Culture Ireland invites submissions from Irish theatre and dance artists/companies who wish to participate in the Meet the Irish initiative which will take place in New York from 10 to 13 January 2026. 

Since 2023, Meet the Irish has established itself as a valuable showcase opportunity for Irish dance and theatre artists and arts organisations to engage with North American presenters and festivals, many of whom travel to New York in January to attend a range of cultural conferences and festivals including ISPA, APAP and Under the Radar. 

It also coincides with the annual meeting in New York of the network of Irish cultural centres from across North America (NICCoNA). 

Successful applicants will be offered a platform to present their work to these national and international delegates. This platform may include an extract for the proposed project along with AV materials.  Meet the Irish will take place on Monday 12th January at the Irish Arts Center, New York. 

Qualifying Criteria: 

Applications must meet the following criteria: 

The proposed work being pitched must involve professional artists with work ready to tour internationally. 

Evidence of positive independent critical recognition must be available. 

High-quality moving image documentation of the work is preferable. 

The applicant must be available for preparatory work in advance of the event and to be willing to present within the designated template and timeslot 

Assessment: 

Applications will be assessed based on the following: 

• Fulfilment of the qualifying criteria. 
• The quality of the production in terms of performance, production values and content. 

• The capacity of the artist/company to avail of international touring opportunities  
• Current programming trends in key international festivals and venues and the likely attendees at the event 

Meet the Irish is presented in association with Irish Arts Center New York  

Culture Ireland will provide grant supports for selected participants in this opportunity. 

To Apply: 

Applications should be submitted here before 12 noon on Friday 17th October 2025. 

Access:

If you require additional support in completing this application, please contact [email protected]