Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2022, the one night for all, each autumn, to come out and celebrate the diversity of culture in Ireland together, will take place on Friday, 23rd September. Gather your family, grab your friends or head out on your own, and enjoy Culture Night’s rich and diverse programme of one thousand plus FREE events. With events happening late into the night from art to architecture, culture to comedy, music to museums, handcrafting to heritage, sport to science, film to fashion, dance, literature and much more, Culture Night is a truly special occasion and the perfect opportunity to visit a venue, try something new or make your return to the cultural scene in a safe, easy and enjoyable way.
Culture Night is a national moment and connects people across the country to cultural activities locally and nationally. Culture Night is brought to you by the Arts Council in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations throughout the island of Ireland and puts a spotlight on the quality and breadth of Ireland’s existing cultural offerings and institutions, as well as introducing new venues and emerging talent.
New for 2022, Culture Night Late sees a series of events running later into the night than previous years, and many into the early hours. Highlights include, Night Shift, an outdoor journey through the dreamy landscapes of IMMA, Dublin which will bring participants through the grounds where sited histories and collection works will be framed by eerie interventions on the way. From Fibin sa Taibhdhearc, in GalwayAisling na Sráide Láir / A Middle Street’s Night Dream will offer audiences the chance to enjoy theatrical installations and street performances on Middle St and then parading to the Spanish Arch. SIONNA Festival in Limerick promises a night of electronic, hip hop and trad music with digital and street artists at King John’s Castle. If you’re heading to Paradise Cabaret in Kerry, expect a comically absurd, skilfully slick and ridiculously entertaining cabaret of comedy, circus, dance and music with the funnest weirdos and queerdos around; while Cork’s City Hall will be a Culture Night hub featuring local artists and collectives, live music and participatory dance performances; or enjoy a nocturnal paranormal site tour with Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh, while Dublin’s Leopold Bloom Press will host a magical late night of literature and Joycean history entitled Seeing Ulysses.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said: “Culture Night is always a special night in the calendar and this year will be even more exciting as we celebrate Culture Night Late – it is really encouraging to see Culture Night pushing the boundaries this year and supporting and promoting the Night-Time Economy with a programme of late night flagship events and facilitating later openings of arts and cultural venues across the country. The additional funding for this initiative provided by my Department will help promote this late night culture and provide opportunities for artists and venues to try something new. Thank you also to the National Cultural Institutions who are also staying open later for Culture Night with really interesting programmes – it’s great to see these amazing facilities open later and attracting new audiences”.
Local Authorities across the country are fundamental to the success of Culture Night. This year they have produced pioneering and innovative programmes that are a layered mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Programmes reflect diversity and inclusion through the celebration of creative communities, both new and established, and respect and support the inclusion of all voices and cultures that make up Ireland today, from all social backgrounds, ethnicities and traditions.
Maureen Kennelly, Arts Council Director said: “This year sees the seventeenth edition of Culture Night and, in its stewardship role, The Arts Council is delighted to help bring this important shared moment of collective cultural exploration that celebrates the richness and diversity of Ireland’s culture today. Culture Night is a night for us all to come together and enjoy our culture while also reminding us of the artistic and creative experiences that continue to be available to us year round.”
Elsewhere around the island of Ireland, events for all ages and interests include As If By Chance in Dublin, a live site-specific performance on the streets of Tallaght that explores stories of love and intimacy; in Kilkenny, all are welcome to Resilience, a feminist programme celebrating the works of Sarah Browne, Breda Lynch and a special commission of work by Amber Women’s Refuge; PopUpArt Newbridge showcases the works of 20 Kildare-connected artists; The Meath Dresser Project celebrates what were once a staple of Irish homes with an online film featuring stories collected by folklorist Michael Fortune having visited people’s homes and documenting the findings in homes, sheds and yards around the county; Tipperary hosts an Irish Language Circle with writer and documentary-maker Manchán Magan or in Clogheen explore the forgotten local traditions and folklore of Fairy Forts and ritual sites on The Fairy Tree Walk; in Wicklow Generations of Jazz at the Whale Theatre offers the chance to enjoy an intergenerational celebration of jazz music featuring some of Ireland’s most celebrated jazz masters, alongside a new generation of emerging young jazz musicians; and in Monaghan Busy Bee Ceramics hosts Clay’n’Ceol, throwing open its doors for the public to come in and join in the fun and creativity of working with clay, while listening to local traditional Irish music and Roscommon celebrates the music of young people with performances and DJ sets by Youthreach Lisnamult, Roscommon Youth Services, Roscommon Young Carers Project and Roscommon Youth Service members.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, The Arts Council will unveil a special Read Mór surprise for commuters across the country on September 23rd, and RTÉ once again partners with Culture Night returning to a live spectacular broadcast from the midlands, featuring specially commissioned performances and themed programming and reports across the evening, with a few surprises along the way. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.
Celebrating the values of Openness, Discovery, Celebration & Belonging, all activities on Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2022 are FREE. A broad expanse of people, organisations and venues help make it happen each year including artists, performing groups, galleries, museums, sports clubs, libraries, arts centres, craft workers, studios and workshops, theatres, schools, community groups, local authorities, government departments, state agencies and public bodies, transport companies, universities, shops and many more.
For more information on Culture Night, check out http://www.culturenight.ie or join the conversation on social media channels at Culture Night Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.