Published on 

Irish Artists Build Connections at the 2019 Edinburgh Festivals

Culture Ireland will host a Networking Event at the Edinburgh Festivals this week, part of its annual Edinburgh Showcase Programme aimed at raising the global profile of Irish artists.

Nine Irish theatre and dance productions are being supported by Culture Ireland of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to present their work over the month of August at the Edinburgh International Festivals this year. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is also supported by Culture Ireland to present a range of Irish writers. This year’s roster highlights the strong crop of Irish writers including Kevin Barry, recently longlisted for Booker Prize, Sinead Gleeson, Nicole Flattery and Ian Maleney.

As well as supporting Irish artists performing at the festival, Culture Ireland will host an industry event which gives Irish artists have an important opportunity to meet and interact with festival and venue presenters, producers and promoters. It is a key moment in the showcase programme which has an excellent track record of creating new international touring contracts for Irish artists globally.  This year’s event will take place in The Hub, headquarters of the International Festival on Wednesday 21 August and will be attended by programmers from across Europe, the US, New Zealand and Australia as well as key British programmers.

Also in attendance will be some of the artists who have been already received critical recognition at this year’s festival including Irish playwright and actor, Pat Kinevane who was awarded the highly coveted Herald Archangel Awards earlier this month. This most prestigious award of the Festivals recognises sustained artistic contribution to the Edinburgh Festivals over a number of years. Before, the fourth in a series of one-man performances by Pat Kinevane was created in partnership with the Irish new writing company Fishamble and directed by Jim Culleton and is presented by Dance Base as part of this year’s festival programme.

Also achieving success in Edinburgh this year with the award of a Fringe First and a Herald Angel is The Patient Gloria by Gina Moxley, presented by The Abbey Theatre in association with Pan Pan Theatre Company at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. Full information on the programme is available here (ISSUU Version) and here(Downloadable).

Christine Sisk, Director of Culture Ireland said that

Presentation at the Edinburgh Festivals offers artists a chance to reach new audiences including programmers who are seeking work for their festivals and venues globally. Year on year it has resulted in touring contracts for Irish artists, sustaining their careers and extending their reach worldwide.