At Theatre and Dance NI, we aspire to create a more diverse and inclusive performing arts industry, built on ambition, professionalism, and above all, creative collaboration. Northern Ireland already has a strong reputation for producing excellent work in theatre, dance, and the wider arts, but our goal is to build on this success and help the sector reach its full potential.

Our 2020 merger, bringing together Theatre NI and Dance Resource Base, was an important milestone based on the belief that working together brings better results. From this strong foundation, we continue to grow a healthier and more vibrant performing arts community that is valued, visible, and recognised as an important part of society and the economy.

As Northern Ireland’s leading support organisation for the theatre and dance sectors, we’re here to ensure that our creative community continues to thrive and we look forward to welcoming you as part of this journey.

Putting Art at the Heart of the Community

At the heart of Theatre and Dance NI is a strong sense of community, which is why we operate as a membership organisation. Our members benefit from a wide range of professional and wellbeing support through our Member Counselling Service, which provides 24/7 confidential counselling through Spectrum Life, something we are particularly proud to provide.

We also advocate and lobby on behalf of the theatre and dance community to highlight its cultural, social, and economic importance, ensuring that artistic practice remains central to community life.

How We Work

We support our aims through:

• Connecting – We build links across Northern Ireland and beyond, bringing together artists, organisations, and audiences. Through events, partnerships, and networking, we connect people, ideas, and opportunities to strengthen the performing arts sector.
• Advocating – Our work involves engaging with various stakeholders to highlight key policy issues and drive change. As secretariat for the All-Party Group on the Arts, we work closely with political representatives to ensure the arts are part of wider decision-making and public policy. Through initiatives such as the Green Arts Programme, we also champion environmental sustainability across the creative industries, supporting a sector that responsibly contributes to a greener future.
• Supporting Development – We help artists and organisations to grow through training, mentoring, bursaries, residencies, and professional development programmes that build skills, confidence, and innovation. Our key initiatives include INVEST, which supports emerging artists and companies, and Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from NI, which showcases Northern Ireland’s creative talent to audiences and promoters at home and abroad.

Working closely with our members and partners, we aim to build a community of ambition and creativity, supporting the sector both locally and internationally. Become a member today and join the community.

Theatre and Dance NI is governed by a board of non-executive directors.