Ireland and the United Kingdom have unveiled a major new cultural investment, committing €5 million to a dozen collaborative arts and heritage projects that will run through 2030.
The initiative, announced by Micheál Martin and Keir Starmer, aims to strengthen ties between the two countries’ leading cultural institutions and expand cross-border creative collaboration.
The funding forms part of the UK-Ireland Cultural Co-Operation Programme, a commitment first outlined during the 2025 UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool. Both governments say the initiative is designed to deepen cultural connections while supporting projects in theatre, music, archival research, museum collections, disability access, and professional exchange across the arts sector.
Among the flagship initiatives is a high-profile theatrical collaboration between Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and London’s National Theatre. The two institutions will co-produce 'A Whistle in the Dark', the acclaimed play by Irish dramatist Tom Murphy. The production will feature Irish actor Paul Mescal and tells the story of the Carney family, Irish immigrants navigating life in 1960s Coventry. The drama examines themes of masculinity, poverty and exclusion within the migrant experience.
Accessibility and inclusion will also play a central role in the programme. The Arts Council of Ireland and Arts Council England will jointly develop “All-In,” a new accessibility scheme scheduled to launch in 2026. The initiative will introduce a digital membership system designed to improve access to theatres, museums, galleries, festivals and other cultural venues for deaf people, people with disabilities, and neurodivergent audiences.
Historical research is another key focus. The National Archives of Ireland and The National Archives will collaborate on a major programme exploring the shared history of both nations. By combining archival collections, the project will support research, educational programmes and public engagement focused on the intertwined social and governmental histories of Ireland and the UK.
Museums across the two countries will also work together on provenance research. The National Museum of Ireland, alongside National Museums Scotland and National Museums Liverpool, will examine historical collections distributed across British and Irish museums in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by London’s former Department of Science and Art. The project aims to catalogue items and trace their origins while engaging with international communities connected to the collections.
Music collaboration features strongly in the programme as well. Dublin’s National Concert Hall will partner with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic to host youth choral exchanges, orchestral collaborations and large-scale performances in both Dublin and Liverpool. The partnership will also commission a new orchestral work exploring cultural links between Ireland and Liverpool.
In a separate initiative, the National Concert Hall will join forces with London’s Barbican Centre and Moving On Music to create a major folk-music project. Concerts in London, Dublin and Belfast will showcase innovative interpretations of contemporary folk music across the British and Irish islands.
The twelve funded initiatives collectively reflect a broader ambition by both governments to strengthen cultural ties and promote shared artistic heritage. The programme forms part of the UK-Ireland 2030 framework, launched at last year’s summit, which seeks to build deeper cooperation between the neighbouring nations across multiple sectors.
With projects spanning theatre, music, research and accessibility, the new investment signals a renewed push to place culture at the heart of Ireland-UK relations in the years ahead.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I am very pleased to announce this funding to 12 projects that will deliver our commitment to a strategic partnership between cultural institutions. The projects enable our leading cultural institutions and organisations to share their creativity and skills to tell the stories of Ireland and the UK, through artistic expression and archival research. I welcome also that there will be a focus on the sharing of expertise presenting opportunities for professional development by practitioners in both countries.
“I wish every funded project success and look forward to seeing the fruits of this co-operation over the coming years.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The UK and Ireland are close friends and neighbours with a rich cultural history, and the first UK-Ireland Summit last year set us on the path to deepen those ties further.
“I am pleased to see that reflected in these exciting projects which celebrate the best of our musical, theatrical and historical assets, providing opportunity and cultural experiences to communities on both sides of the Irish sea.”
Minister O’Donovan said: “I warmly welcome this strengthening of co-operation between cultural institutions and organisations in Ireland and the UK, and I am pleased to approve the funding allocations from my Department’s budget to support these projects. This is an opportunity for shared learning and understanding through cultural projects that will benefit both of our countries. I’m particularly pleased to see the additional emphasis across many of the projects towards inclusion, and the opportunities for both past generations and current communities to have their voices heard through this work.”
Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts Ian Murray MP said: “Arts and culture is all about collaboration. These incredible projects involve some of the best and brightest stars and organisations from all across these islands. They will be an absolute treat for audiences.
“This new set of partnerships between our world-leading institutions will reach thousands of people across the UK and Ireland, spanning the worlds of theatre, arts, music, museums and more. It’s the perfect reminder that the Irish Sea has always been a bridge and not a barrier to shared culture and heritage.” Photo by PascalSeger, Wikimedia commons.