Research Report on Pay Scales and Working Conditions in the Dance Industry, commissioned by Dance Ireland (DI), 2025.

Úcaire Consulting was appointed by the national dance development agency Dance Ireland to research and undertake a comparative analysis of global Payscales and working conditions in the professional dance industry. The process involved extensive desk research about pay and conditions in the EU27, UK and the USA; an analysis of the profile data of the DI membership and the development of comparative sample baseline models pay and working conditions models for DI members, specifically professional dance artists and choreographers. The process also involved a presentation of findings to the DI executive and members. The output was the delivery of the research report and sample models for DI. The impact of the work is the agreement by the community as represented in the consultation process, to progress to develop the baseline models for the community.

The Creative Industry Data and Market Intelligence Service (CIDMI) was developed in response to a clearly identified evidence gap within Ireland’s creative economy. In 2021–2022, Jessica Fuller, commissioned by the Western Development Commission, authored a landmark report on the Creative Economy in the Atlantic Innovation Region, which highlighted the absence of reliable, consistent data to inform strategic investment, policy development, and sustainable scaling of the creative industries.

Building on this work, in 2023 Jessica secured funding from Roscommon County Council and Enterprise Ireland (REISS Fund) to undertake a national feasibility study examining the need for a dedicated creative industry data and market intelligence service. In 2024, she secured further funding from Roscommon County Council to activate the National Creative Industry Data and Market Intelligence Service CIDMI.ie

As part of this action-research programme, Jessica devised a standardised business taxonomy for the creative industries and conducted a national study to establish an indicative creative industry ecosystem across the Republic of Ireland. The outcomes included an in-depth research report, an industry insights statement, the formal activation of CIDMI.ie, and a series of recommended research priorities for policy, advocacy, and academic stakeholders.

The impact of this work has been the establishment of CIDMI.ie as a national evidence and intelligence resource, alongside active engagement with stakeholders to inform future service development. CIDMI.ie will undertake further research in 2026 and will publish an updated industry insights statement later this year.

All-island project Weaving Worlds Together (WWT) 2025. Úcaire Consulting was appointed by Kerry County Council Arts Office to design the project, develop and implement programme activity, monitor and evaluate the project and produce the final report. WWT is about the preservation of traditional Irish crafts on the island of Ireland and weaving worlds of people and communities through the shared experience of traditional craft making. The initiative included four pillars : 100 workshops delivered via social prescriber services at 10 centres; all-island meet-up for +220 guests; establishment of a craft facilitator panel, and the design of best-practice toolkit. Funded by Creative Ireland/Department of Culture, WWT is a multi-partner initiative comprising Kerry Arts Office, Family Resource Centres National Forum with 3 Centres in Kenmare, Listowel & Tralee; Healthy Living Centres Alliance with advisory from the HSE Cork Kerry region.

The impact of WWT 2025 was agreement by stakeholders to progress to a phase 2 from 2026 onwards.