On June 8, 2016, IA&A was privileged to host a panel discussion at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space that explored perspectives on the role of the arts in shaping Irish cultural identity. Moderated by Allison Nance, Director of IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space, panelists included Claire Fitzgibbon, Consular & Cultural Affairs Counsellor at the Embassy of Ireland, Norman Houston, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, Jackie Hoysted, Curator and Visual Arts Director at Solas Nua, and Matt Torney, Associate Artistic Director at Studio Theatre.
As suggested by Fitzgibbon, Irish identity is fluid and increasingly complex. The panelists addressed the burgeoning importance of Irish identity within a broader European context, particularly as it relates to work on contemporary issues many artists are producing. Fitzgibbon and Houston highlighted their commitment to the arts despite tight budgets and competing priorities. The panelists also discussed the financial struggles that Irish artists face. Hoysted and Torney also spoke to the economic barriers that Irish artists must overcome due in part to cuts in government funding. They cited this as a catalyst for artists to create work that articulates the difficulties and societal issues that they face using humor, grit, and honesty.
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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.