2. What’s your favourite thing about FUSE Arts?

We love that our jobs allow us to put the power of creativity into action, meet so many interesting and insanely talented creative people, make changes in people’s lives and learn something new every day!

FUSE arts was ultimately born out of the closure of the Waterside Theatre and Arts Centre in 2024 – but more importantly, it was born out of our shared passion for the arts and community. And the more and more the organisation and FUSE community develops, the more our passion grows. We just love that our jobs are something we are so passionate about.

3. Do you have any exciting creative projects/events coming up that you’d like to tell us about?

We sure do! We have a number of exciting projects and events coming up over the next few months.

We’ve just launched an open call for young people aged 15-24 to join our 2026/27 Multidisciplinary Creative Youth Programme, running from November 2026 to May 2027. This free programme offers young people the opportunity to explore different art forms, develop new skills, collaborate with other young creatives and bring their ideas to life through workshops and projects. Participants will also have the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised Bronze or Silver Arts Award qualification. You can find out more about the programme here and sign up here. This project is supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

We’re also looking forward to ‘Navigating the Creative Sector’, an event taking place at The Playhouse on Friday 27th November as part of the ‘Out & About’ PEACEPLUS project. The event will create space for open and honest conversations about life as a creative freelancer, navigating the arts sector and finding your own path. It’s also a great opportunity for creatives to connect with one another and local arts organisations, share experiences and discover potential opportunities. Keep an eye on our social media channels for further details and information on how to register.

Another exciting development is the North West Creative Network, which has just had a colourful new look thanks to Allies Studio, alongside the launch of its dedicated Instagram page, @nwcreativenetwork. The network brings creatives from across the region together to connect, collaborate and support one another, both online and through our Creative Social events. The new page is a shared space where creatives can showcase their work, promote projects and opportunities, and discover what others are doing across the North West. We’re also planning another Creative Social before the end of the year, so keep an eye on the page for details!

And, of course, Derry Halloween is just around the corner! You’ll find our Youth Dance Troupe performing their amazing Blue Guardian piece in Mute Meadows, below Ebrington Square, in the lead-up to Halloween, and you can also look out for some of our exciting creative work featured in the Derry Halloween Parade. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on!