IDC celebrates its Business to Arts Community Foundation Ireland Creative Access Award win

We are delighted to share the news that the Business to Arts Community Foundation Ireland Creative Access Award 2024 was awarded to University College Cork (UCC) and Dance Cork Firkin Crane (DCFC) for Inclusive Dance Cork.

Taking place at the prestigious Business to Arts Awards Gala Ceremony on Monday 9th September at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, the presentation of the Community Foundation Ireland Creative Access Award celebrates the unique partnership of UCC and DCFC working to enrich the lives and artistic potential of diverse communities.

Inclusive Dance Cork is Ireland’s first university-accredited introductory micro-credentials in inclusive dance, designed for dancers to explore expressive movement and experience a variety of ways to dance, facilitate, and support dancers of all abilities. The micro credentials were developed by University College Cork and Dance Cork Firkin Crane, with significant support from Suisha Inclusive Arts/Cope Foundation.

The Business to Arts Awards recognises excellence in creative and cultural partnerships, in which a business, philanthropic organisation or individual has supported the arts in a compelling way. The Community Foundation Creative Access Award exemplifies partnerships that offer the opportunity for marginalised and underrepresented groups to participate in the arts. Make sure to look out for the stunning award sculpture on display at Dance Cork Firkin Crane, created by Emmet Kane from Castledermot, Co. Kildare. ‘Geallta’ (Promise) is inspired by the promise stones found around Ireland, and represents the partnership potential of business and the arts, the award is crafted from ebonised Irish Oak that is textured, oiled, and gilded with 23c gold leaf.

Yvon Bonenfant, Head of UCC Department of Theatre, said: “Our Department supports practice that transforms. We believe that a research-intensive university like UCC should be a laboratory helping develop the performance of the future. We have been delighted to work within this ever-evolving partnership to explore how best and in what form we can provide accreditation for the learning of students with and without disability, together, as they explore new forms. We are delighted that The Community Foundation Ireland and Business to Arts have recognised our work so far to support dancers of all abilities. We thank Suisha Inclusive Arts of the Cope Foundation for their ongoing support and collaboration alongside the ETB: their participation, support and pedagogical imagination means we can form learning groups that are widely inclusive.”

Yvonne Coughlan, Chair of Dance Cork Firkin Crane: “As one of the founders of Inclusive Dance Cork, and Chairperson of Dance Cork Firkin Crane I am deeply honoured that we have received the Community Foundation Ireland Creative Access Award in partnership with University College Cork. This recognition at the Business to Arts Awards 2024 reflects our commitment to creating safe spaces where everyone, regardless of background or ability, can experience the joy and freedom of dance. Thanks to our dynamic and supportive DCFC board, executive and IDC partnerships, we are breaking down barriers, fostering creativity, and building a more inclusive arts community. By being more inclusive in the world of arts, we are lighting the way for the inclusive society I believe we all want to live in. I am hugely grateful to IDC Artistic Director Rhona Coughlan,  Dr. Yvon Bonenfant, UCC, our DCFC Executive Artistic Director Laurie Uprichard, Eoin Nash, Manager of Arts & Creative Arts Therapies at Cope Foundation, and the extended team who have supported this project from UCC, Suisha Inclusive Arts-Cope Foundation and Cork ETB. A special acknowledgement must go to the anonymous donor, facilitated through Community Foundation Ireland, whose  support turned our ambitious vision into a reality; making this honour even more meaningful. I extend my deepest gratitude to all of our esteemed funders and the remarkable individuals whose dedication and passion have either paved the way or shaped IDC into the vibrant, transformative force it is today. This award is an opportunity for us to recognise and salute all of our supporters, as well as our growing community of dancers who have been, or are yet to be, students and faculty on the IDC journey of inclusion, creativity, and shared expression.” 

Rhona Coughlan, Artistic Director of Inclusive Dance Cork, said: “Delighted the beautiful partnership between UCC and Dance Firkin Crane and Inclusive Dance Cork has been recognised by The Business to Arts Award and hopefully it will continue to flourish. This is a landmark moment for me as a disabled dancer and the Artistic Director of Inclusive Dance Cork in recognising that the arts are for everyone and that everyone is welcome to the dance floor.”

We are eternally grateful to all our partners who have supported us to date and without whom none of this would be possible. These include our wonderful colleagues at Dance Cork Firkin Crane, UCC Theatre Department, Suisha Arts / Cope Foundation and Cork Education and Training Board. And to our generous funders Community Foundation Ireland, Rethink Ireland, The Ireland Funds, Arts Council Ireland and Councillor Brian McCarthy.

Thanks to our DCFC board members who oversaw the inception of Inclusive Dance Cork along with Chairperson Yvonne Coughlan (director/ producer/ arts professional) – Luke Murphy (professional dancer), Michael Nugent (former Cork City Cllr./community activist), Conall Ó Riain (comms and development mngr. CMF), Linda O’Shea Farren (disability, law and education expert), Ann Dempsey (HR professional), Cllr. Kieran McCarthy (former Lord Mayor of Cork 23/24) and Cllr. Dan Boyle (Current Lord Mayor of Cork), and to the previous IDC Project Coordinators whose work got us to where we are, Emer Casey and Kaylie Streit.

We would also like to take this auspicious opportunity to welcome our new IDC Project Coordinator Louisa Sloan, and to thank our DCFC staff, and soon to be announced new board members, whose collective efforts will ensure this project continues to flourish with the excellence it so richly deserves.

And of course, this training would be nothing without all of our amazing participants, facilitators and guest speakers who embraced the unknown in this unique, first of its kind programme, and with commitment, trust, and generosity, shared their love of dance. We can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

Pictured left to right: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD; Denise Charlton, CEO of the Community Foundation for Ireland; Rhona Coughlan, Artistic Director of Inclusive Dance Cork; Yvon Bonenfant, Head of UCC Department of Theatre; Yvonne Coughlan, Chair of Dance Cork Firkin Crane, and Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Business to Arts. Image: Conor McCabe and Andres Poveda.