Help secure the future talent for Irish theatre, film, television and radio by supporting The Lir.
We want The Lir to be able to support and develop the sector not just through teaching students in the Academy, but also to have a role within schools, communities, and amateur drama, as well as supporting and mentoring graduates when they leave the Academy for the world of work.
THE LIR ACTIVITY AND FUNDING PROGRAMME
- Beginnings@The Lir – outreach to schools and communities
- The Lir Academy – assisting students, work placements, new facilities
- The After Lir – Mentoring, Lir Production Company, The World of Work
We believe that we should play a part in helping to raise awareness of the theatre and use of drama at all age levels on the island of Ireland. Some of our activities, therefore, should aim to drive greater particpation in, and support for, drama within communities across the island.
Students of The Lir will come from a wide variety of different social and economic backgrounds. The training is highly intensive (35+ hours per week over 36 weeks per annum) and the opportunities for the students to work during training are extremely limited. Regardless of their social or economic backgrounds, we want to ensure that training is available not just to those who can afford to be trained, but also to provide bursaries for students to ensure that they can focus on their training without the worry of financial hardship. Assisting and supporting students who attend The Lir will be a regular focus of our fundraising.
Whilst students are with us in the Academy, our aim is to constantly add value to courses, and provide ‘world-class’ facilities and resources as part of their teaching. Having the resources and funding to develop showcases each year, to bring in more materials to the Academy Library, and giving them an opportunity to use their skills within electronic media such as radio drama productions will be highly beneficial.
When our students graduate from The Lir, we want to ensure they have the best support possible to help them develop and grow. We want to mentor and assist graduates to develop their skills and competences for the world of work. Part of that will come about through creating a Production Company for graduates of the Academy to give them an opportunity to develop and showcase their work. We’ll combine that with securing practical work experience/in training programmes for students to prepare them for the real demands of the industry.
We also recognise that there may be a role for The Lir to develop and enrich the skills, scope and abilities of existing professionals. We’re willing to listen and discuss how this might happen and to put resources behind it. This would form part of our ambition to help promote and encourage the wider development and appreciation of drama across the island in all its forms in theatre, film, TV, radio and new media.
As The Lir is a registered charity, all monies donated to The Lir Supporters’ schemes are tax deductible.