Irish Baroque Orchestra - Strategic Plan 2021-2025 - Reimagining Our Culture

FOREWORD For the past 25 years the Irish Baroque Orchestra has occupied a special place in Ireland’s rich arts landscape. Its voice is truly unique, offering a window to the sounds of the past, firing the imagination of audiences today and prompting deeper reflections on Ireland’s own classical music heritage. Using Handel‘s 1742 visit to Dublin as a focal point, we endeavour to rediscover the soundscape of 18th century Ireland, using scholarship and experimentation to share new insights into the fascinating musical personalities who immigrated to and emigrated from Ireland in the ‘Golden Age’ of the 18th century. Enriched by intriguing stories, original source material and the musical excellence of its players, the IBO’s programming is bold, distinctive – and uniquely Irish. With artistic excellence at the very heart of what we do, our work enlightens and reconnects our audiences to centuries of the interaction Ireland has had with mainstream European Art Music – and in turn surprises and educates the world about Ireland’s unique and colourful contributions to the genre. This strategy sets out key priorities for the organisation as it moves into a new, transformational chapter of its development. Reflected in this ambitious document is the importance of the orchestra’s contribution to Ireland’s arts scene, and a sense of the potential for reimagining how it can use its voice. Whether entertaining live audiences, educating young people, inspiring digital followers or advocating for Irish classical music on an international stage, this strategy ensures that the organisation challenges the very definition of an orchestra and reframes it in a way that is dynamic, entertaining and inspiring. This vision reverberates throughout our new strategy, and we look forward to making it manifest over the coming years. Peter Whelan, Artistic Director and Aliye Cornish Moore, Chief Executive Officer IRISH BAROQUE ORCHESTRA REIMAGINING OUR CULTURE STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2025 03