Create
Create is Ireland's national development agency for collaborative arts, delivering grant-funded programmes, training, mentoring, and residencies that connect professional artists with communities across Ireland, primarily via Arts Council funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Create does
Create is Ireland's national development agency for collaborative arts in social and community contexts, operating as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee (C.A.F.E. Company Limited by Guarantee, charity reg. 20024291) headquartered at 2 Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin. Founded in 1983 as Creative Activity for Everyone (CAFE) and renamed Create in 2003, the organisation was confirmed in its national agency role in 2006. Create serves professional artists, arts and community organisations, local authorities, academic institutions, and communities of place or interest, delivering programmes across all artforms including visual arts, music, theatre, dance, literature, film, and traditional arts.
Create operates a portfolio of 15+ programmes and support services, the largest of which is the Arts Council's Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme — managed by Create since 2002 and offering Research and Development Awards (€3,500-€4,500), Project Realisation Awards (up to €15,000), Bursary Awards (€15,000), Artist Mentoring Awards, residencies, and a Summer School. Other programmes include the Artist Mentor Panel (established 2022), Artist Residencies and Commissions (with national and international partners including hablarenarte in Madrid), the Collaborative Arts Training Programme, Dublin 8 Neighbourhood Residency (with NCAD since 2020), Festivals CONNECT (PEACEPLUS-funded, launched 2025), and the NEIC Community Arts Programme (since 2025). Support services include Advisory Support, the Reading Room (650+ curated titles), Vetting for the Arts (registered with the National Vetting Bureau since 2007), Research and Learning, and a tiered membership programme.
The business model is primarily grant-funded: the Arts Council of Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts provide core funding, supplemented by PEACEPLUS/SEUPB programme-specific grants, membership fees (€30-€100 per annum by tier), Garda vetting processing fees (€20-€35 per application plus €50 annual affiliation), and donations. Create operates with a small team of 7 full-time and 4 part-time staff led by Director Damien McGlynn, governed by a Board of Directors chaired since 2025 by Kevin Murphy. Distribution is entirely domestic (Ireland) with selected UK cross-border activity via British Council partnership. The organisation is not a technology company — no proprietary platform or AI capabilities exist; its 'technology' is programme delivery infrastructure, partnerships, and the curated Reading Room archive.
Create firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Create
- Legal name
- C.A.F.E. Company Limited by Guarantee
- Website
- https://create-ireland.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Create is Ireland's national development agency for collaborative arts, delivering grant-funded programmes, training, mentoring, and residencies that connect professional artists with communities across Ireland, primarily via Arts Council funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Create industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts Development Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Create is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Create business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Funding and Grants: As a registered charity and arts development agency, Create is primarily funded through grants from the Arts Council of Ireland, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts, and other government bodies. It also manages funding programmes such as the Artist in the Community Scheme on behalf of the Arts Council.
- Membership Fees: Individual artists pay €30 per annum, arts/community organisations from €60 per annum, and public bodies/local authorities €100 per annum for membership benefits including advisory services, resources, publications, and reduced insurance rates.
- Vetting Service Fees: Create provides Garda vetting services for arts organisations, charging €20 per application for non-profit organisations and €35 per application for commercial organisations, plus a €50 annual affiliation fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual/Artist membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Arts/Community Organisation membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Public Body/Local Authority membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Garda Vetting for Non-profit Organisations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Garda Vetting for Commercial Organisations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Create product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Create is the national development agency for collaborative arts in Ireland, delivering programmes, training, mentoring, residencies, funding administration, advisory support, and Garda vetting services to artists, community organisations, public bodies, and academic partners. Its core offerings include the Artist in the Community Scheme, Artist Mentor Panel, Artist Residencies and Commissions, Collaborative Arts Training Programme, Networking Day, Summer School, Reading Room, and Research and Learning initiatives.
