Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival & Perspective Economics 2023
Context
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary arts organisation that runs two arts festivals and other events throughout the year. They showcase the best of local and international arts, platforming music, theatre, visual arts, comedy and literature. They also support local performers and artists through their bursary scheme.
Perspective Economics is an economic advisory firm based in Belfast. They advise government clients on economic topics and have worked closely with departments such as DCMS to advocate for the role of arts and charitable organisations in the economy.
Challenge
Perspective Economics wanted to increase the social value they generate within the local economy. They also know it is important for businesses to highlight in a tangible way how they support social impact and that this is increasingly considered when bidding for government contracts. Perspective Economics have a long-standing relationship with CQAF and were very pleased to support CQAF with funding for the Creative Bursaries programme. As expected, the calibre of applicants was really strong and the partners were delighted with the quality of successful recipients who will use this funding to develop new material, perform at the festival, and expand their work to a new audience. Support from A&BNI Investment Programme to maximise the impact of these bursaries was very welcome. As a business based in the Cathedral Quarter, Perspective Economics hopes this funding will help to animate the area, grow the presence of the festival and their brand, and demonstrate their commitment to Social Value through their support for the Arts and event and place-based regeneration.
'Working with Perspective Economics and their Director on this project was very beneficial to our organisation. The collaboration was very hands-on with the Director showing a strong engagement from the beginning to the end of the process. We are delighted to be a partner in a very exciting collaboration, one which brings support for new work by artists and musicians in Northern Ireland’.
CQAF
Solution
The bursary scheme was advertised and promoted through arts media channels, and boosted and shared on the partners’ own social media. They were overwhelmed by the number of submissions received in the four categories; visual arts, comedy, theatre and music, receiving over 145 in total. The process involved 4 separate panels of three judges who were inspired by the range of proposals and ideas submitted. Board members, senior members of staff and the Director of Perspective Economics, were on the selection committees. The staff also benefitted through being closely involved with the development of the Festival.
Results
Five artists/collectives were supported through the scheme. Dan Shipsides in Visual Arts, Sarah Firby in performance/comedy, Colm McCreedy in Theatre and Cherym and Leo Miyagee as recipients of the music bursary. Dan Shipsides produced a large-scale public artwork in the Cathedral Quarter area which was seen by thousands, this also included a photographic exhibition. With the bursary, Sarah Firby wrote and performed a new comedy show which premiered at the festival. Colm McCreedy developed a new theatre piece with support from the Bursary, this was premiered at CQAF and will subsequently tour to the Edinburgh Fringe. Leo Miyagee produced a new album which was launched at CQAF 23. Cherym will perform as part of the ongoing CQAF programme. Perspective Economics also benefitted from the partnership, with many of its staff being able to attend events, receiving strong promotion through the festival as a sponsor, and with their logo being included in key marketing banners, brochures and on buses.
“We were really pleased to support CQAF this year through the development of an annual Bursary Scheme, alongside Arts and Business NI. We have always valued the arts and music scene and were pleased to have the opportunity to support new local artists.”
Perspective Economics