A New Research Report Sheds Light on the Experiences of Minoritised Artists and Arts Workers in Ireland.

AMPLIFY: A Call for Transformative Action

A new research report, AMPLIFY: A CALL FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION, commissioned by Irish Theatre Institute as part of the Safe to Create Programme, was launched on Wednesday 3 July at Project Arts Centre, in Dublin.

AMPLIFY presents the findings of a comprehensive research programme, designed to shed light on the lived experiences of disabled, LGBTQIA+, and ethnically diverse artists and arts workers in Ireland.

To capture information on the lived experience of intellectually disabled (ID) artists, a strand of the research focused specifically on surveying ID artists, family members of ID artists, ID arts organisations, and arts workers who facilitate arts projects with ID artists.

More than 500 artists and arts workers from across different art forms, including visual arts, theatre, film, music, literature, and others, participated in the study.

The findings reveal that disabled, LGBTQIA+, and ethnically diverse artists and arts workers are experiencing discrimination, exclusion, and other harmful behaviours and challenging conditions in Ireland’s arts and creative sector.  

The recommendations represent a measured start and shared pathway towards ensuring dignity, equity, and inclusion in Ireland’s arts and creative sector.

The research project was led by Dr Ciara L Murphy, working with the AMPLIFY Research Team; Rachel Parry, Dr Sarah Hoover, Conall Ó Duibhir and Dr Michael Lydon, with support from Grainne Pollak, Olwen Dawe, Keishia Taylor, and Dr Brenda Donohue. 

Director of Irish Theatre Institute, Niamh O’Donnell said:

“The more diverse our sector becomes, the stronger it will be.  Equity is about rights, fairness and justice. It’s imperative everyone is treated with the same dignity and respect.”

The launch event was hosted by Dublin-based writer, performer and cultural consultant Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, and comprised the presentation of the research findings and associated recommendations and an in-conversation between Irish-Nigerian academic, author, and broadcaster, Emma Dabiri, and theatre director Oonagh Murphy. The event included a panel discussion entitled ‘CHANGEMAKERS: Artists leading the way’, moderated by curator and writer Iarlaith Ní Fheorais, and featured artists Alan James Burns, Shane Michael Byrne (supported by Caroline Loughman), Amahra Spence, Lianne Quigley, and Oein DeBhairduin, who spoke about their work and approaches to tackling barriers they have encountered in the arts sector.

A recording of a spoken word performance ‘Diversity Hire’, by Nigerian-Irish poet FELISPEAKS, commissioned and created specifically for the event, was screened, and the event closed with a performance by Libyan-Irish singer songwriter Farah Elle.

Read the Report

Caption: From l to r: Alan James Burns, Iarlaith Ní Fheorais, Gráinne Pollak, Farah Elle, Amahra Spence, Shane Michael Byrne, Dr. Ciara L Murphy, Lianne Quigley, Cian O’Brien and Niamh O’Donnell at the launch of AMPLIFY at Project Arts Centre, Wed 3 July. Photo: Marc O’Sullivan.

Alt text: Ten people stand on a pavement, infront of a brightly painted blue wall which includes a section of red melon.