ISACS and Culture Ireland Pitch
Pitch is a wonderful opportunity for Irish Artists to present (pitch) their shows to national and international festival programmers attending Spraoi International Street Arts Festival. You will be mentored for your presentation by experienced international arts network builders Kieran Walsh (Culture Ireland) and Lucy Medlycott (ISACS).
Pitch has been a fantastic door-opener for Irish street artists and has enabled many performers to bring their performances nationally and internationally. Here is the story of one artist who originally presented her ideas at Pitch.
PITCH CASE STUDY
How An Artist’s Idea Became Reality
by Kristyn Fontanella
‘‘Miss Mary’ was an idea back in 2023 or maybe even before that. I knew it was a solo and I knew I wanted to explore my Irish dance lineage, but the show only existed in my head.
Being a member of ISACS since 2020, I’ve learnt to grab opportunities when they are placed in front of you. So I took a leap of faith with the support of Lucy and her team, and mentored by Kieran Walsh of Culture Ireland, I pitched my idea at Spraoi in 2024 to a room full of promoters, festival directors and other artists.
This was terrifying because I didn’t actually have a completed piece of work yet, but I knew it was there somewhere. So being in front of an audience, I turned on my performance and sold a show that didn’t exist yet.
After PITCH, I continued to work with Joan Catalan and KAMCHATKA through the IRIS residency supported by Cairde and Earagail Arts Festivals, ISACS and Fira Tarrega. The idea was becoming clearer and I finalised the solo through the 2025 Bealtaine Touring Award and premiered it to a small crowd in the rain in Roscommon town centre.
Again, with the support and gentle nudge from ISACS, I took another leap of faith and applied to the Irish Showcase at Fira Tarrega. I was accepted and supported by Culture Ireland to present this solo work to a huge audience from all over the world across the 4-day festival.
This was the best decision I have made for my work, because since then my 2026 tour has over 40 performances and 2027 is beginning to fill up as well.
I highly recommend to any artist to present your work at PITCH during Spraoi Festival. You will receive amazing mentoring and guidance from Culture Ireland and ISACS. Their support will give you confidence to pitch ideas and performances to international bookers. This year I am thrilled to be performing ‘Miss Mary’ on Spraoi weekend. It is full proof of an artist’s idea being transformed into reality.
To apply for PITCH 2026 Click: ISACS & Culture Ireland | pitch Call Out at Spraoi Festival 2026 – ISACS
