€900,000 in funding announced to support Irish arts globally

The latest round of grant winners to receive funding from Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts and culture around the world have been announced.

Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan has announced funding of over €900,000 for the promotion of Irish arts globally through Culture Ireland’s Regular Grants Programme.

The funding will benefit 154 projects taking place in over 36 countries, covering architecture, circus, dance, film, literature, music, opera, theatre, and visual arts.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce this round of Culture Ireland funding of over €900,000," said Minister O'Donovan.

"Marking 20 years since its establishment, the demand for Culture Ireland’s support has never been higher, demonstrating the success of Irish artists across global stages and the demand from international audiences to see their work. I wish all the artists well in their global travels."

Culture Ireland offers funding four times a year to support Irish artists performing or presenting work abroad,

Earlier this year, O’Donovan announced €1.5 million in funding to promote Irish arts and culture across the globe, with the grants benefiting 192 projects across 34 countries.

Recipients for this round include:

Architecture: Brennan Furlong Architects presenting Howth - the Memory of a Site (Italy), Presentation of The Reason of Towns, An Exhibition with Architect Valerie Mulvin by the Irish Architecture Foundation (GB)

Circus: Hands Down Circus Ltd presenting Tape That (Lithuania), Darragh McLoughlin in collaboration with Cirkus Kolektiv and Cirkorama (Croatia), Bill and Fred Productions presenting The Grannies at Festival Imaginarius (Portugal)

Dance: touring supports for Birdboy by Emma Martin/United Fall (Finland/Cyprus) and Junk Ensemble presenting Dances Like a Bomb (Poland)

Literature: Irish writers appearing at various international literary festivals, such as the Edinburgh International Book Festival (Scotland), participation at the IX Festival Internacional De Poesía Los Confines (Honduras) and participation at the Toronto International Festival of Authors (Canada)

Music: Support towards over 40 international tours across the world covering a range of artists and genres including JigJam (North America), Sina Theil (North America), Soda Blonde (Britain/Europe), Hothouse Flowers (Britain), Black Pope (Britain), Strange Boy (USA), The Weaving (GB), Maria Somerville (USA), Dea Matrona (Europe), Tulua (Canada), Joshua Burnside (Europe), Laoise O’Brien and Helen Lawlor (Hong Kong), Dani Larkin (GB), Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble (Chile/China), Bicurious (UK and France), Seamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta (France) and Crash Ensemble (Iceland), Pointbreak (Canada)

Opera: Premiere of a new opera by Emma O’Halloran at the Opera Saratoga Summer Festival (USA)

Theatre: Support for international tours, including Cyclone Rep Theatre Company (Germany), Dan Colley/Riverbank Arts Centre (Malta), Julie Sharkey (GB), Landmark Productions (GB), NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (USA), Brassneck Theatre Company (USA) and Liam McCarthy (Czech Republic)

Visual Arts: International exhibitions by Irish artists including Mother’s Tankstation (Switzerland), Michele Baron (Tokyo), Francis Van Maele (GB/France), Jesse Presley Jones (Singapore), Marielle MacLeman (Slovenia), Claire Hurley (Finland), Alan Butler (Spain), Small Nights Projects (Japan), Kerlin Gallery (USA/Switzerland) and Basil Al-Rawi (Spain)

Multidisciplinary: Continued support towards the programme of Irish arts and culture at key festivals and venues including the Digital Art Bienniale NÉMO (France), Canada Ireland Foundation’s Beltane Festival (Canada), Éigse na Bruiséil (Belgium), Return to London Town Festival (GB) and Fest’Irlande (France)