Inspiring and supporting the creativity and artistic development of disabled people

Open Arts runs highly successful, participative arts activities and events in numerous art forms to enable disabled people to develop their creativity and artistic practice. As one of the first dedicated arts and disability organisations in Northern Ireland, Open Arts is a disabled-led organisation with most Board members and core staff having a disability. A number of freelance artists engaged in the delivery of programmes are also disabled. 

The organisation is based in The Crescent, with the majority of their core programme happening there, and is the hub for other Open Arts’ projects.

Drama for Life

Award Winning Bright Young Things (BYT) Drama Classes develops every child’s Confidence, Communication and Creativity through the power of drama. Founded in 2010 by LAMDA trained actor and primary school teacher Lisa Duffy, it is now Northern Ireland's biggest children's drama and social skills company. Along with running classes here at The Crescent, they run classes in locations across Northern Ireland for ages 3-15.

Their unique drama curriculum is based on child development milestones, with a drama programme developed for each distinct age group. Whatever the age, their goal is to deliver a personalised experience so that every Bright Young Thing can be themselves, and every child can reach their full potential in whatever path they follow.

Everyone's life can be improved with a bit of music and dancing. Come join in the craic!

Since its beginnings in 1991, BelfastTrad’s mission has been to ensure that the shared traditions of Irish music and dance are available to people of all ages and abilities. With The Crescent as its primary home since the early days, they are committed to maintaining this tradition in Belfast.

BelfastTrad's annual programme has grown over the years and now consists of 40 weekly classes, a series of over 20 workshops in music and dance, a lecture series and two student concerts and céilis as well as an outreach programme.

World-class chamber music

The Belfast Music Society presents professional chamber music of the highest quality to the widest possible audience in a year-round programme of concerts, events, and outreach and education projects.

Founded in 1921, it is the longest-standing promoter of international chamber music and musicians in Northern Ireland, with an unbroken history of presenting professional concerts in the city, of supporting young musicians and established artists from Northern Ireland, and of commissioning new work from local composers.

The voice for theatre, dance and the performing arts in Northern Ireland

Theatre and Dance NI is a new support agency for theatre and dance in Northern Ireland. The organisation is the product of a successful merger of Theatre NI and Dance Resource Base in 2020.

Its primary objectives will be to continue to connect, develop, represent and champion the theatre, dance and performing arts sector and to work with partners to advocate for a thriving theatre dance and performing arts ecology in NI and beyond. 

To create artistically ambitious and exciting pieces involving significant practicing professionals as well as people of all ages, experiences and backgrounds

Established in Northern Ireland in 2009, Dumbworld is an artist led creative production company working at the intersection of music, image and words.
The company aims to attract, nurture and retain the artistic talent of the future, to inspire and empower communities, foster pride, nurture creative ambition and to engage and investigate the concerns, ideas, hopes and character of people in Northern Ireland and further afield.

Dumbworld has created and produced a whole host of work and their work has been performed and seen in over 30 countries, being critically acclaimed and receiving numerous international awards and five star reviews.

Producing distinctive dance performances and programmes that stimulates and enrich audiences and participants

Maiden Voyage works with local, national and international collaborators bringing the best of dance performance and practice to Northern Ireland.

Alongside producing and touring new work the company delivers professional development opportunities and initiates a diverse range of educational and outreach activities to encourage participation in dance.

Empowering the individual through play

Tinderbox is one of the most established companies in Northern Ireland. For over thirty years, Tinderbox has championed new writing, producing world class performances from Northern Irish writers to critical and international acclaim.

Tinderbox believes that access to the imagination without restriction is the key to dynamic practice and performance, and so created multiple programmes for everyone to access their unique creative individuality.

To advocate dance as a tool for facilitating personal and social development

DU Dance (NI) is a professional dance development company working across the island of Ireland, the UK and internationally. The company operates an inclusive policy of participation, without preconception of ability. Its vision is to advance dance as an art form, build community connections and foster tolerance and respect. 

With performance as an integral part of the process, DU Dance (NI) provides access to innovative contemporary dance workshops and projects across communities which may often have limited or no dance provision, challenging traditional views of the relevance and value of dance.

To provide a platform for local talent and to create a community of filmmakers

Lamb Films is an independent film company from Belfast, which produces all types of films for all types of audiences, from feature and short films to cross-community film projects and animations. Their films have played at over a hundred film festivals worldwide, won awards, and some are available on Itunes.

Community Media projects is a big part of Lamb Films and they have produced and facilitated over 25 projects including The Belfast City Council Youth Form Award.

To supports Northern Ireland’s arts, culture and heritage organisations to understand and grow their audiences.

From audience research, insights, practical toolkits and templates, to events, workshops and more casual one-to-one conversations, thrive offers free resources tailored to the sector’s wants and needs. Thrive also provides bespoke services for organisations who want to find out more about their own audiences: surveys, audience development plan, ticketing data research, communications strategy – you name it!

With thrive, knowing your audiences is no longer a mystery.

John Morrison is a working scriptwriter developing scripts for Film, TV, Radio and Theatre.
He is also a visiting lecturer in Radio Drama at the School of Media, Film and Journalism at the University of Ulster.

www.justwrite4radio.wordpress.com