we will thrive

05/06/2026

Our Project Manager vacancy closes at 10am on Monday 8th June 2026
(yes, that's this Monday coming, in case you were about to check).

If you're the sort of person who colour-codes spreadsheets, spots a typo from 50 paces, and gets a kick out of making projects move from ""great idea"" to ""actually delivered"", this could be your kind of job.

Come and help us deliver research, events, programmes and support for Northern Ireland's arts and heritage sector.

More details and application information:
wewillthrive.co.uk/opportunities/job-opportunity-project-manager"

04/06/2026

This is just one of the questions we'll be answering at our IMPACT event on 11th June.

Everybody has a theory about audience behaviour.
Fortunately, we've got 10,000 audience responses to help separate fact from fiction.

Join us as we share what we've learned from three years of audience research across Northern Ireland, next week.

🗓️ 11th June
⏰ 10am - 12pm
📍 ArtsEkta
🎟️ Free

Book now: wewillthrive.co.uk/events/10000-audience-responses-you-need-to-know-about

03/06/2026

Following our recent How to Write a Survey event, we thought the accompanying toolkit could do with a refresh.

So, we've updated it.

The 2026 How to Write a Survey toolkit is packed with practical advice to help you ask better questions and get more useful answers.

Click, download, and bask in the latest survey wisdom: wewillthrive.co.uk/resources/toolkits-and-templates/how-to-send-a-survey-toolkit-2026-update/

02/06/2026

✉️ Received your 2026/27 Annual Funding Programme letter recently?
👀 Clocked that you're one of the organisations who need to take part in our IMPACT research programme as part of your funding?

We've put together an FAQ page that answers all your immediate questions - we hope.
And if you've got any other burning queries? Just reach out and we'll be happy to chat them through.

You can check out the FAQs below:
wewillthrive.co.uk/resources/blogs/thrives-impact-research-programme-implementation-faqs/

You can also come along to our event on 11th June at Artsekta, where we'll be revealing what the survey data of IMPACT 25/26 has taught us about audience behaviours. You can sign up for that here: wewillthrive.co.uk/events/10000-audience-responses-you-need-to-know-about/

01/06/2026

FOCUS GROUP OPPORTUNITY 👇
Involved in any aspects of delivering festivals in NI or any of the border counties? We want to hear from you!

We’re facilitating a series of in-person and online focus groups as part of Festivals Connect, to better understand the needs of people working at festivals.

Your input will directly inform the future programme of Festivals Connect around training and skills development for festivals.

🖥️ Register here and let us know what dates work for you.
We're planning 7 sessions spanning 17th June - 17th July.
🔗 www.surveymonkey.com/r/FESTCONNECT

The Festivals Connect programme is led by Create, in partnership with the British Council, with support from Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body - SEUPB.

The Glens Arts Centre
GoldenThread Gallery
Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin
Droichead Arts Centre

29/05/2026

BIG NEWS: Audience research has a new focus at Arts Council NI, and we couldn't be more delighted.

Some Annual Funding Programme recipient organisations have recently been informed that participation in IMPACT is a requirement of their funding.
Does this apply to you? Check your AFP letter to see.

For those not in the know: IMPACT is our flagship audience research programme and we've been gathering standardised audience data across Northern Ireland's arts sector for the past five years.

Curious on what insights IMPACT delivers for the sector?
Join us on 11th June, 10am - 12pm at Arts Ekta and be among the first to hear the latest updates on audience behaviours as we unveil the results of the IMPACT 2025/26 End of Year Report.

Sign up for the free event: wewillthrive.co.uk/events/10000-audience-responses-you-need-to-know-about/

Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Visual Artists Ireland
Community Arts Partnership

We are constantly undertaking audience research to create an accurate, up-to-date picture of where our sector is at and what it needs. Find out more about our current research projects, IMPACT and IMPACT North West.

27/05/2026

We’ve been recently appointed by Create Ireland to facilitate a series of cross-community and cross-border focus groups with festivals in NI and border counties.

The aim of these focus groups will be to better understand the needs of people involved in all aspects of delivering festivals – their context, their strengths but also their challenges.
This will inform the future programme of Festivals Connect around training and skills development for festivals.
We’ll be recruiting for these focus groups very soon so keep an eye out on your inbox and socials!

Festivals Connect aims to engage with existing festivals and provide opportunities, centred in cultural democratic approaches that foster inclusive social engagement and build sustainable structures to continually develop community-led programmes and partnerships.

The Festivals Connect programme is led by Create Ireland, in partnership with the British Council, with support from Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body - SEUPB.

26/05/2026

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Don’t worry, circus skills aren’t part of the essential criteria… 🤹‍♀️

But if you are a canny task-juggler with experience in the arts, you’ll want to take a look at our Project Manager role.

Any questions about the job, or just want to meet your prospective new colleagues and nosy around the office?

We’re hosting a candidate open day this Thursday 28 May from 4.30-6pm – just come along and say hi.

More info + apply here 👇
https://wewillthrive.co.uk/opportunities/job-opportunity-project-manager/

22/05/2026

Powerpoint, slides, deck... whatever you call them, this is what everyone was photographing at our ‘How to Write a Survey’ workshop a few weeks back 👀 📸

Gatekeepers we are not, so feel free to dig in and use the practical advice on writing better surveys, including:
• how to reduce survey drop-off
• the questions that quietly skew responses
• demographic questions people will actually answer
• when a survey isn’t the right tool at all

Useful for anyone working in arts, heritage, events, research or audience development.

Download: https://lnkd.in/esfsCvfT

21/05/2026

Colleagues are great and all, but have you meant Bottie? 🦥
Our new office emotional support sloth (those weighted arms though...) is great for a wee cuddle and companionship during a busy day

He's settling in well and has a real roll-up-his-sleeves attitude.
Couldn't ask for more. 🤎