Shaping Ireland’s Creative Future

Creative Futures Academy (CFA), a partnership between the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), University College Dublin (UCD), and the Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT), hosted its first Industry Breakfast Morning on 3 November at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Shaping Ireland’s Creative Future brought together government, higher education, and creative industry leaders to explore how Ireland can strengthen its creative economy, meet future skills needs, and sustain growth. It also marked the launch of CFA’s new strategy 2026 – 2030, outlining its vision for creative skills development, research, and innovation. 

The event was introduced by Dr. Colm O’Reardon, Secretary General of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science. We were also joined by leading voices in screen-based media and design for an energising morning of insight and discussion, including Dr. Ruth Freeman (Research Ireland), Paul Moore (Future Screens NI), and Deirdre Ní Choistín (TG4), Charlotte Barker (Institute of Designers in Ireland), John Lynch (Context Studio), Vivienne Patterson (Higher Education Authority) and Barbara Revelli (ELIA) as they explored the policy landscape, opportunities for growth, and the actions needed to strengthen Ireland’s creative future.

Find out more on the event HERE

Watch full recording of the event

Launch of new CFA Strategy 2026-2030

CFA delivers on the Government’s priorities for future skills through an extended suite of micro-credentials, supporting lifelong learning and ensuring accessibility for professionals across the creative and cultural industries and beyond.

Since its establishment in 2020, supported by €10 million in Human Capital Initiative (HCI) funding (2020–2025), CFA has achieved transformative impact across higher education and enterprise collaboration:

  • Transformed pedagogical infrastructures enabling a more responsive higher education system
  • Established a robust governance model fostering strong inter- and intra-institutional partnerships
  • Enabled credited learner mobility across institutions
  • Developed and delivered 140+ new and enhanced courses through 180 modules, engaging 5,000+ learners
  • Delivered 4,000+ enterprise collaborations, co-developing and co-delivering industry-relevant courses
  • Developed state-of-the-art facilities, including:
    • The Trapdoor Theatre and Creative Arts Lab at UCD
    • Dolby Atmos Sound Studio at IADT
    • The Walsh 3D Fabrication Facility at NCAD

CFA has also garnered significant international recognition, particularly across the EU, for its leadership in implementing micro-credentials – strengthening Ireland’s reputation within a dynamically evolving higher education landscape.

Designed for the fast-evolving creative sector, CFA’s programmes span digital technologies (including AI, AR and VR), screen, media and broadcasting, creative writing, music and performing arts, and visual and applied arts and design. As creativity becomes increasingly valued across all industries, CFA equips learners with practical, industry-relevant skills that drive innovation and growth in diverse sectors.

Read the full CFA Strategy 2026 – 2030 at link below.

Read CFA strategy