Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
138 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the commitment made in the Programme for Government to extending Culture Night to two nights a year, when the second Culture Night is due to be held. [21417/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from discussions between my Department and relevant stakeholders, including Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Temple Bar Cultural Trust and St. Patrick's Festival, it was agreed that the commitment in the Programme for Government to expand the Culture Night concept and to consider making it a twice yearly event would be best met by the designation/delivery of an International Week of Irish Culture, based around the St. Patrick’s Day Festival. This would allow for the cultivation and development of the solid foundations already in place to showcase to the world Ireland’s rich and varied cultural heritage and to promote Ireland as a destination for cultural tourists.
The initiative essentially envisages a 5-year development plan, commencing in 2012 and ultimately potentially linking with 2016 commemorations. This year, the emphasis was on:
the international launch of the "International Celebration of Irish Culture” brand abroad;
a series of programme activities based in existing cultural venues around the Merrion Square/Kildare Street areas of Dublin;
marketing the message of "I Love my City”; and
using the existing St. Patrick's Festival activity to promote Ireland and its culture, both domestically and internationally.
The initiative was well received and supported in both national and international spheres.
In addition, in further recognition of the commitment in the Programme for Government, Culture Night 2012 will be fostered and developed as a unique offering of memorable experiences, involving local arts, culture, heritage and communities, which will hopefully stimulate repeat visits to cultural attractions. Plans for the event are well underway and letters of offer of funding recently issued from my Department to locations that applied to participate in the 2012 regional event. The aim is to build on the success and popularity of Culture Night to date, which has seen the event grow from a relatively small scale cultural event staged in Dublin only in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is, with over 200,000 people in 30 locations across the island of Ireland participating in Culture Night 2011.
This year, for the first time, a smartphone/iPhone application will be developed for Culture Night in Dublin, which will allow participants to develop their own personal cultural trails around the city. It is hoped that this application will act as a platform for the possible development of other Culture Night applications in the participating regions in 2013 and beyond. I should mention that my Department is also supporting Music Day, to be held this year on 21st June.