Product overview
Create is the national development agency for collaborative arts in Ireland, operating as a non-profit organisation (C.A.F.E. Limited by Guarantee) rather than a technology company. The organisation functions as a platform-plus-programmes model offering professional development, mentoring, project development support, commissioning opportunities, research, and training for artists working in social and community contexts. Core programmes include the Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme (managing awards, bursaries, and residencies for Arts Council), the Artist Mentor Panel, Artist Residencies and Commissions, Collaborative Arts Training Programme, Dublin 8 Neighbourhood Residency, Festivals CONNECT, NEIC Community Arts Programme, Networking Day, Sharing Practice, and Summer School on Collaborative Practice and Social Change. Support services include Advisory Support, the Reading Room (650+ publications), Vetting for the Arts, and membership programmes. The organisation also manages Creative Places Tuam as part of Arts Council initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme The Arts Council's Artist in the Community Scheme, managed by Create, offers awards to enable artists and communities of place and/or interest to work together on collaborative, socially engaged projects. Includes Research and Development Awards (€3,500-€4,500), Project Realisation Awards (up to €15,000), Bursary Awards (€15,000 each), Artist Mentoring Award, residencies, and a Summer School.
- Artist Mentor Panel Established in 2022, the Artist Mentor Panel is made up of experienced collaborative socially engaged practitioners who specialise in a range of artforms and have worked with diverse communities across Ireland. Provides mentoring to emerging practitioners and artists transitioning into collaborative socially engaged arts.
- Artist Residencies and Commissions Residencies and Commissions offered in partnership with national and international partners including Fire Station Artists' Studios, Hugh Lane Gallery, Galway Arts Centre, Creative Places Tuam, National Women's Council of Ireland, and Madrid-based hablarenarte. Provides opportunities for professional development, exchange, networking, and learning.
- Collaborative Arts Training Programme (CATP) A practical suite of essential training and professional knowledge for emerging artists, recent graduates, third-level students, and cultural practitioners interested in learning about collaborative art practice. Topics include Demystifying Collaborative Art, Defining Research Methods, Effectively Communicating your Practice, People Ethics and Communities, Building Sustainable Work Patterns, and Documenting Your Work.
- Dublin 8 Neighbourhood Residency A community-based residency for undergraduate students partnered with the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and community development organisations since 2020. Explores the multi-faceted nature and potential of collaborative practice in community development contexts, engaging 12-15 Fine Art students annually with community groups.
- Festivals CONNECT A PEACEPLUS-supported programme led by Create in partnership with the British Council, engaging with existing festivals to provide opportunities centred in cultural democratic approaches. Includes Co-design Focus Groups, Training series, Peer to Peer Connections, and Diversity and Inclusion in Practice training for festival practitioners.
- NEIC Community Arts Programme Since 2025, Create has managed the North East Inner City Community Arts Programme, supporting artists and steering the development of place-based collaborative arts. Offers opportunities through training, funding opportunities, residencies, creative exchanges, and public conversations for artists and communities of the North East Inner City.
- Networking Day Create's National Networking Day is an annual encounter of exchange and learning about artists' practices operating in the spaces between socially engaged arts, pedagogy, and politics. Aims to build capacity, develop artforms, and operate as a platform for connection and exchange between collaborative practitioners and community and civil society interests.
- Sharing Practice A strand of work that aims to expand the reach of Create's research and projects using various modes of sharing including in-person events such as panel discussions, and production of media including video, podcasts, and publications.
- Summer School on Collaborative Practice and Social Change A multi-day residency programme enabling a 'think and do' approach, utilizing skills training workshops, critical case studies, creative group challenges, one-to-one mentoring and reflection. Targets artists, activists and thinkers from ethnic and other minority groups, and those working with these groups.
- Advisory Support Create offers advisory support to individuals and organisations through one-on-one meetings with Create associates and group sessions. Content is tailored to needs including project planning, grants and finances, and organisational development.
- Reading Room A unique resource for artists, community workers, arts organisations, and anyone with interest in the potential of art to effect social change. Comprises a growing collection of 650+ published titles related to social art practice, offering self-directed and guided access as well as Research Clinics with the Research & Learning Manager.
- Vetting for the Arts Create is registered with the National Vetting Bureau to represent persons, organisations and groups in accessing vetting for bona-fide reasons of employment or engagement in the arts and culture. Provides access to the national online e-Vetting system with processing fees of €20 for non-profit and €35 for commercial organisations.
- Create Membership Membership of Create is open to individual artists and arts organisations across all art forms. Provides advice, support, training and development opportunities, access to advisory services, Garda Vetting for arts organisations, Reading Room facilities, Create News publications, reduced price insurance, and a vibrant community of artists working collaboratively.
- Research and Learning Create values and promotes the development of new ways of learning about collaborative practice. Includes the Critical Friends residency programme, Evaluative Framework project with TU Dublin, MA Art and Social Action collaboration with NCAD, and various research initiatives into cultural diversity in collaborative arts.
Companies that use Create
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Create technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Create partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Dublin NEIC (North East Inner City) PartnershipcoreSince 2025, Create manages the Community Arts Programme in the NEIC, coordinating place-based collaborative arts and supporting diverse artistic practice and cultural participation in the area.
- Learning Lab AgencycorePartnership on Summer School on Collaborative Practice and Social Change, offering interdisciplinary residential learning combining skills workshops, case studies, mentoring and reflection.
- Dublin City University (DCU)majorResearch partner in Irish Research Council-funded Community Engagement Through Performance Art (CEPA) project with Ukrainian Action, investigating performance art as conduit for displaced communities.
- National College of Art and Design (NCAD)coreLong-term partnership since 2020 on Dublin 8 Neighbourhood Residency for undergraduate students. Create connects students with community groups and professional artist facilitators. Also collaborating on MA Art and Social Action programme.
- Creative Places TuamcoreCreate led the pilot Creative Places programme in Tuam (2020-2024) and serves as the Creative Places Programme Network Services provider (2021-2024) for the Arts Council, managing community-led artistic programmes.
- Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle EalaíoncorePrimary funder and partner. Create manages the Arts Council's Artist in the Community Scheme and received the tender to lead the Creative Places programme. Create fully subscribes to the Arts Council's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy (2023-2028).
- Department of Tourism, Culture and ArtscoreGovernment department providing core funding and policy support for Ireland's national development agency for collaborative arts.
- Dublin City Arts OfficecoreLocal authority arts office providing support and funding for Dublin-based collaborative arts initiatives.
- British Council IrelandcoreLead partner in Festivals CONNECT programme, a PEACEPLUS-funded initiative supporting artistic collaboration between Ireland and the UK. Also delivers UK-IRL Culture Connects Grant 2026/27 in association with Create.
- Arts Council of Northern IrelandcoreAssociate partner in Festivals CONNECT programme, ensuring cross-border representation and supporting community arts development across the island of Ireland.
- Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)coreManages the PEACEPLUS programme which funds the Festivals CONNECT initiative led by Create in partnership with British Council.
- Counterpoints ArtscoreOriginal co-developer of Summer School on Cultural Diversity and Collaborative Practice, focused on supporting artists, activists and practitioners from ethnic and minority groups.
- Fire Station Artists' StudiosmajorPartner in Catalyst Residency programme offering professional development opportunities for artists from culturally diverse backgrounds. Also partner in Evaluative Framework research.
- Hugh Lane GallerymajorPartner in Artist Residencies and Commissions programme and NEIC Community Arts Programme, hosting collaborative arts projects and initiatives.
- SIRIUS Arts CentremajorPartner in Artist Residency Award programme supporting collaborative and socially engaged arts practice in Cobh.
- hablarenarte (Madrid)majorInternational residency partner providing exchange opportunities for artists to explore collaborative practice in Madrid-based environments.
- Waterford Healing Arts Trust (WHAT)majorPartner in developing ArtsandHealth.ie website and collaborative arts and health initiatives.
- The LAB GalleryminorHistorical partner in Art and Society Learning Programme, contributing to the Learning Development Programme begun in 2002.
- IADT Dun LaoghaireminorHistorical partner in Art and Society Learning Programme alongside NCAD, DIT, and Tisch School of the Arts (NYU).
- Age and Opportunity (Bealtaire)majorPartner in Evaluative Framework research, contributing to the development of a new lexicon and methodologies for evaluating socially engaged art.
