Irish Arts Center secures $36 million as Ireland backs second phase with €3 million grant

The Irish Arts Center in New York announced it has raised $36 million toward redeveloping its original 51st Street home. The gift includes a new €3 million grant from the Irish government and starts the public portion of a $50 million Phase Two campaign.

The announcement came at an event with Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan. His department, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, jointly awarded the €3 million grant.

“I am delighted to announce capital funding of €3m for the Irish Arts Center in New York,” Minister O’Donovan said.

“The IAC has long been a home from home for Irish artists, providing audiences with the opportunity to engage with Irish arts and culture.”

The grant follows earlier commitments this year of $6 million from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and $3.5 million from the New York State Council on the Arts. Those public investments, combined with philanthropic support, bring the Phase Two total to $36 million to date.

New York City Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo praised the Republic of Ireland’s generosity. “Art and culture have the power to break down barriers and bring us closer to our neighbors from around the world,” she said.

She noted the city is proud of its more than $20 million investment in the second phase of the IAC campus.

An artist's rendition of the New York Irish Arts Center's second phase.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris highlighted the broader diplomatic importance of the project.

“Our continued investment reflects our deep commitment to the Irish community in New York and promotion of our values across the U.S. as part of the Global Ireland 2025 Strategy,” he said.

Phase Two will transform the original 51st Street site into a tightly scaled companion to the IAC’s larger 11th Avenue building. Plans call for a 75-seat flexible venue that will host one-night performances and smaller events, plus accessible staff offices and critical storage and production space to support both buildings.

The redevelopment team reassembles the Phase One architects and consultants, including Davis Brody Bond, A Page Company, Fisher Dachs, and Structure Tone. The project is in schematic design and is expected to begin construction in early 2027, with completion projected between late 2028 and 2029.

Aidan Connolly, executive director of the Irish Arts Center, framed the funding as a generational win for Irish artists in New York.

The new New York Irish Arts Center.

“This visionary partnership between the people of Ireland and New York has secured a permanent platform for Irish artists in the cultural capital of the world,” he said. He added that the second phase will deliver “a second, intimate, flexible space for Irish artists across a range of backgrounds, disciplines and practices both established and emerging for generations to come.”

The IAC’s 11th Avenue facility opened in 2021 and quickly expanded the center’s capacity to present theater, music, visual art and community programs. The New York Times called the new center “a home as big as its aspirations,” and critics have repeatedly praised productions staged there.

Recent seasons have included notable highlights such as Colin Murphy’s "The United States vs Ulysses", a sold-out celebration of Bill Whelan, and the North American premiere of "Agreement" by Owen McCafferty. The center has also staged collaborations with Lyric Theatre Belfast and Grammy-winning Arturo O’Farrill.

The IAC’s fundraising and gala profile has grown alongside its artistic program. The 2024 Spirit of Ireland Gala honored Meryl Streep and raised a record $3.25 million. This year the gala will honor Conan O’Brien and Robert Bradway on November 7 at Pier Sixty.

The public phase of the Phase Two campaign will complete the 51st Street building and expand programming, maintenance and endowment funds. The center’s official statement urged supporters to join the effort and noted the urgent need to finish the job.

“We need warm, welcoming, inclusive cultural spaces and inspiring moving provocative and entertaining arts experiences more than ever,” the statement read. “We need you.”

For Irish Americans in New York and beyond the upgraded campus promises more chances to see Irish artists at every stage of their careers. The funding also cements the IAC’s role as a bridge between Ireland and the United States and a home for diaspora culture in one of the world’s great cultural capitals.