Trinity College, Dublin, and the Royal Irish Academy of Dublin, are planning a new partnership, with the objective to ‘develop an internationally renowned centre of excellence in the performing arts’. The plans are the result of the Higher Education Authority’s report on the future of third level education in Ireland.

Under the proposed move, the RIAM would become an ‘Associated College’ of TCD, similar to the Marino Institute Education or the Church of Ireland College of Education. The proposal has yet to pass through the final stage — ratification by the University Council — but it is expected that the new ties will also involve the new Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art, and would see TCD playing a part in a number of areas at the RIAM, including accreditation, programme design, recruitment and teaching.

The TCD School of Music and the RIAM, together with the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, have been working together for many years through the provision of the Bachelor of Music Education Degree, but otherwise the two institutions have been largely independent entities, despite their geographic proximity. Under the proposed association, TCD is planning to offer new Masters in Music Education and Doctorate of Music Education programmes.

Patrick Prendergast, Provost of TCD, said, the move would ‘enhance Ireland’s reputation as a force in the creative arts’ and that both TCD and the RIAM have ‘the experience, history and credibility to grow together organically’.

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