Further Resources
Key Works
Dancing with Epistemic Borders: Knowledge and unknowns in mixed-methods Practice-as-Research (PaR) collaborations between dance and social science" (2021, Performance Research): This publication reflects on using paper surveys and improvised dance responses to research questions about experiences of crossing borders in dance work gathered at the Co-Motion conference in 2019. It discusses the potential of mixed methods for bringing an affective and embodied experience of borders in dialogue with more traditional methods of sociological enquiry.
"Artists’ Mobility Across Borders: A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Dance on the Island of Ireland" (2022, Journal of Cultural Management and Cultural Policy): This publication discusses the methods used in a study that aimed to understand the mobility of dance artists across the borders of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It takes a mixed-methods approach that combines surveys, interviews, and observation to analyze the experiences of dancers and choreographers.
"Dance and Borders" Animated: Current Issues and Practice in Participatory Dance (2019): This publication explores the relationship between dance and borders. It examines how dance can be used as a tool for crossing borders, challenging borders, and reinforcing borders. The authors argue that dance can be a powerful way of building connections across borders and promoting cultural understanding.
"Exploring young people’s understanding of culture: a study from Northern Ireland" (2020, Cultural Trends): This publication presents a study that explores young people's understanding of culture in Northern Ireland. It analyzes how young people define culture, how they engage with cultural activities, and how cultural participation contributes to their sense of identity.
"Rethinking local government support for youth arts: The case of NOISE South Dublin" (2011, The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society): This publication examines the case of NOISE South Dublin, a youth arts program in Ireland, and discusses how local government can support youth arts. It argues that youth-led practice is essential for developing meaningful and impactful youth arts programs.
"Exploring Cross Border Cultural Policy in Practice" (2019, Irish Journal of Arts Management and Cultural Policy): This publication is a co-edited special issue that outlines the importance of considering cultural policy on the island of Ireland in a cross-border context. It argues that there are both implicit and explicit frameworks that legitimize and facilitate cross-border exchange and the existence of cross-border links for developing the island's cultural industries. It features both academic and sector-authored articles, including a local government arts officer, an artist, the Director of the Centre for Cross-Border Studies, and the Director of the Belfast International Arts Festival.
"Co-Motion" (2019, Performance Research) and "Dance Conversations" (2021, Dance Ireland): These pilot studies, co-led by the project leads of "Youth Dance Matters," aimed to investigate the intersection of dance and social science research. "Co-Motion" utilized mixed-methods to explore the experiences of crossing borders in dance work, while "Dance Conversations" investigated the potential for youth dance to contribute to policy development in Ireland.
Building Capacity for Cultural Industries: Towards a Shared-Island Approach
Funded by the Irish Research Council’s (IRC) New Foundations Scheme 2021, under the Shared Island Initiative Strand (8) supported by the Shared Island Unit (SIU) in the Department of the Taoiseach, this project brought together new and existing academic and sector-based research to understand how all-island relations within the professional, publicly-subsidised performing arts of dance and theatre may be nurtured.