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Culture Night

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 September 2019

Thursday, 19 September 2019

Ceisteanna (277)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

277. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the events planned for Culture Night 2019 in Limerick city and county. [38184/19]

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Freagraí scríofa

Culture Night has grown from a relatively small scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is, with over 400,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres across the country on the night. I have been very impressed at the variety of events which I have been able to attend on Culture Night as Minister.  In 2018, 1,606 venues across the island of Ireland participated in Culture Night, with an attendance of 420,000. It is anticipated that attendance figures will increase in 2019.  Nationally, events are run in partnership with local authorities. Events were also held throughout Northern Ireland and overseas.    

Culture Night 2019 will take place on Friday September 20th from 4pm to11pm. Details of events in every area are available on www.culturenight.ie. This year my Department has allocated Limerick City and Council funding of €16,000 to assist with the cost of events.  This funding is provided on a matched funding basis through the local authority. In 2018, Limerick City and County hosted 93 events in 84 venues and welcomed 21,600 visitors.  

Limerick City and County are replete with cultural activity and offerings. Some of the innovative events in the Culture Night Programme for 2019 include 'Ocean Rhythms' Paintings and Music to Soothe the Soul in the Red Door Gallery in Newcastle West, traditional music in the Old Library in Kildimo, an exhibition and events considering the role of villages in Kilmallock Library, and a huge array of events throughout the City including events at St. John's Castle, Arthur's Quay and Limerick City School of Art and Design.

It should be noted that my Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, has allocated a further €220,000 to projects in the Limerick area through the Creative Ireland programme in 2018 and 2019 to support over 110 projects including arts projects, grant schemes, concerts, exhibitions, festivals and workshops among other activities. They cover topics such as archaeology, architecture, biodiversity, crafts, heritage, dance, film, history, literature, music, photography, poetry, storytelling, theatre and the visual arts. Further information is available on https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/creative-communities

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