On June 8th CFA will host a Sandpit event. The event is intended to accelerate the process for activities taking place as part of the Communities of Practice Fund. This replaces the current CoP process. 

The event is open to anyone who wishes to share knowledge, develop a collaborative project and get to know colleagues across NCAD, IADT and UCD. No prior knowledge of other participants or existing projects is required. The Sandpit is designed to match-make teams. All you need is an idea for collaboration and to share your areas of interest when registering, which we will share with participants ahead of the day.

Funding of up to €5,000 is available for eligible pitches, with a total fund of up to €20,000. Projects must be completed by 31st December 2026. 

What we’re looking to fund

CFA’s Communities of Practice Fund supports collaborative projects that advance the goals of CFA’s 2026 – 2030 Strategy. Proposals that emerge from the Sandpit should aim to contribute meaningfully to one or more of the following CFA strategic priorities:

• Cross-institutional teaching and learning – projects that foster new pedagogical models or learning experiences across NCAD, IADT and UCD.
• Industry engagement – projects that strengthen connections between higher education and Ireland’s Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI), building skills relevant to the sector.
• Student focus and lifelong learning –  projects that enhance the student experience, support career development, or create new pathways for learners at any stage of their career.
• Research and advocacy – projects that generate knowledge, evidence or public engagement that advance the case for the CCI sector.
• Additionality and sustainability – projects that create value beyond the existing activities of any single partner institution, and that could attract further investment or be sustained beyond the funding period.

How pitches will be evaluated

An expert panel will assess pitches at the end of the Sandpit session. Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Alignment with CFA’s strategic objectives – does the proposal clearly advance one or more of CFA’s 2026–2030 priority areas?
• Genuine cross-institutional collaboration – does the team involve meaningful participation from more than one of the three partner institutions?
• Feasibility and deliverability – is there a clear, realistic plan for delivering the project by the end of 2026?
• Impact and potential – what tangible benefit will the project bring to participants, the partner institutions, or the wider CCI sector?
• Additionality – does the project complement, rather than duplicate, existing activities at the partner institutions?

The Sandpit session will run over an afternoon in NCAD and aims to surface ideas and proposals that can be undertaken up to the end of 2026. This will be a structured process, and full details will be shared at the event. Bring an idea (no prior project or team needed) and connect with colleagues to develop a proposal.

Following the Sandpit session, collaborative teams will be invited to pitch their ideas to an expert panel. There will be guided tours of the NCAD Graduate Exhibition available while the panel discusses pitches. The sandpit teams will reconvene following the graduate tours for some nibbles and drinks and the announcement of successful pitches. 

Schedule: 

1.00 – Arrival and light lunch

1.30 – Briefing

1.45 – Idea Generation and Team Formation

3.45 – Pitches to Panel

4.15 – NCAD Graduate Exhibition tours

5.30 – Nibbles, drinks and announcements

Places are limited and this event is only open to staff in IADT, UCD and NCAD.

Book your place HERE.