The report will investigate the interconnections between the arts sector in Ireland, North and South. Mapping cross border cooperation in public and industry bodies it will offer an assessment of the existing landscape in terms of policy and practice and make recommendations for future policy design. The final report will be presented to leaders of arts organisations, policymakers, researchers and representative bodies. 

The research team for the project will be led by Dr Steven Hadley, academic and consultant, and include Sophia Woodley, Head of Innovation and Policy Research, Jonathan Goodacre, Senior Consultant International, Richard Turpin, Chief Research Officer, Oliver Mantell, Director of Policy Research, Anne Torreggiani, CEO and Penny Mills, Chief Consulting Officer with support from Professor Justin O’Connor and Matti Allam. 

ARINS—Analysing and Researching Ireland, North & South is a joint project led by the Royal Irish Academy and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs . It is a multi-year initiative that brings together experts from various disciplines to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate relating to options for the future of Ireland, north and south in a post-Brexit context.

Anne Torreggiani, CEO of The Audience Agency says: 

“We are excited to start working on this future-looking brief and are hopeful that the results will have a transformative effect, supporting enlightened, collaborative, citizen-first policy across Ireland and putting it at the forefront of this thinking internationally.” 

Dr Steven Hadley, Research Fellow at NUI Galway and leader of the research team says: 

“This is a vital piece of work which will provide the evidence base to inform policy and funding decisions of key significance to the future of the cultural sector across the island of Ireland. We look forward to engaging fully with all stakeholders.”

The report will be circulated to policymakers, leaders of arts organisations and relevant groups, as well as academic researchers. It will be made publicly available on the ARINS project website (arinsproject.com) once published in January 2022.

Part funding for the project has been secured from the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund. If you have an interest in this project, please contact info@arinsproject.com.


For press enquiries, interviews, quotations or further information contact: Rosie Hanley, PR & Communications Manager, The Audience Agency
E: rosie.hanley@theaudienceagency.org