IMBAS  is an Irish forum for artists and scholars working within and beyond the University sector who share an interest in arts practice research, particularly in the performing arts. Drawing its inspiration from the old Irish word imbas  (often used to refer to creative, poetic and performed wisdom) it is committed to the creative of a distinctive and dynamic Irish model of arts practice research. IMBAS facilitates communication between institutions and individuals, promoting scholarly discourse and modes of practice concerning knowledge creation through performance and performance-related creative practice. Committed to ensuring that arts practice research is fully accepted and valued as an important mainstream academic discourse in Ireland, IMBAS engages in strategic and collaborative policy development within Irish Higher Education and seeks to influence the development of wider sectoral and national policy regarding performing arts and research.  The current steering group includes faculty from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick; the School of Music and Theatre, University College Cork; Drama and Theatre Studies, NUI Galway; the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies, Mary Immaculate College and the Department of Drama, Trinity College, Dublin.