50. Irish Enterprise Awards 2026 Based in Dublin and Kildare, Talented Kids Performing Arts School and MVW Talent Agency caters to a diverse range of young clients, aiming to create an atmosphere that feels welcoming for all, and making time for each student’s goals - whether they want to gain confidence and make new friends, or go on to win an Oscar! Founder, Maureen V Ward, tells us more about the companies and the exciting year ahead. Talented Kids Performing Arts School (Talented Kids) offers drama, singing and dance classes in both Dublin and Kildare, with many Talented Kids having joined in the Tots Class and progressing into their Teen Classes. Under the experienced lead of Maureen V Ward, the school is constantly planning ways to showcase and highlight the talent of its students, including producing original stage performances, creating short films from scratch, hosting premieres, and celebrating award wins at film festivals worldwide. On top of this, Maureen also operates the MVW Talent Agency which has been incredibly successful having seen clients cast in top productions over the years (most recently, Cillian Sullivan starred as Young Stephen Sondheim alongside Ethan Hawke in the Golden Globe and Academy Award Nominated Film ‘Blue Moon’). “There is never a dull moment,” Maureen enthuses. “And no day is the same - we never know what might pop into our mailbox next!” Standing out from the crowd and differentiating from competitors in this fierce and fast-paced industry is of the utmost importance to Maureen and the team at Talented Kids. Whilst the school’s longevity (having been running for 23 years) and list of trusted industry contacts give it the edge, it is also thanks to the high standards of training and experience from all the teachers and staff, plus the friendly, creative and collaborative environment, that the school is so successful. Maureen describes the internal culture as “special” and emphasises that every member of the team is highly valued, which often leads to many of her students returning to work at the school and agency. “Everyone comes with their own impressive set of skills and we make sure to utilise everyone’s individual experience so we get the very best from our team,” she elaborates. “We work best when we are all throwing ideas together for an upcoming show or project, that is when our creative brains are on fire! Collaboration is our strong point.” Of late, Maureen has noticed several trends emerging within the industry, which the school is embracing and adapting to. These include the inclusion of Irish language and folklore in productions, and has seen a big rise in native speakers coming forward. Likewise, Ireland has recently become a hotbed for film producers and international television companies who want to use the location for their works. Furthermore, the immense amount of talent in Ireland is becoming increasingly noticeable. Whilst only a relatively small country, Ireland has an endless supply of opportunities, from production companies Best Performing Arts Talent Agency 2026 choosing to shoot in Ireland, to the buzzing Irish arts community which is fostering a community of award-winning writers, directors and animation studios, plus exciting newcomers full of fresh ideas, meaning that there are constant opportunities for new work. “There’s an excellent creative in this country,” Maureen emphasises. “There’s lots of exciting, original work coming from Irish production teams currently, which is amazing news for our clients. Some of our alumni are also now working as filmmakers. “We adore seeing our students and clients succeed - we cheer along with every achievement, and this is what motivates us to work as hard as we can when castings and opportunities come in.” Talented Kids and MVW Talent Agency were both recognised in this year’s Irish Enterprise Awards where the title of Best Performing Arts Talent Agency 2026 was bestowed upon the companies. Now, there is already an exciting year planned as Maureen and the team are jumping into preparations for a charity show in aid of Clare’s Wish Foundation, which is set to take place in April. Contact: Maureen V Ward Company: Talented Kids Performing Arts School & MVW Talent Agency Web Address: www.maureenvwardtalentagencyireland.com / www. talentedkidsireland.com Instagram: maureen.v.ward AIS-Jan26053
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