Class and the Screen Industries in Ireland – the Unspoken Barriers in the Sector

This article proposes the need to widen the diversity conversation in the screen sector in Ireland to one that also considers social inequality. It closely examines the current policies of the main public funders of Ireland’s screen industries, evaluating how these approaches may unintentionally reinforce and sustain structural barriers within the sector. It presents a case study on barriers to entry conducted amongst screen industry practitioners at a professional networking event in 2024. It also draws from qualitative interviews with working class industry professionals who have sought out upskilling and further training opportunities through TU Dublin and Screen Ireland. The authors argue for the need to collect consistent and systematic data on the socio-economic backgrounds of creative workers in Ireland and recommend an intersectional research agenda that places class at its centre.