The ISACS Network is delighted to present the international guests who will be attending St. Patrick’s Day Festival thanks to Culture Ireland.
We are thrilled to welcome Fanaando Fan Dongkai (Chingay Festival, Singapore), Marta Barceló (Festival Ciclop, Mallorca), Lucija Strunjaš & Aljoša Matović (European Capital of Culture Nikšić 2030, Monte Negro).
They will spend the weekend attending events across the St. Patrick’s Festival programme, with opportunities to experience ISACS members’ performances throughout the city. We encourage our members to greet our guests, make introductions, and begin building meaningful professional relationships for future collaboration.
On Tuesday, our guests will attend the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade in Dublin, where they will witness the spectacle-makers and performers who form the creative heart of the parade.
To learn more about our guests, check out their bios below.
Fanaando Fan Dongkai – Artistic Director of Singapore’s iconic Chingay Parade, where since 1992 he has shaped its artistic language and, from 2000 onward, guided its evolution into a vibrant platform for multicultural creativity and community expression. Trained under renowned ballet master Ben Stevenson, Fan brings a deep understanding of movement and large-scale storytelling to his internationally presented work. His artistic vision champions public celebration as a space for cultural dialogue, a philosophy central to his leadership of Chingay. In 2012, he also served as Creative Director of Singapore’s National Day Parade, contributing to the nation’s most significant annual celebration.
Marta Barceló – Born in Mallorca, she is the co-founder of C.IN.E., a creation space in Sineu, and Festival Ciclop, both established with Biel Jordà in 2016. A graduate of the Institut del Teatre in Barcelona and The Circus Space in London, she co-founded the company Res de Res, creating award-winning circus-theatre works such as Icars, Mara, Tempo, Maria?, and (remor), the latter winning the Total Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012. Her productions have toured internationally, earning multiple MAX Award nominations, while her dramaturgy has received several accolades, with plays translated into multiple languages and premiered across Europe.
Lucija Strunjaš – Montenegrin philologist specialising in French language and literature, with professional experience in culture, public relations, and international cooperation. Educated at the University of Montenegro and through an ERASMUS+ exchange in Granada, she has contributed to numerous cultural programs as a moderator, coordinator, and reporting officer at the National Library “Njegoš,” and collaborated with the French Institute of Montenegro on language and cultural workshops. Since 2024, she has served as PR Manager for International Relations for the European Capital of Culture Nikšić 2030, where she oversees international partnerships and strategic cultural communication.
Aljoša Matović – Montenegrin sociologist with experience in education, community engagement, and cultural project management. A top-performing graduate of the University of Montenegro, he taught sociology at the Secondary School of Economics in Nikšić, supporting students’ academic and critical development. In 2025, he joined the Nikšić European Capital of Culture 2030 team as Outreach Manager, where he develops strategies to strengthen community participation and coordinates with local institutions and cultural organisations. He is recognised for his strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills, with professional proficiency in English.