Anna Newell
The Network for Extraordinary Audiences is ten Irish venues coming together to commit strategically and in the long-term to programming, developing and advocating for high quality arts experiences for underserved younger audiences, including babies, early years and children/young people with complex needs as a key part of their ongoing year-round programme.
It is initially a formalisation of Anna’s relationships with these venues, all of whom have, variously programmed, supported, commissioned, developed and/or produced her work for these underserved audiences.
It aims not simply to programme this work as a network but to develop work locally that could have the potential to tour nationally. This would create a coherent national network of artists making work for these audiences with strategic and ongoing bespoke mentoring in collaboration with Anna. Such collaboration will ensure that this work is of the highest quality possible and will build both local and national connections with organisations that engage with those who live and work with these audiences to ensure that the work engages parents/caregivers who might not necessarily ordinarily access the arts.
We believe in the fundamental human right of every child to high quality arts experiences, however young or however profoundly disabled they might be perceived to be; and to arts experiences that connect with them in the unique ways in which they engage with the world.
Extraordinary audiences deserve extraordinary art. And, we believe, engaging with these unique audiences with rigour, curiosity and joy produces extraordinary art.
