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Creative Ireland & Culture Ireland US Programme launched in New York

A cultural kick-off to 2017, The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD launched the Creative Ireland Programme / Clár Éire Ildánach at the Irish Consulate in New York on Friday January 13.

A cultural kick-off to 2017, The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD launched the Creative Ireland Programme / Clár Éire Ildánach at the Irish Consulate in New York on Friday January 13.

At the stateside launch Minister Humphreys confirmed that her Department will provide €1 million in funding to the Irish Arts Centre in New York, which is currently developing a new building in Manhattan that will act an active hub for Irish artists in the city.

The Minister also unveiled exciting details of Culture Ireland’s US programme for 2017, with Culture Ireland to provide a total of €1m to Irish artists to showcase their work in the United States throughout this year. Just some of the acts set to benefit from this funding include The Gloaming, Teada, Dervish, The Outside Track and McPeake.

Up to a dozen Irish music acts will feature at the world’s pre-eminent music industry event, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas in March and Irish visual artists will exhibit across the US from New York, Portland to LA. A variety of events will also be held at the Irish Arts Centre throughout 2017, with support from Culture Ireland.

Speaking at the launch the Minister said:

“I want to send a very strong message about Ireland’s ambitions for our creative sectors and our vision to help children and communities to fulfil their creative potential. Ireland has an opportunity to lead by example as we roll out the Creative Ireland programme.

Creative Ireland sends a very important message internationally about how Ireland values its culture and how the Government is setting out an ambitious plan based on creativity for the next five years.”

Among the launch’s many attendees were Martin Fraser, Secretary General to the Irish Government; Consul General Barbara Jones; poet Paul Muldoon; Susan Feldman of St Anne’s Warehouse New York; Druid Theatre Company’s Garry Hynes; Eoin Egan from Pinewood Studios, Ciarán O’Reilly of The Irish Repertory Theatre NY; Aidan Connolly and Pauline Turley of the Irish Arts Center NY; Eoin George Heslin, Margaret Molloy and the Board of the Origin Theatre Company NY; Culture Ireland Chair, Mary McCarthy; Paul Fahy of the Galway International Arts Festival; Neil Murray of the Abbey Theatre; Belfast International Arts Festival’s Richard Wakely; and poet Micheal O’Saidhail.

Irish-American jazz guitarist David O’Rourke provided entertainment at the launch, playing a wonderful rendition of Carrickfergus. Listen to the track here. 

During the US visit Minister Humphreys also met with the Speaker of New York City Council, Melissa Mark Viverito and the Irish Caucus of the Council to thank them for their contribution to the Centenary commemorations in New York in 2016.

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