The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, is delighted to announce approval of €882,000 in funding by Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide in 2018. A total of €423,000 will enable 99 Irish artists and arts organisations to present projects, covering circus, dance, film, literature, music, theatre and the visual arts in 38 different countries and build on Ireland's strong global reputation for creativity. Further awards totalling €459,000 are approved towards presentations by Irish artists and arts organisations as part of Culture Ireland GB18 Programme, a year-long programme of Irish arts in Great Britain.
Announcing the awards Minister Madigan said
"Ireland’s reputation for creativity is reinforced by our artists presenting their work worldwide at key festivals and venues. From individual writers to large scale theatre, our artists are Ireland’s ambassadors and their success is evident through the increasing audiences for Irish arts.”
Highlights of the projects being funded in this round include Dead Centre’s production of Hamnet, which is undertaking an international tour to the United States, Australia and China in the Autumn, the first international tours for Fishamble’s “The Humours of Bandon” to Canada in May and Joanne Ryan’s “Eggsistentialism” to Australia, both of which emerged from Culture Ireland’s 2017 Edinburgh Showcase programme. Irish writers will be appearing at key international festivals including Sydney Writers Festival, Australia and festivals in Japan, South Africa and California.
Funding has also been approved towards a programme of events celebrating 100 years of independence in Estonia, highlighting our cultural connections and celebrating the 30th anniversary of a unique Irish music exchange. The strong offering of traditional and new Irish music touring in the US, includes Socks in the Frying Pan from July to September, Cúig performing at the large Summer Irish Festivals for the first time, Máirtín O’Connor Trio undertaking a week-long tour of Canada in August and The Outside Track with their unique mix of music and dance will tour in both Canada and the US.
The Culture Ireland GB18 Programme which seeks to renew the cultural and artistic links across Scotland, Wales and England through an enhanced programme of activity approved events include
Poetry Ireland’s presentation of “A Further Shore - The Journey to Good Friday, 1998 at the Barbican in April to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and Colin Dunne, performing his solo show, Concert in Glasgow and at the Barbican in London.
Please see www.cultureireland.ie for the full list of Spring grant round and details and updates of the Culture Ireland GB18 programme are available on www.cultureireland.ie/gb18