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Culture Crush 2024: Reflections on a day of inspiration, connection and collaboration

December 4, 20249 minute read

Last week, we wrapped up Culture Crush 2024, a one-day event that explored the intricacies, challenges, and beauty of collaboration. With a diverse line-up of speakers, performers, and panellists, the day was an honest and open exploration of what happens when creative minds come together.

This year’s theme, Collaboration, provided an all too relatable framework for the discussions which ranged from how to find the right artistic partnerships to the nuances of managing risk and failure. Each session, performance, and talk offered a unique perspective on what it means to work together in an ever-evolving creative landscape.

Here’s a detailed look back at this unforgettable event:


A Warm Welcome and Setting the Tone

Our day began with the wonderful Sharon Mannion, whose humour and warmth immediately set an inclusive and uplifting tone. Acting as our MC, Sharon seamlessly guided us through the day, weaving connections between sessions and sparking laughter at just the right moments.

One of the unexpected highlights of the day was the presence of Elżbieta Cichocka, our sign language interpreter, whose incredible energy and skill amplified every talk, panel, and performance. Ela’s role wasn’t just functional; she became an integral part of the event, embodying the very spirit of collaboration. We along with everyone else enjoyed the double act that became Sharon and Ela!


An Electrifying Start: Eimear Noone and Craig Garfinkle’s Musical Journey

The opening performance by celebrated wife and husband duo composer Eimear Noone and producer Craig Stuart Garfinkle, was a masterclass in creative synergy. Using a clip from The Canterville Ghost, they walked us through their collaborative process, from conceptualising the musical requirements for the project, through to laying the final score to picture.

The performance ended with a live orchestral segment conducted by Eimear herself, demonstrating how music transforms animated content into an emotional journey. This segment was designed to highlight that true collaboration is as much about listening and adapting as it is about leading and creating.


Seed Talk: Jess Majekodunmi on the Emotional Arcs of Collaboration

Jess Majekodunmi delivered a thought-provoking talk titled “Which Way Is Up: Shaping Better Collaborations”. Drawing on her work with the Human Sciences Studio, she likened collaborations to Kurt Vonnegut’s narrative arcs, highlighting the emotional highs and lows that define every partnership.

Jess introduced four common collaboration arcs:

  • The Creation Story: Serendipity meets strategy: using an example of two CEOs whose strategic decision making led to the successful bringing together of both of their capabilities.
  • Getting out of a Hole: Overcoming the BIG obstacles: when everything started great with a great willingness to work with each other. Then in moving from vision to execution energy dipped, frustration rose and the collaboration stopped. This is a story of how to get through that bad time so that the energy will flow again.
  • Two Roads Diverge: Using another partnership example, this story demonstrated that even with the best intentions and even with the most worthwhile purpose, misaligned visions can lead to the collapse of a project.
  • Which Way is Up?: A chaotic journey marked by power imbalances and uncertainty.

Jess’s insights into the critical factors for success (including informal connections, boundary spanners and collaborative resilience) underscored that collaboration is a skill that can take time to hone. It can be improved upon, learned and practiced. Jess left us with the question: What is the story of our collaborations today, and what story do we want to write together?


Panel: This is EPIC!

Moderated by Sheila De Courcy, this panel brought together an impressive group of creatives to discuss the realities of working on EPIC projects: Jess Majekodunmi, Eimear Noone, Curtis Jobling, and Des O’Leary. Their lively discussion explored the importance of ego management, the need for flexibility, and the art of blending individual strengths into a collective vision.

Highlights included:

  • Des O’Leary emphasising the value of partnering with people who excel in their fields.
  • Curtis Jobling’s reflections on the role of personal connections in building trust.
  • Eimear Noone’s experiences adapting to the evolving needs of creative projects.
  • Jess Majekodunmi’s value for humility, openness, and flexibility when working with others.

The panel reinforced that while creativity can thrive on chaos, establishing structures and trust is vital to turning ideas into impactful outcomes.


Break and Networking

Supported by Minding Creative Minds, the morning break provided attendees the chance to connect, share ideas, and reflect on the sessions so far.


Panel: Under the Radar – Unseen & Unheard

This panel, moderated by Derek O’Connor, shone a spotlight on the often-overlooked creatives shaping our cultural landscape. Steve Fanagan (sound design), Jill Beecher (production design), Ed Bruce (VFX), and Colm Mac Con Iomaire (composer) shared insights into their behind-the-scenes roles.

Key insights included:

  • Steve Fanagan emphasised the importance of understanding a director’s vision and interpreting emotional tones to create a cohesive story.
  • Ed Bruce highlighted the balance between creativity and structure while navigating commercial pressures.
  • Jill Beecher shared how building strong relationships fosters productive collaborations, especially in high-stakes environments.
  • Colm Mac Con Iomaire reflected on the freedom of working across diverse projects and how passion fuels creative partnerships.

The panel also discussed overcoming challenges, maintaining enthusiasm, and fostering talent. They concluded that the best collaborations are invisible to the audience, always of service to the story without drawing attention to individual contributions. This session was a powerful tribute to the unseen artists who elevate storytelling through their craft.


