Leaders from Northern Ireland’s creative industries came together at the Titanic Hotel, Belfast to celebrate the achievements of the Art Work Programme, a £4.7 million scheme, funded by the Department for Communities.
It was delivered through Future Screens NI, in partnership with Ulster University, who played a key role in its delivery and impact, alongside Queen’s University Belfast and industry partners, with support from Arts Council NI.
The Art Work Programme is an employment scheme that has supported 72 jobs across the creative sector as a response to the Covid pandemic, in arts organisations, festivals and creative companies in Northern Ireland.
At the showcase event, Back to the Future, keynote speaker Iain Greenway, Director of Culture at DfC, joined sector leaders and academics to reflect on the programme’s impact and to explore next steps for creative employment and skills.
Contributions included a presentation on evidencing the Art Work narrative, a forward-looking address from Professor Frank Lyons, (opens in new window) Associate Dean (Research & Innovation) at Ulster University and Sarah Ellis of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and closing reflections by Professor Paul Moore (opens in new window), Director of Future Screens NI at Ulster University.
Speakers highlighted the scheme’s transformative results:
- For organisations, extra staff have driven growth and innovation across the board.
By employing digital marketing professionals, organisations like creative production company, Dumbworld, have seen their social media presence grow significantly and enabled them to co-market more effectively with their partners.
- For individuals, roles have been instrumental in building careers.
A trainee curator at Belfast Exposed reported growing confidence and ambition, whilst a digital officer at RENDR Festival reported that their role has given them invaluable insights into the management of running a successful creative business.
- For communities, arts organisations were empowered to expand their outreach.
The NI Mental Health Festival, which initially had been an annual festival, now delivers year-round activities, engaging 10,000 people across 11 council areas in 2024.
- For the wider sector, the economic impact of the programme has been clear. Imagine! Festival reported record revenue with a 31% increase in income generated compared to the previous year.
Iain Greenway, Director of Culture, Department for Communities said:
“The Art Work Programme is one strand of the Employment and Skills Initiative, designed in response to impacts of Covid 19. The three-year initiative designed to support sectoral recovery through targeted investment to create training and placement opportunities and strengthen our creative industries.
“We are proud to have partnered with Future Screens NI, Ulster University, Queen’s University and the Arts Council NI to deliver 72 jobs that have made such a difference to organisations, individuals and communities across Northern Ireland. The impact we have seen demonstrates the vital role culture and creativity continue to play in our society and economy.”
Closing the event, Professor Paul Moore (opens in new window) reflected:
“The stories we heard are inspirational. They show how strategic investment can unlock creativity, build resilience and stimulate growth. The Art Work Programme has delivered beyond expectations and provides a powerful case for future initiatives.”
Future Screens NI and its partners will continue to gather evidence of the impact of the programme and work with DfC to explore how the Art Work model can help to shape future skills and employment strategies for the creative sector.
Find out more:
Visit Future Screens NI for more information.
