Dec 24, 2024
Nov 23,2024
Gareth Lee from Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet introduces this year's edition of Culture Crush, the annual event for all professionals working in the cultural and creative sectors in Ireland, which returns to Dublin on November 28th.
When I think about Ireland’s creative sector, one word comes to mind: community. Whether it’s filmmakers, musicians, game developers, or visual artists, we all share a common thread—a deep desire to tell stories that resonate. This spirit of connection is at the heart of Culture Crush, our annual flagship event, and it’s why I’m so excited to share this year’s theme: Collaboration.
Culture Crush was born out of a simple but powerful idea: the creative industries, though diverse in medium and craft, share many of the same challenges, opportunities, and goals. We are all trying to navigate the rapidly changing landscapes in our individual sectors, we are all trying to figure out ways to build careers that can provide security and avoid burnout, and essentially we are all exploring how we can push the boundaries for telling Irish stories on a global stage. The ways we demonstrate our creativity may differ, but we’re all on a similar journey together.
By bringing different areas of art and media together under one roof, Culture Crush fosters the cross-pollination of ideas, celebrates our shared victories, and sparks the conversations that can lead to meaningful change.
This year’s event, taking place on November 28th in the stunning surroundings of St. Mary’s Church at the RDS, feels particularly special. Collaboration isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a driving force behind innovation in our industry. Whether it’s a filmmaker working with a composer, or a game developer teaming up with an immersive technologist, these partnerships are where the magic happens. At Culture Crush 2024, we’re creating a space for these collaborators to find each other.
Culture Crush was born out of a simple but powerful idea: the creative industries, though diverse in medium and craft, share many of the same challenges, opportunities, and goals.
What makes this event truly unique is the personal touch of the Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet team who work tirelessly to build trust across the industry. They know the studios, the broadcasters, the funders—taking the time to listen, understand, and respond to what’s needed. That ethos extends to Culture Crush, where we’re not just showcasing talent but creating an environment where everyone feels that they belong. The creative industry in Ireland is a critically important one, and therefore everyone working both on screen and behind the scenes to keep these forms of art and storytelling alive deserves to be valued, heard, and inspired.
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Our panel discussions and short talks this year will tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the creative community. One of the conversations I’m most looking forward to is about Risk/Reward, & the Value of Failure. In an industry where imposter syndrome runs rampant and rejection is part of the process, it’s vital to remind ourselves—and each other—that failure is a stepping stone, not a roadblock. Some of our greatest lessons and most daring creative breakthroughs come from moments of uncertainty.
Another key focus this year is Under The Radar - Unseen & Unheard, turning the spotlight towards the unsung heroes of our creative ecosystem—the roles that are essential but often go unnoticed. From production designers to sound engineers to stage managers, the creative sector is predominantly built on the contribution of creatives who go under the radar and are the backbone of every project. At Culture Crush, we want to celebrate these contributions and shine a light on the breadth of talent that makes our creative sector thrive.
As someone who has worked to support the creative industries for years, I’ve seen firsthand the power of events like this to inspire and transform. Ireland’s creative community is unlike any other in the world. We thrive on connection—whether it’s over a cup of coffee or in a conference room full of collaborators. That’s what Culture Crush is all about: nurturing that sense of belonging, sparking new ideas, and celebrating the extraordinary talent we have in this country.
When the event wraps up on November 28th, I hope everyone leaves feeling not just inspired but empowered. Empowered to dream a little bigger, collaborate a little further, and tell their stories in ways they hadn’t thought possible. At the heart of it, that’s what Culture Crush is—an intersection of talent, creativity, and community.
So here’s to celebrating Irish creativity in all its forms, and to forging the connections that will shape the future of our industry. I can’t wait to see you there.
Culture Crush 2024 takes place in St. Mary's Church at the RDS Dublin on Thursday 28th November 2024, find out more here, and for more information on Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet go here.
