merrion street

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, has this evening congratulated Galway 2020 on the recommendation by the Expert Advisory Panel for the award by the European Commission of the Melina Mercouri Prize of €1.5 million to Galway as European Capital of Culture next year. The Minister said:

The recommendation of the award of the Melina Mercouri Prize to Galway 2020 is a wonderful endorsement of the work by the team at Galway 2020 in developing a strong European focussed programme for the European Capital of Culture in Galway next year. Galway 2020, along with  the communities in the City and County, have grasped this once in a lifetime opportunity to  develop a cultural programme that will excite, enthral and reach out to people at home and abroad to come share in the many events that will take place as part of next year’s Capital of Culture.

I want to extend my congratulations to Galway 2020.

The Expert Advisory Panel announced its recommendation for the award of the prestigious prize this evening at the culmination of the scheduled third and final monitoring meeting of Galway 2020 by the Commission and Expert Advisory Panel, held over the past two days in Galway. The decision to award the prize is based on the positive recommendation of the Expert Advisory Panel that preparations for the Capital of Culture are on track. Key indicators for a recommendation include a wide-reaching and multi-faceted cultural programme, incorporating a significant European dimension, as well as strong community engagement and participation in the preparations for the Capital of Culture, which will also help to contribute to enhanced long-term cultural development by the holder.

The Government has committed €15 million in funding to Galway 2020, the bulk of which is paid over 2019 and 2020. Ireland’s participation in the EU Capital of Culture is a strong statement of how much Ireland values its place in Europe and its membership of the EU, as well as fitting one of the key aims of Global Ireland to increase our cultural presence internationally.