Supporting the arts in Clare

The Arts Council has awarded a total of €97,750 to help bring three high quality festivals to the people of Clare this year.

The festivals include Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and Ennis Street Arts Festival, which both took place last week, and music from Clare Memory Orchestra which takes place in late August.

The festival funding is additional to the substantial monies that the council allocates every year to various arts events, artists and companies in Clare.

The Arts Council issued the details as they launched ‘Arts On Your Doorstep’, a new public information campaign to help raise awareness of specific arts events in local communities.

Part of the Arts Council’s public service remit is to deliver arts events to the regions, so that people all over the country can experience world class arts events on their doorstep.

Director of the Arts Council, Orlaith McBride, said, “If you live in Malin Head or on the Ring of Kerry, you should be able to see high quality productions without having to travel hours to a venue. By taking the arts on tour we make wonderful productions accessible to people the length and breadth of the country.

“The Council always endeavours to ensure that organisations bring the best of the arts to audiences across Ireland through touring. We are delighted to have been able to provide the funding to bring these shows to the people of Clare. By prioritising regional access through touring, the Council is helping to ensure that more people experience the arts in 2016.”