The Arts Council and Local Government will jointly host its second biennial conference, Places Matter, on the 27th and 28th of March in the Bailey Allen Hall, NUI Galway. The conference will address inclusion and Ireland’s rapidly changing demographic and ask; how can we ensure that the arts in Ireland reflect our diverse society? Are opportunities to take part in the arts meaningful and relevant to all members of our communities?
Speakers include Nina Simon, Director Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. Nina will tell the story of a struggling cultural facility and its transformation into a dynamic community institution, deepening and diversifying its offering and its audiences and how the OF/BY/FOR ALL global movement aims to increase relevance and sustainability.
Abid Hussain, Director of Diversity, Arts Council England, will also speak at the conference on making the creative case for diversity andpolicies and programmes that have made impact in diversifying the arts and cultural landscape in England. Professor William Schabas will bring the human rights agenda to the conference, which follows the Arts Council’s launch of their Equality, Human Rights and Diversity policy in the Palas Cinema the evening before.
Orlaith McBride, Director, Arts Council said “We have designed the day to inspire the audience to commit to change and leave as ambassadors, equipped with the enthusiasm, tools and signposts to build inclusion in the arts and embrace the diversity of contemporary Ireland”.
Our population has increased by 70% from 1961 to almost €5 million in 2016 and today the 535,475 non-Irish people living in Ireland come from 200 different nations and 13.5% of us live with a disability. The Government estimates that in the next 20 years our population is set to grow by a further million people.
The conference will be of interest to public and civil servants, artists, arts organisations, politicians, academics and anyone interested in improving how we build inclusion in the arts based on the principles of inclusivity and equality.
Tickets for the daylong conference are available from 85 euro on Eventbrite.ie. Students and Artists go free.
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