WHAT WE DO

Cultural & heritage strategy for complex places

We co-design inclusive and ambitious strategic plans, blueprints, or approaches that guide cultural development.

We dream up and develop magical one off gatherings and sustained programmes that are guided by people and place.

We share our unique knowledge, perspective, and critical thinking to ensure your plans and projects are clear, connected, and focused.

HOW WE DO IT

We use collaborative research and creative placemaking to understand places as they are lived and experienced.

By working closely with communities, practitioners and partners, we help translate insight into clear strategic direction.

WHO WE ARE

Amberlea Neely is the Founder and Director of Starling Start, a consultancy renowned for its excellence in managing and delivering transformative, creative, and strategic projects.

With 20 years of experience in the sector, she has cultivated an extensive network of professional connections, ensuring that every project benefits from unparalleled expertise and insight.

WHO WE WORK WITH

We work with organisations and partnerships across culture, heritage, people and place.

Our collaborators include local authorities, cultural and heritage organisations, funders, developers, artists, architects, designers, educators and community partners, working across the island of Ireland.

Clients and collaborators include:

Armagh City, Banbridge, Craigavon Borough Council

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Belfast Charitable Society

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Belfast City Council

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Belfast Stories

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Department of Justice

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Galway Culture Company

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Mid Ulster District Council

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Queen's University Belfast

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British Council

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Studio idir

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Arts Council Northern Ireland

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Royal Society of Ulster Architects

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Ulster Orchestra

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The Playhouse, Derry

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Armagh City, Banbridge, Craigavon Borough Council | Belfast Charitable Society | Belfast City Council | Belfast Stories | Department of Justice | Galway Culture Company | Mid Ulster District Council | Queen's University Belfast | British Council | Studio idir | Arts Council Northern Ireland | Royal Society of Ulster Architects | Ulster Orchestra | The Playhouse, Derry |

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

  • Amberlea’s professionalism and dedication, her careful facilitation throughout the project resulted in not just the full delivery of the feasibility study, but of careful and meaningful partnerships and relationships that will last a lifetime.

    MARILYN GAUGHAN-REDDAN
    – CHIEF EXECUTIVE –
    GALWAY CULTURE COMPANY

  • Amberlea’s knowledge of and experience in placemaking and the role of culture in social and economic development along with her network connections in these areas were extremely valuable to our process.

    JILL McENEANEY
    – ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE MANAGER –
    ARMAGH CITY, BANBRIDGE AND CRAIGAVON BOROUGH COUNCIL

  • Amberlea’s practical approach to seminar tasks helped to solidify understanding of key concepts in a way that felt useful for professional development.

    STUDENT
    – MA ARTS MANAGEMENT –
    QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST

  • "Strengths include: the rigour and ambition of their city-wide mapping of the alleys; their creative, co-designed responses to alleyway problems; the combining of design, programmed events, and collaborations with artists, activists and researchers."

    JULIE TOMLIN
    NECESSITY (SHED)

  • "We had great feedback on the event and lots of engaged conversation the whole night."

    CHRIS MCCRACKEN
    – MANAGING DIRECTOR –
    LINEN QUARTER BID

  • "The bid was seen as one of the strongest in terms of its creative approach to programming and the vision was articulated passionately. The detail provided was extremely thorough, and the ideas drew on the heritage and assets unique to the area."

    UK CITY OF CULTURE PANEL

  • "The approach taken to community engagement and the generation of new ideas was very refreshing."

    MICHAEL MCAVOY
    – HEAD OF INTERFACES –
    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE