Performing Arts Forum Newsletter
Hello!
We hope you’re all very well and surviving the windy and rainy conditions. It has been a busy start to the year for us at Performing Arts Forum.
Here’s some of our latest news and events:
· Climate Adaptation Session | Took place 29 January
· PAF Connects @ Irish National Opera, The Cunning Little Vixen | 5 February *LIMITED TICKETS LEFT*
· Druidstone & “How to make your online marketing more effective” webinar | 12 February
· PAF Connects @ LemonSoap Productions, Muicín | 26 February *JUST LAUNCHED*
· Bursaries to The Gathering | Deadline 2 March
· Early Bird Ticket to The Gathering | Deadline 20 March
· Revenue Position Paper | See below
· Arts Council Theatre Consultations | See below
Find out more below:
At the core of the Performing Arts Forum is our commitment to connection, building relationships, strengthening bonds, and fostering a true sense of community within the arts. Sharing the experience of live performance is a vital part of this connection.
In November 2024, we launched PAF Connects, a new initiative offering discounted tickets paired with exclusive networking events. We have already hosted two this year, have many more coming up soon, and two that you can book right now:
· PAF Connects @ Irish National Opera, The Cunning Little Vixen | 5 February
· PAF Connects @ LemonSoap Productions, Muicín | 26 February
We would love to see you there ⤵️
Seen through the eyes of a young fox, The Cunning Little Vixen opens with a chance encounter that results in her capture. Through her courage and resilience, the Vixen manages to outwit her captors, and escapes to untamed freedom in the forest. An exquisite exploration of life, love, loss, the cycle of life and the endless power of nature. Janáček’s evocative score weaves rich folk melodies with playful humour, capturing the sounds of nature’s eternal rhythm and its wild, irrepressible spirit.
For €25, you’ll receive a ticket to the show along with food and drink at our pre-networking event.
Insíonn Muicín scéal Mercy Munroe. Tá a saol tar éis titim as a chéile. Caitheann sí a cuid ama anois mar fhreastalaí i mbialann mhearbhia in Uíbh Fhailí, iomlán gafa leis an díoltas agus a hiar-chailín cara. Go tobann, tagann a sean-dlúthchairde, a thréig í fadó, isteach sa bhialann ag ordú sceallóga. Le greim docht ar an bpanna sceallóg, beartaíonn Mercy Munroe go bhfuil sé in am di a saol a thógáil ar ais arís.
Is é Muicín an chéad léiriú Gaeilge ó LemonSoap Productions, atá ag teacht ar an stáitse sa Cube i mí Feabhra 2026. Is aistriúchán le HK Ní Shioradáin é Muicín ar an dráma rathúil Piglet le hUltan Pringle ó 2023.
Cliceáil anseo chun doiciméad le tuilleadh eolais faoin léiriúcháin a fháil.
Presented as Gaeilge with English subtitles, Muicín follows Mercy Munroe who, after a breakdown in college, now spends her days working in a chip shop in Offaly, consumed by an unhealthy obsession with revenge and her ex-girlfriend. Until one day when her two old best friends walk into the chip shop. Clutching a piece of battered haddock tightly in one hand and a salt shaker in the other, Mercy vows there and then that the time is right to try and take her life back.
Muicín is the first Irish-language production from LemonSoap Productions, premiering in the Cube at Project Arts Centre in February 2026. Muicín is HK Ní Shioradáin’s Irish translation of Ultan Pringle’s acclaimed 2023 play Piglet.
For just €20, you’ll receive a ticket to the show along with food and drink at our pre-networking event.
Now in its 20th edition, The Gathering has become a landmark event in the performing arts calendar. We’re thrilled to be bringing The Gathering to Belfast on 26 & 27 May, marking an exciting moment for artists, arts workers and organisations from across the island. More information will be released soon. In the meantime, you can:
· You can apply for Bursaries to this year’s Gathering here, available until 2 March
· Purchase Early Bird Tickets, available until 20 March
At the end of January, we were delighted to deliver the Druidstone Arts Marketing Residency – a hands-on, practical training programme designed to strengthen marketing knowledge across Ireland’s performing arts sector, led by Heather Maitland and Katy Raines.
