Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland will host a discussion in Dublin this week aimed at exploring the role the arts could play in a united Ireland.

The event, titled “The Arts in a New Ireland,” takes place on Thursday 18 June at 1pm in the Seán O’Casey Centre, East Wall. Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald will deliver the opening address.

The discussion will be chaired by Vanessa Fielding, CEO and Artistic Director at the Complex. Panellists include fashion designer and artist Sara O’Neill, actor and producer Tony Devlin, and DJ and cultural organiser Robbie Kitt. The session is designed to be interactive, allowing both panellists and audience members to contribute their views on future constitutional arrangements.

Ms McDonald said the event would examine how the arts community can contribute to the growing conversation on Irish unity. She outlined several potential advantages of constitutional change for the sector, including maximising all-island cooperation, developing a coherent island-wide strategy for arts and culture, reducing barriers for artists and organisations, and providing equal funding opportunities.

She added that planning for Ireland’s future is a core responsibility of political leaders in both the Irish and British governments, and that the process must be open, inclusive and honest.

The event is part of the Sinn Féin Commission’s work to plan for what a new and united Ireland could look like. Members of the public can register to attend via Eventbrite.