Testimonials – Consultant – Arts, Culture and Creative Industries

I have known John for over 30 years as a colleague, collaborator and friend. We have worked together on theatre productions; collaborated on consultancy projects; and co-taught arts and management modules at UCD. I have found him to be a constant source of creative insight particularly in relation to big gnarly complex issues. John isn’t afraid to think dangerous thoughts and he is gifted at framing those thoughts into inspiring questions. And the answer to every question you can throw back at him? Is always Yes! Hire him.

Dr. Annette Clancy – Director of the MA in Cultural Policy & Arts Management Assistant Professor of Management at UCD School of Art History & Cultural Policy

John’s precision of thought, analysis and research is second to none. He combines rigor with a fluidity of thought and huge interest and empathy in his work. His combination of academic and artistic methodologies leads to work that is rounded, incisive and has direction. I would highly recommend

Mark O’Brien – Artistic Director / Chief Executive Officer at Axis Ballymun

John is one of the great thinkers in Arts Culture and Creativity

Ray Yeates – Arts Officer Dublin City Council

“Superb course…for artists/entrepreneurs/admin folk on the business of creativity from John O’Brien”

Dr. Annette Clancy, Arts Consultant and Lecturer, UCD.

“I found the course to be both interesting and comprehensive…There is a lot in it and I will have to review it several times to get the most out of it…however , it has already proven to be valuable to me.

I would recommend it to anyone with a small Arts based business.”

Des Hanrahan – Theatre Director and Producer

“… hugely informative… it was all valuable… As an entrepreneur you are likely to be at the head of many of your projects and in that position it is better to have an overall impression of what’s required than to have expertise in a fraction of the areas… I’ve come away from the course excited about all the things I will have a good handle on.”

Adam Cullen – Composer and Film Maker

“…revolutionary ideas about how artists can manage and sustain their careers. He was a generous, passionate, innovative teacher…really keen to connect with everyone’s ideas and to help them personally. I would recommend this course to anyone in any artistic walk of life”.

Christianne O’Mahony – Writer, Stand-Up Comic and Actor

“Anyone who knows John O’Brien knows that this course is a must” – Stuart Roche, Award winning writer and actor”.

Stuart Roche – Playwright and Actor

“It made me realise I am not insane to do what I do… brings huge clarity to everything you CAN do to make a good career…HUGELY empowering… makes you get behind your ideas, aims and projects if they are big… I wish it was part of any artistic course ever made to be honest. What can I say? It’s f***ing genius”