by Jim Fitzpatrick) and Dame Kathleen Lonsdale (painted by Una Sealy RHA).

The commissioned portraits will be temporarily installed in the Stokes Building at DCU before eventually moving to the Future-Tech building, under construction at the university’s Glasnevin Campus. This flagship building will be at the forefront of DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science, computing and engineering disciplines.

This is the third chapter of Accenture’s Women on Walls, a campaign that seeks to make women leaders visible through a series of commissioned portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland. The campaign commenced in 2016 with the Royal Irish Academy, and a second chapter with RCSI was unveiled in 2019.

The DCU chapter was completed by five award-winning and renowned artists in 2020, and in the midst of COVID-19 which has impacted significantly on all sections of society, including the arts. DCU, renowned for its commitment to gender equality, is particularly pleased to support the initiative, to publicly commit to programming of the arts across the university and to pledge support to the arts sector as it charts its way through this global pandemic.

Commenting on the virtual unveiling Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said,

“We are privileged to support Accenture’s Women on Walls at DCU portraiture commission. While COVID-19 has presented challenges for the completion of this edition of Women on Walls, they have been overcome, and we are proud to be able to unveil these five portraits created by some of Ireland’s leading portrait artists. We are equally proud to support DCU, who are continually building their reputation for programming of the arts. Commissioning artists to create new work is one of the vital ways businesses and other organisations can support the arts during and beyond the pandemic.”

To watch the virtual unveil of Accenture’s Women on Walls at DCU please click here.

Follow the conversation at #womenonwalls