Ms Olga Barry:

I thank the Chairman for the invitation to participate in this meeting.

Without wanting to sound too negative, one of the topics we ought to discuss is the fragility of the sector. Even today it takes a huge amount of faith to believe the snowball will get us to the opening night and that everything will happen. A myriad of things can go wrong on that journey. In Kilkenny, for example, the formal infrastructure for performance is very poor or the venues are scarce. We are constantly intervening and trying to mobilise alternative spaces, which has a great positive impact when international artists come and find themselves performing, perhaps in a 13th century cathedral, with all that brings. With all of the specialness, there is great risk, as well as fragility.

The infrastructure of the professionalisation of the arts, the teams behind the machinery that get artists' best work onto stages and concert hall platforms, requires volunteers of extraordinary commitment and faith in the people leading the festivals and organisations. Without the communities’ support, they would quickly collapse. That needs to be cherished and celebrated in a very deep and meaningful way as part of the ambition, international work and "platforming" of new work in festivals.