The Lives of Spaces exhibition opens national tour at Farmleigh
The Lives of Spaces exhibition, Ireland's entry for the 11th International Architecture Exhibition at Venice in 2008, was opened by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism at Farmleigh Gallery this week. The Venice Architecture Biennale is the largest exhibition platform for achitecture in the world. Nine pieces were commissioned for the exhibition, by Ireland's top architecture firms, each exploring the central role of space in our society. Showing at Farmleigh until the end of June, The Lives of Spaces will tour to Kilkenny Arts Festival (August), St Munchins in Limerick (September) and Belfast (2010). Read more about The Lives of Spaces.
Culture Ireland congratulates Druid on winning theatre awards
Culture Ireland congratulates Garry Hynes and the Druid company on winning 5 awards so far out of 11 nominations across four different awards for their production of Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Innishmaan in New York. The company were also given a special award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance by the Drama Desk in addition to nominations across several categories in the Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League and Drama Desk awards. Keep up to date with Druid touring at www.druidtheatre.com
New Board Appointed
Minister Martin Cullen, TD announced the appointment of Culture Ireland's New Board in March 2009. The Board's role is to oversee the implementation of Culture Ireland's strategy, promotional initiatives and funding decisions. The new Board has been appointed for a five-year term to April 2014. Membership of new Board.
Ciaran Hinds Wins Best Actor at Tribeca Film Festival, New York
Ciaran Hinds has won the Best Actor Award at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York for his role in The Eclipse, the new film from Irish writer and director Conor McPherson. Culture Ireland supported the presentation of the film at Tribeca and this latest award follows last year's success for Irish actor Eileen Walsh, who won Best Actress for her role in Eden.
Eugene Downes, Chief Executive of Culture Ireland, said "Ciaran Hinds is one of Ireland's finest actors on stage and on screen. It's great to see his partnership on film with Conor McPherson being recognised in New York, following their recent success together on Broadway in The Seafarer."
Ireland at Venice 2009
Minister Martin Cullen, TD launched the Irish representation at the Venice Biennale at Iveagh House on Thursday 30th April. Caoimhín Corrigan, Irish Commissioner for Venice, together with artists Sarah Browne and Gareth Kennedy, will represent Ireland at the Biennale, the world’s most prestigious international visual arts showcase. Read Press Release. For regular updates on Ireland at Venice 2009, log on to www.irelandvenice.ie
Culture Ireland has awarded almost €700,000 in grant funding to over 80 projects, across all art forms, following a recent grants decision meeting
Over the coming months, a wide range of Irish artists and companies will present their award-winning work to international audiences across the US, Asia, Europe and South Africa. see full list of projects funded
APAP New York, January 2009
First they take Manhattan …. Culture Ireland leads largest ever delegation of artists to New York.
More than 70 music, theatre and dance artists from Ireland are bound for New York in January 2009 as part of a promotional mission for the performing arts led by Culture Ireland. In all, 9 traditional groups and 4 theatre and dance companies will give showcase performances to an audience of key US and global promoters, while more than 20 other theatre, music and dance ensembles and artists will be promoting their work.
Culture Ireland and Contemporary Music Centre launch contemporary music initiative - New Music New Ireland
The Contemporary Music Centre and Culture Ireland launched a promotional initiative, New Music - New Ireland, on 18 September 2008.Read the full press release
Ireland’s participation at the 11th Venice Architecture biennale opens
The Ambassador of Ireland, Sean O’Huiginn and Míchéal O Suilleabhain, Chairperson, Culture Ireland today opened ‘The Lives of Spaces’ - Ireland’s participation at the 11th International Architecture Exhibition at the Palazzo Guistinian Lolin in Venice.Read the full press release
Abbey Theatre's production of Mark O'Rowe's 'Terminus' receives prestigious Fringe First award
The Abbey Theatre's production of TERMINUS by Irish playwright Mark O'Rowe was awarded a prestigious Scotsman Fringe First Award today (Friday 15 August 2008). The Fringe First Awards, selected by The Scotsman's team of veteran theatre critics, are given to outstanding new work appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and are highly coveted among the thousands of new plays produced at the festival.Read the full press release
Fringe First Award for Enda Walsh and Druid at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Enda Walsh and Druid were today awarded a prestigious Scotsman Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for The New Electric Ballroom.Read the full press release
Over € 400,000 awarded to Irish artists and organisations: Culture Ireland announces details of its Summer round of funding - 25th June 08
Culture Ireland today announced details of its summer funding round: over €400,000 was awarded to 80 arts projects across Europe, USA, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.see full list of projects funded
For sample of Autumn highlights see the sample list.
Ireland’s participation at the 11th Venice Architecture Biennale 2008 announced
The architects who will represent Ireland at the 11th International Architecture Biennale in Venice, to be presented by Culture Ireland and the Arts Council, have just been selected by the Commissioners, the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) and co- commissioner Dr. Hugh Campbell, Senior Lecturer in Architecture at UCD. There was a strong response to the theme ‘The Lives of Spaces’ set for the Irish exhibition by the Commissioners and nine responses have been selected for inclusion at this key international showcase.
In different ways, the nine pieces explore the central role of space in our society, how it frames and structures the patterns and practices of our collective life, from domestic to civic, from personal to public. Included are projects currently in design and construction, as well as examinations of existing spaces. The exhibition involves many new collaborations and experiments, which open up new ways of envisaging, designing and understanding space.
Film Industry Trade Mission to Los Angeles A Success
28 February 2008
The Irish Film Board / Culture Ireland trade mission to Los Angeles last week put the international spotlight on Irish film and marked a new partnership between the two agencies. Over 25 Irish filmmakers took part and participated in an extensive round of meetings with studios and potential production, finance and distribution partners. Feedback so far from the participants has been very positive.
The Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland and Enterprise Ireland co-hosted a networking reception which was attended by US and Irish 400 filmmakers, and at which Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed their Oscar-winning song from Once. The week was capped with wins for Onceat the Independent Spirit Awards and the Oscars, while Daniel Day Lewis received the Academy Award for his performance in There Will be Blood.
"Culture Ireland was delighted to work in partnership with the Irish Film Board on this trade mission," said Culture Ireland CEO Eugene Downes. "It leveraged the high profile of Irish film in the week leading up to Oscar success and helped maximise opportunities for Irish film makers to gain support for their new projects."
The Oscar Wilde awards hosted by the US-Ireland Alliance, and with sponsors including the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland, also contributed to raising Ireland's profile in pre-Oscars week.
The trade mission garnered extensive coverage in the international film trade papers and the Irish print and broadcast media. Selected media coverage can be viewed here.