At Accidental, we believe the arts are essential to the cultural, social, and economic life of Northern Ireland. They are not a luxury. They are not optional. They are infrastructure for wellbeing, expression, dialogue, and community resilience.
For over a decade, we’ve worked at the intersection of theatre, digital innovation, and community engagement. Every week, we witness the transformative power of the arts: young people finding their voice, communities connecting across difference, artists building sustainable careers, and audiences encountering new ideas in shared space.
However, the arts sector across Northern Ireland faces increasing pressure. Rising operational costs, funding uncertainty, and the fragility of freelance creative careers threaten the sustainability of vital cultural work. Without long-term, strategic investment, the sector risks losing talent, opportunity, and momentum.
This year we’re working towards:
Sustained and Strategic Public Investment
We urge continued and strengthened support from bodies including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, and the Department for Communities. Stable funding enables organisations to plan responsibly, nurture artists, and deliver meaningful community impact.
Recognition of the Arts as Social Infrastructure
Our work demonstrates that the arts:
Improve mental health and wellbeing
Create safe, creative environments for young people
Foster cross-community dialogue
Support inclusion and amplify underrepresented voices
Investment in the arts is investment in prevention, connection, and civic pride.
Support for Artists and Creative Workers
Freelance artists and cultural workers are the backbone of our sector. Sustainable funding structures must recognise the real cost of creative labour and support fair pay, professional development, and long-term career pathways.
Public Advocacy and Participation
We encourage our audiences, collaborators, and communities to actively support the arts by:
Attending and sharing local cultural events
Contacting elected representatives to voice support
Championing the role of creativity in education and community life
Participating in consultations and public forums
The arts contribute significantly to Northern Ireland’s economy through tourism, hospitality partnerships, and creative employment. They enhance our international reputation and strengthen local identity. Most importantly, they create spaces where people can think, question, imagine, and connect.
Accidental Theatre stands ready to work collaboratively with policymakers, partners, businesses, and communities to ensure a vibrant, sustainable cultural future.
We believe that a thriving arts sector is fundamental to a thriving society.
The arts are essential. And together, we must protect and grow them.
Where we’ve started…
In January 2026 we sent questions to MLAs to query the Minister on the governments plans to support the arts:
AQW 38914/22-27
Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast
Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any (i) current initiatives; and (ii) future plans, to support the arts, given the substantial economic return generated by investment in this sector.
Tabled Date: 23/01/2026
Answered On Date: 03/02/2026
My Department is developing a new 10-year policy for the arts, through the Heritage, Culture and Creativity Programme. It will seek to develop the evidence and support the arguments for sustaining the work of the arts sector.
The Arts Council, as the funding and development body for the arts in Northern Ireland, details its funding initiatives in line with its strategic plan on its website: https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding/ and https://artscouncil-ni.org/what-we-do/our-strategy.
AQW 40598/22-27
Mr Matthew O'Toole
SDLP
South Belfast