Following on from the success of the inaugural All-Ireland Arts Conference in 2012, Theatre Forum and Northern Ireland Theatre Association (NITA) last week presented the 2013 All-Ireland Performing Arts Conference in Derry-Londonderry’s Millennium Forum.

At this monster meeting of creative forces, hundreds of actors, dancers, designers, directors, writers, theatre makers, venue and marketing managers, festival and artistic directors, producers, arts administrators and students came together to explore new ideas and modes of thinking, and their application in creating vibrant, viable and imaginative ways of working.

Over two days, over thirty renowned speakers provided their insights in relation to the conference theme of change. Programme highlights included change maker, Sean Doran, Founder and Artistic Director of the Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival in conversation with the BBC’s Marie-Louise Muir as well as Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council talking about putting the imagination back into funding.

Delegates heard Richard Gerver, author and change leader, propose change as an opportunity for creative reinvention and Marcus Davey, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Roundhouse give his perspective on changes in how theatre-makers engage with new audiences.