- Galway Arts CentremajorPartner in Creative Places Tuam Artist Residency Award programme, supporting collaborative arts practice.
- National Women's Council of IrelandmajorPartner in Artist Residency Award programme supporting collaborative arts work focused on women's issues and perspectives.
- The Model (Sligo)majorPartner in Artist Residency Award programme providing opportunities for professional development and practice exploration.
- Fingal Arts OfficemajorPartner in Evaluative Framework research, contributing public art programme expertise to development of evaluation methodologies.
- IMMA (Engagement & Learning Dept.)majorPartner in Evaluative Framework research, providing museum engagement perspective on evaluating socially engaged art.
- University of LimerickmajorAcademic partner in Evaluative Framework research contributing to development of evaluation methodologies for socially engaged art.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Create competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Counterpoints Arts: UK-based organisation supporting artists from migrant, refugee and minority backgrounds, focused on social change through collaborative practice. Direct peer given shared focus on collaborative arts, cultural diversity and partnership with communities of interest.
- Engage: UK national membership organisation supporting gallery education and participatory arts practice. Comparable role in advocating for, training and connecting practitioners working at the intersection of arts institutions and community engagement.
- Create London: Create London is the UK's national development agency for collaborative and community arts, operating with a near-identical mission to Create Ireland — supporting artists working in social and community contexts, managing programmes, residencies and training across artforms. Direct mission-aligned peer.
- Voluntary Arts: UK-wide charity championing participation in creative cultural activities, with membership-based model analogous to Create Ireland's membership tiers. Comparable governance model (charity, membership fees, government/arts council relationships) and audience (amateur and community creative practitioners).
- Creative Lives Ireland: Creative Lives Ireland is a national voluntary organisation promoting participation in creative activities across Ireland. Create's Director Damien McGlynn previously served as Ireland Director, and both organisations target the same community-arts and participation constituency with overlapping programme portfolios.
Regional players
- Culture Action Europe: European-level umbrella advocating for culture and arts as drivers of social and economic value, with membership of cultural organisations across the continent. Comparable advocacy, research and convening function to Create, but operating at pan-European rather than national scale.
Emerging players
- Mother Tongues: Ireland-based arts organisation supporting multilingual and intercultural creative practice; Create board member Tony Fegan is a Creative Producer at Mother Tongues. Overlapping focus on collaborative practice with minority and migrant communities in Ireland.
- Clore Leadership: UK-based leadership development organisation for the cultural sector offering fellowships, training and research. Comparable in offering professional development infrastructure for cultural-sector leaders, though focused on leadership rather than collaborative arts practice.
Broad incumbents
- The Wheel: Ireland's national support body for the community and voluntary sector, offering training, resources, and policy advocacy to non-profits. Broader remit than Create, but directly comparable in terms of serving Irish non-profits with capacity-building, training and funding-access support.
- Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon: Ireland's principal public arts funding body and Create's primary funder. While not a peer in product terms, Arts Council operates as a development agency for the broader Irish arts sector, setting strategy and distributing funds — the strategic counterpart to Create's operational delivery role.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Create social profiles
Digital presenceCreate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Create leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Create funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Create M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Create
What does Create do?
Create is the national development agency for collaborative arts in Ireland, delivering programmes, training, mentoring, residencies, funding administration, advisory support, and Garda vetting services to artists, community organisations, public bodies, and academic partners. Its core offerings include the Artist in the Community Scheme, Artist Mentor Panel, Artist Residencies and Commissions, Collaborative Arts Training Programme, Networking Day, Summer School, Reading Room, and Research and Learning initiatives.
Is Create a public or private company?
Create is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Create founded?
Create was founded in 1983. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Create based?
Create is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Create make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are membership Fees and vetting Service Fees.
Who are Create's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Counterpoints Arts, Engage, Create London, Voluntary Arts and Creative Lives Ireland. Culture Action Europe is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Mother Tongues and Clore Leadership. Broad incumbents are The Wheel and Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.
Does Create have an API?
No public API is recorded for Create.
What industry is Create in?
Create's product category is Arts Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAH, Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGALAO, Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises. Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8600.