News

Celebrate Creativity this Jan

17 Dec 2025

Arts & Business NI (A&BNI) and leading Northern Ireland commercial and private client law firm Millar McCall Wylie, have partnered to deliver Celebrating Creative Partnerships, an event highlighting the powerful impact of collaboration between the cultural and corporate sectors.

Taking place during International Creativity Month on 14 Jan, at the Cahoots theatre space at Cityside Retail Park, the event will highlight how creative partnerships can energise organisations, strengthen brands, engage communities and deliver real social and economic value.

Jan Cunningham, Managing Partner, Millar McCall Wylie, said: "Millar McCall Wylie is delighted to sponsor Arts & Business NI's Celebrating Creative Partnerships event in January. The cultural sector is a vibrant and vital part of life in Northern Ireland. We consistently see the transformative impact of strategic partnerships between businesses and artistic organisations, many of which are made possible by the support of Arts & Business NI.

"Through such partnerships, businesses are able to unlock creative solutions to challenges, boost their brand reach and inspire their people; whilst arts partners gain essential financial and strategic support, allowing them to create more and reach new audiences. This event will act as a platform to showcase some of these incredible collaborations. As a firm that works closely with the arts sector, providing legal support to creative organisations at every stage of their journey, we are proud to champion the powerful, reciprocal value delivered when the commercial and cultural worlds connect."

Attendees will hear a series of standout impact stories from organisations that have turned creative collaboration into strategic advantage, supported by the Arts & Business NI Investment Programme, funded by Arts Council Northern Ireland. New research published by A&BNI, The Value of Creative Partnerships, highlights the scale of this impact, revealing that partnerships supported by the programme between 2019 and 2024 engaged almost half a million members of the public and created more than 3,000 working opportunities for local artists. Over the same period, participating businesses invested a further £1.7 million in the arts, representing an effective return on investment of over £4 by the private sector for every £1 of funding provided.

Reflecting on this impact and the importance of continued cross-sector collaboration, Maeve McKervey, Head of Business at Arts & Business NI, said: “We are delighted to be working with Millar McCall Wylie on Celebrating Creative Partnerships to champion collaborations that create lasting strategic value for both business and the arts. We can’t wait to welcome audiences to the magical theatre space at Cahoots and showcase what’s possible when creativity is placed at the heart of strategy. The arts play a vital role in Northern Ireland’s social and economic wellbeing, and by supporting creativity, we can help build a more resilient, innovative and vibrant future for our businesses, places and communities. Come along to discover how creative partnerships can energise organisations of all kinds - helping to reach new audiences, strengthen brands, engage local communities, meet CSR goals, and revitalise places.”

Delegates will have the opportunity to discover opportunities to get involved with NI’s creative sector, network with like-minded peers  and enjoy performances from Cahoots, the acclaimed Armagh Rhymers and singer songwriter Fya Fox.

Book Your Tickets Here