This two-night residential programme brought 23 participants to the Glen of Aherlow, where they took part in a mix of large group sessions, small group discussions and evening talks. Together, the group explored core marketing principles, developed simple and effective strategies, and built practical skills they could put into use immediately within their organisations. The residency offered participants the tools, confidence and connections to make an immediate impact in their work. A huge thanks to all who participated.
For those interested, a FREE marketing webinar hosted by Catherine Griffin, a speaker from Druidstone, is taking place on 12 February. More information below ⤵️
Performing Arts Forum is hosting an online marketing webinar with Catherine Griffin which is available to all on 12 February at 11am.
Changing algorithms, new platforms, and fragmented audiences can leave us frustrated and wondering where to focus in online marketing. Join us in this webinar, led by Catherine Griffin, to get up to speed on the latest developments in online marketing and learn a few simple habits that will help you land the right message with the right audience.
We are grateful to Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet for supporting this training ⤵️
On 29 January, PAF’s Green Arts Initiative in Ireland, working with Culture for Climate Scotland, concluded a series of sessions focusing on the challenge of climate adaptation.
Kicking off in October 2025, we began with a general session on climate adaptation, which will be followed by another in November 2025 which focuses on adaptation for building-based organisations. A conclusion session took place last week where we were joined by Rebecca Fraser, who was able to speak of community efforts of climate adaptation in Scotland.
We hope to host more sessions on this topic, but in the meantime, all sessions are viewable via the link below ⤵️
Revenue
Many of you have been raising questions about Revenue guidance on employment status and taxation. By way of update, Revenue revised its guidance following the Supreme Court judgment in The Revenue Commissioners v Karshan (Midlands) Ltd t/a Domino’s Pizza. The full guidance can be accessed here.
Revenue also introduced settlement arrangements for 2024 and 2025, which allowed employers to make disclosures where an individual should have been treated as an employee. The deadline for availing of these arrangements passed on 30 January 2026.
In response to these developments, and following a number of sectoral discussions, Performing Arts Forum and Irish Theatre Institute jointly commissioned a Position Paper from Arthur Cox. The paper outlines the legal test for determining employment status as established in Revenue Commissioners v Karshan (Midlands) Ltd and considers its application within the performing arts sector.
The document has been shared with organisations that were in contact with us on this issue, in order to provide sectoral context and support informed discussion. It is not intended for publication and, while it may be shared on a limited basis where appropriate, the intellectual property remains with Irish Theatre Institute and Performing Arts Forum. The paper does not constitute legal advice.
It is important to note that while the paper sets out relevant factors to consider, employment status must always be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Each individual engagement should be reviewed on its own merits to determine the appropriate classification.
If you would like to receive a copy of the document and have not already done so, please contact Irma (irma@performingartsforum.ie)
Arts Council Theatre Consultations
The Arts Council is inviting theatre practitioners to take part in Theatre Sector Consultations.
These consultations are based on the feedback from a sector-wide survey which took place in the first half of this year. Performing Arts Forum attended the first consultation in Limerick this week but there are further meetings coming up as follows:
Dublin – 6 February
Sligo – 9 February
Cork – 11 February
Online Consultation – 17 February
Membership
At the core of Performing Arts Forum is the profound value of connection. It’s about the relationships that are built, the ties that are strengthened, and the sense of belonging that sustains the performing arts community. If you’re not already a member, we’d love to welcome you on board as a member.
Key benefits for you include:
· A login that allows you to post jobs, news and opportunities on our website, and as a result be shared across our social media
· The ability to vote and take part in our AGM
· Access to our extensive resource database, including model contracts, factsheets and research
· Invitations to our PAF Connects networking events, members’ meetings, training and professional development programmes
· Special member rate access to our Annual Gathering (next one taking place in Belfast 26/27 May 2026)
