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Ireland’s Cultural Programme for European Presidency launched
Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan and European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton today formally launched the full Cultural Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The programme – Culture Connects – led by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, incorporates approximately 400 events taking place in Ireland and across the European Union. The programme draws together the Culture Ireland Division of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Arts Council, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Office of Public Works, and Ireland’s cultural institutions and organisations.
Culture Connects will see Irish and European artists taking part in a wide range of events at home and abroad and is a key element of Ireland’s plans to celebrate the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The programme will run in tandem with the Presidency until the end of June 2013.
Launching Culture Connects, Minister Deenihan said:
Our music, dance, art and literature are known the world over, and rightly so. Through the cultural programme that we are launching today, I believe that Ireland has an opportunity to bring our arts and culture to both new and existing audiences across Europe, and this can only be good for our artists and for our country. Ireland’s arts and culture are our international calling card. Culture Connects puts the best of Ireland on the national and European stage.
Minister Creighton said:
Through the scores of events happening all across this country, and across the European Union, our Programme will make the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union visible and tangible to the public at home and abroad. The range of diversity of events that are planned mean there is something that every person can draw from this programme. By supporting community groups and local arts projects this innovative programme will involve every county in Ireland and bring the best of Irish and European culture to Irish people.
Read the full press release here.