Friday 21st September – Nationwide night of Culture
Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht today (Wednesday 15th August) launched the programme for Culture Night 2012 which will take place nationwide on Friday 21st September. Culture Night, which has been held every year since 2006, is based on similar cultural events held in Europe and other cities called "White Nights" due to the fact that the buildings are lit up for the evening of the event. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations, including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours and are free of charge.
This year, the Culture Night programme launch is being held in Cork, the first time that the programme launch has been held outside Dublin. Such an initiative truly demonstrates how the event has grown from a relatively small scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it is now.
Commenting on the programme launch, Minister Deenihan said "Culture Night plays a critical role in terms of increasing and improving the public's access to culture and the arts. It is a night for people of all ages to sample and connect with the cultural delights in their area and remind them that these venues are open all year round, not only on Culture Night."
The 2012 event will feature a record 34 participating locations, making it the biggest and most extensive Culture Night to date. Amongst the new locations participation this year are Limerick County, Galway County and North Tipperary and 2012 also sees the welcome return of some locations which have previously been involved but were absent last year such as Sligo and Roscommon.
From live music, interactive workshops and gallery tours to talks, drama, dance and a vast choice of other creative activities, Culture Night offers a cultural form to appeal to all tastes. Live Sketchbook workshop at Cork's Glucksman Gallery, Culture Night concert at the Hawks Well Theatre, Sligo, Culinary Culture at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny, Druid Murphy open house in Druid Lane Theatre, Galway and a guided tour of Na Piobairi Uillean on Dublin's historic Henrietta Street are just some of the events on the programme taking place on Friday 21st September.
Minister Deenihan continued "People of all ages across the country are encouraged to take advantage of this national night of adventure and discovery, as cultural organisations and regional authorities around the country pull out all the stops to produce an unforgettable and unique evening of free cultural experiences for all to enjoy.
Ireland's cultural sector is one of the most distinctive and attractive in Europe. Culture is part of the social fabric in Ireland and Culture Night has established itself as a key date on the cultural calendar with thousands of people across the cities and towns of Ireland enjoying the atmosphere and unique experiences that are key components of the Culture Night phenomenon."
Culture Night will take place in the following regions on Friday September 21st: Ards (Co. Down), Armagh, Belfast, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork City, Cork County, Derry/Londonderry, Dublin, Galway City, Galway County, An Ghaeltacht, Holywood, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Letterkenny, Limerick City, Limerick County, Louth, Mayo, Offaly, Navan, North Tipperary, Roscommon, Sligo, South Tipperary, Strabane District, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow.