Muireann O Sullivan, MA Cultural Policy & Arts Management ‘18

"Shortly after completing the MA, I moved to New York on the J-1 Graduate Visa and started at Pace Gallery as Operations Coordinator of their Midtown location. Prior to this, I worked at the Glucksman Gallery, the Crawford Art Gallery and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. My year spent in New York was one of the most exciting of my life to date, and whilst it wasn’t without its challenges, the learnings from the MA made adapting to work life in such a fast-paced environment that much easier. Given the scale of the organisation, time management, communication and collaboration were key. All of which were enhanced during my time studying at UCD.

As we all know, life changed very suddenly in 2020, so I found myself back in Ireland in a sector that had all but shut down. With very few job opportunities on the horizon, I began freelancing. I now manage my own production company, MOS Arts Management, which is responsible for several city-wide events, including Culture Night Dublin, Dublin Lunar New Year, Creative Places Darndale and Lá Mór na Gaeilge. I was nervous setting out on my own but I had developed a strong network during the MA which was key to getting my business off the ground. My advice to students would be to build connections and develop your network. Don’t be afraid to reach out to those in positions you admire and invite them for a coffee to learn about how they got to where they are today."

Many graduates seek careers that create social impact, but don’t know where to start. The For Purpose Social Impact Graduate Programme connects graduates with nonprofit, charity and social enterprise organisations. We recruit graduates for a range of paid roles in disciplines including law, social sciences, fundraising, communications, housing, and more.

As part of our programme, you will be paired with a Mentor to guide you along your graduate journey. We also facilitate monthly learning seminars, so you can meet other graduates in similar positions. Our aim is to support you at the beginning of your graduate career. We would encourage you to be yourself and give specific reasons why you are interested in the non-profit sector using a variety of examples, including any voluntary experience.