'Building cultural habits is a process where someone tries something new, enjoys the experience and decides they would like to do it again...' Iseult Dunne, CEO of Dublin City Council Culture Company (DCCCC), explores the work done by the organization running cultural initiatives and buildings across the city with - and for - the people of Dublin.
Launching the 2025 to 2030 strategy for the Dublin City Council Culture Company, we set out a bold vision and mission: "A Dublin where creativity and access to culture builds lasting connections between people and the place they live."
The Company's foundation has been firmly set by the work we have been doing with, and for the people of Dublin since we set up in 2018. Over those years we have been talking with many people, learning from them, making with them, and connecting them to the cultural spaces of the city. While we developed our strategy - by listening to, and working with, a variety of groups, including our team members, partners, advisory groups, audiences and visitors to our programmes - two ideas emerged strongly: building cultural habits and increasing cultural confidence.
and Fitness Centre, Dublin 4 (Pic: Dan Butler)
It is well proven through extensive studies that cultural experiences and participation have a positive impact on health and wellbeing, social relationships, belonging, community cohesion and pride of place. In our work, people have told us that when they feel connected to their communities, they feel safer and stronger and are healthier.
Building cultural habits is a process where someone tries something new, enjoys the experience and decides they would like to do it again. We have heard from many people who try one of our creative workshops across the city that they never thought something like this would be for them, but they were willing to give it a go for the first time. They enjoy that first time and decide to come back a second time, and so it continues. The welcome we provide, the patience the artists and facilitators we work with approach every project which all lead to giving people a sense of "Actually, this is for me."
at the launch of the Culture Company Strategy (Pic: Leon Farrell)
Building cultural confidence is a more challenging ask. There are many reasons why people don’t feel that they can "engage in culture". People we have spoken with increasingly feel isolated, feel intimidated or worry that they won’t be able to participate 'the right way’ in cultural activities. Some of the worries we hear include that they won’t know enough about what they’re being asked to do; they won’t understand or appreciate the activity in the ways others do; or that they won’t be allowed in the door. People feel and experience many different kinds of barriers.
The most important part of our vision and our mission to me is access.
We want to remove these barriers. It is the removal of these barriers that forms the basis, for example, of our Tea & Chats Programme where we listen, explore and learn about what’s important to the people of Dublin, to understand what matters to them. These informal and open conversations over a cup of tea help us to listen and connect with community groups and people and suggest pathways for people to explore the city’s culture.
Dublin with artists Claire Halpin and Colm Keegan (Pic: Senija Topcic)
In programmes we run like Culture Club, we encourage people to connect with the cultural spaces of the city by introducing them to what goes on there. We work with our partners to open their doors, bring new audiences, communities and first time visitors into their spaces and to try something new. We have found that once a person tries something once or twice, they are far more likely to do it again - and try new things. We love hearing from people who came to a Culture Club, unsure, hesitant and worried that cultural experiences were not "for them", and now they’re enjoying attending and participating in a vast range of cultural activities.
The most important part of our vision and our mission to me is access. Through our work across the city, we can see the increasing access to cultural experiences. However we also know that this work is ongoing and requires continuous focus and action to meet the unique needs of a wide range of audiences and formats. We spend as much time thinking about how we can increase access via clearer communication, suitable sensory environments, straightforward booking procedures, welcoming and patient attitudinal access and financial accessibility as we do in ensuring that physical access is available.
from Fiona Harrington, Artist in Residence at 14 Henrietta Street (Pic: Oliver Deane)
If we can create an impact through accessible and engaging cultural experiences that expand cultural habits and grow cultural confidence, we know that connections will be built. Communities will become stronger through shared experiences, interests and collaborations and the people of Dublin will become active citizens engaging in, enjoying and creating cultural experience on their own. Our work for the next five years is ensuring that the programmes and activities we work on create new ‘ways in’ to culture for people: building cultural habits and increasing cultural confidence. We are committed to developing a cultural ecosystem that is truly accessible to all: inclusive of all forms and expressions of culture, ensuring everyone has a place to participate in our city’s culture.
Find out more about the work of Dublin City Council Culture Company here
