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A rise in the number of in-person events is planned for this year’s Culture Night after last year’s largely virtual affair.
The 2021 programme has hundreds of events scheduled for Friday September 17th, involving architecture, comedy, circus, dance, film, literature, museums and music.
Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly said she was hopeful restrictions would be eased further next month. “I hope it will be a major signal to allow people to enjoy live, in-person events again.
“This is the 16th edition of Culture Night. It’s the Arts Council’s second year being in stewardship of it,” she noted, and because of where Ireland was with the pandemic “this year, it’s more important than ever”.
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The Government has signalled plans to publish a roadmap at the end of August for the further easing of restrictions.
Ms Kennelly said the arts had played a pivotal role in helping people get through Covid lockdowns. “They’ve kept us company . . . the arts landscape is essential to our lives.”
Asylum photography
Inclusion would be an important theme for this year, according to the organisers.
A photography exhibition called Distant Hill, which will showcase the work of people seeking asylum, will take place outdoors in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Visual artist and activist Vukašin Nedeljkovic has facilitated photography workshops in the Marian Hostel, a local direct provision centre.
The workshop participants have taken a series of images that explore identity, their current circumstances and the potential of new horizons.
“That should be quite arresting in terms of getting a snapshot of contemporary Ireland,” said Ms Kennelly.
In Tralee, Co Kerry, The Welcoming Project has created a new dance film about culture, community and resilience.
‘Wonderful evening’
Half of the cast are either living in direct provision or have been through the system.
“We want to show life as it is lived in contemporary Ireland now. There are events for all ages, and events all over Ireland,” she said.
As part of the work of the Night-time Economy Taskforce, the Arts Council will also pilot a number of late-night events in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts Catherine Martin said: “Every year this wonderful evening of festivities gets bigger and brighter and organisers have met the challenges posed by public health restrictions head-on by developing an innovative and accessible programme.”
To see the full list of events see culturenight.ie