Performance: Colm Mac Con Iomaire

Before lunch, Colm also delighted the audience with his solo (aka poor man’s quintet!) performances which included a stunning recital of Emer’s Dream. He shared insight to his creative process for each of the compositions with openness and heartfelt sincerity. His stories highlighted the importance of human connections, and how music can be a time capsule for a place, a person, or a feeling… blending together life experiences to produce something quite magical.


Seed Talk: Lynn Scarff – Collaboration: Exploring Unspoken Hierarchies

Lynn Scarff, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, delivered a compelling talk on the challenges and transformative potential of collaboration. She highlighted how unspoken institutional hierarchies shape outcomes, often hindering efforts to include diverse voices. Drawing from her work, Lynn illustrated how initiatives like artist residencies and community-led exhibitions redefined the museum as a space of “sanctuary and surprise,” fostering inclusivity and relevance.

Lynn emphasised that true collaboration is messy and requires valuing the process as much as the result. She encouraged addressing power dynamics, centering lived experiences, and embracing non-linear journeys to achieve meaningful outcomes. Her takeaway: Collaboration is imperfect, but by leaning into discomfort, we create space for authentic connection and innovation.


Panel: Risk, Reward & The Value of Failure

Failure was redefined as a catalyst for growth in this panel moderated by Aoife Barry. Panelists Anna Nolan, Felispeaks, Jennifer Jennings, Dylan Haskins and Lynn Scarff, shared stories of setbacks that ultimately shaped their creative journeys.

Key moments included:

  • Felispeaks’ recounting a project that failed due to logistical oversights, leading to profound lessons in preparation and trust.
  • Anna Nolan’s reflections on rejection as a tool for refining ideas.
  • Jennifer Jennings’ reminder that even successful projects require constant nurturing to avoid stagnation.
  • Lynn framed failure as a spectrum, emphasising trust-building and calculated risks within institutional settings.
  • Dylan’s anecdote illustrated the importance of flexibility and openness to taking your “failed” ideas in new directions.

The conversation also touched upon the societal implications of failure, particularly concerning who gets to take risks. Felispeaks articulated the heavy burden of representation that some creators bear, where failure may not only impact them but also the perceptions of entire communities. This dynamic adds another layer of complexity to the already daunting task of creative expression.

Each panelist underscored the importance of resilience, collaboration, and the willingness to embrace uncertainty. They collectively acknowledged that while the fear of failure is real, it is often through these challenging moments that the most significant growth occurs.


Seed Talk: Karen Palmer on Worldbuilding Through Collaboration

In her talk, Karen Palmer took us on a journey into the future, exploring how collaboration drives innovation in storytelling and AI. Her projects, such as the emotion-reactive interactive film Riot (the film that watches you back!), showcased the power of interdisciplinary partnerships.

Palmer encourages the audience to be intentional in their search for collaborators and to remain open to diverse perspectives, noting her experience in creating “Hack the Future Labs” that gather a variety of experts to envision a better future.


Panel: Worldbuilding

Moderated by Rick O’Shea, the final panel of the day explored the creative and technical aspects of worldbuilding across mediums like gaming, animation, and immersive experiences.

Key themes included:

  • Collaboration as a core element: Panelists emphasised teamwork – in particular Lawrence Schick also adding another layer to the conversation based on his extensive work writing role-playing games, where players’ choices shape the narrative.
  • Interdisciplinary Synergy: Karen Palmer shared how working with computer science students enriched her storytelling through innovative AI integration.
  • Balancing Fluidity and Structure: Craig Stuart Garfinkle discussed that by the time a project reaches them, it could be years in development already, and how he will balance aligning with established creative visions, but remain flexible enough to adapt if the brief suddenly changes.
  • Audience Engagement: Pat Conran discussed the challenges of immersive experiences, where creators must capture and maintain audience engagement in real-time. He also discussed the emerging possibilities of mixed reality and how they can enhance the narrative experience by blending digital and physical environments.

The conversation highlighted the fluid, iterative nature of creating large scale worlds from scratch, the role of technology, and the vital participation of audiences. It concluded with a reminder that successful worldbuilding is a collaborative journey blending creativity, vision, and interaction.


Closing Moments: FELISPEAKS Performance

The day ended on a powerful note with Felispeaks’ poetic performance. Weaving their selection of poems (All the Things I wish I didn’t know, Green Lady, THEY) through the story of growing up in Longford before moving to Dublin, they tackled head-on issues of mental health, social challenges, and personal resilience, leaving the audience captivated. Their honesty and bravery embodied the essence of truth-telling in art.


Finally, attendees gathered for a networking session, energised by the day’s insights and eager to turn inspiration into action.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Culture Crush 2024 was a shared journey into the heart of collaboration. It reminded us that while partnerships can be messy, they’re also transformative. Whether through art, storytelling, or conversation, collaboration allows us to create something greater than ourselves.

We’re already counting down to the next event! Until then, let’s continue to embrace the magic of working together.

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