Supporting Ireland’s cultural and creative industries on their journey to Hollywood recognition

More than 300 cultural and creative industries professionals participated in the Culture Crush event held at the Complex arts centre in Dublin’s Smithfield. The first-of-its-kind event was organised by the Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet (CCIS) with the aim of bringing the different segments together to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities facing them.

“The overarching aim of the day was to bring the sector together across multiple disciplines, with artists, animators, directors, musicians and so on all in the one place to discuss things like AI, intellectual property ownership, immersive technologies and so on,” explains Gareth Lee, CCIS network manager. “The day’s theme was the intersection of creativity and technology. We had some very interesting discussions around things like, which comes first? Creativity often drives the technology.”

Among the performers and keynote speakers on the day were Oscar-nominated and Emmy award-winning executive producer Japhet Asher, visual effects supervisor Scott Pritchard, production designer Jenn Ely and internationally renowned conductor and composer Eímear Noone.

It wasn’t all about the creative side of the industry. “One of the most interesting speakers on the day was an intellectual property lawyer,” Lee points out.

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“It was very interesting for the tech people at the conference to understand that they are creators as well,” adds Skillnet Ireland executive director for policy and communications Tracey Donnery.

CCIS was established in January 2023 following the consolidation and expansion of three existing and established Skillnet networks: the Animation Skillnet, Screen Skillnet and Immersive Technologies Skillnet. The new network supports the animation, visual effects, games, film, TV, documentary, post-production, immersive technologies, AR/VR, virtual production, digital media, entertainment events, music, theatre, and visual arts sectors.

“We are one of the more than 70 Skillnet business networks around the country which support sectors or regions in addressing skills and talent development challenges,” Lee explains. “Our core remit is around skills and talent development, but we have a broader remit to connect and unite companies in the sector to address the wider business challenges and opportunities facing them. We are very passionate about the sector. Ireland is highly regarded for its cultural and creative industries internationally and definitely punches above its weight in that regard, with 14 Oscar nominations this year alone. We want to support that success and help bring it to the next level.”

In meeting its skills and talent development objectives, CCIS runs regular subsidised training programmes designed and delivered by industry experts for member companies and freelancers working in the sector. It also offers subsidised bespoke in-house training solutions to companies for both current staff and new recruits. “A big part of my job is reaching out to companies and people working in the sector and developing relationships with them to establish what their skills and training needs are,” Lee points out.

Among those courses is the Creative Leaders programme. “This is aimed at equipping people stepping into management roles with the skills they require,” says Lee. “We also offer a number of access programmes to help people get their foot in the door of the industry. And we have a whole suite of shorter continuing professional development programmes in a variety of areas along with a number of microcredential courses.”

CCIS has also been working on a number of research projects and reports. “We have been working with the immersive technology sector body Eirmersive on a framework for growth for that industry, and we hope to publish that report in the early part of next year,” says Lee. “We are planning to publish a sustainability toolkit for the broader cultural and creative industry shortly after that. Towards the middle of 2024, we hope to produce a report on skills gaps in the arts.”

2024 is shaping up to be a busy year. “We are very much in planning mode at the moment,” Lee notes. “We will continue to run our full suite of short and long courses in specific industry areas along with programmes like Future Edge, which empowers key individuals working in the sector to better understand and implement best practices in sustainability, digital transformation and workplace culture. We are also planning to run Culture Crush again next year. We got very positive feedback from this year’s event, and we are already thinking about guests and themes for 2024.”

Donnery emphasises that CCIS courses are open to people from outside the industry. “There are careers in the sector for people from all walks of life,” she points out. “The Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet runs programmes in areas like production accountancy for the film industry, for example. There is a huge need for financial skills in the industry. It’s not just about the creative piece. It’s a business with needs across all areas and everyone is welcome.”

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