Partnership Programmes
Alongside our own participatory arts programmes, Festival in a Van works with artists, arts organisations and community partners to bring ambitious creative projects to life. These partnerships combine artistic expertise, local knowledge and shared resources to create opportunities for participation, performance and connection.
Our partnership programmes include Living Legends and Sligo Youth Opera, two distinctive projects that demonstrate the power of collaboration in bringing creative experiences to communities.
Living Legends
Living Legends is a cross-border creative project bringing together young people from Belfast and Limerick through storytelling, myth, landscape and shared experiences. Led by Narrative 4 Ireland in partnership with R-City, Festival in a Van and NI Youth Forum, the project brought 23 young people together for artist-led workshops and residential experiences across Ireland. Through writing, storytelling, costume design and other creative activities, participants explored their identities, discovered new perspectives and built lasting friendships. The project culminated in the launch of the Living Legends Anthology in January 2026, celebrating their creativity and connections.
Sligo Youth Opera
Sligo Youth Opera is a collaborative project creating opportunities for young people to experience opera through singing, music, theatre and performance. Working with professional artists and creative partners, the project brings young voices together to develop new skills, build confidence and take part in an ambitious shared artistic experience.
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