The Galway Arts Centre is one of 14 such centres around the country who were last week awarded substantial state funding as part of the Late-Night Events Pilot Scheme.

This initiative intends to diversify late-night activities, create opportunities for innovative work, and welcome new audiences into existing cultural facilities.

The Galway Arts Centre will receive €60,000 in funding – the joint highest award of any arts centre in the country.

The programme – overseen by the Arts Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is to allow the Arts Centres to open their doors into the night.

It aims to encourage new partnerships, supporting engaging night-time arts activities, advocate for a place-based approach, support additional Night-Time Economy interventions, promote cost-effective events, and ensure fair payment for artists and creative workers.

The total awarded amount across the 14 Art Centres was €723,407.

“This scheme aims to promote a vibrant cultural ecosystem in Ireland that thrives after dark,” explained Minister Catherine Martin.

“Through the extension and diversification of our later night cultural activities, it will also provide opportunities for new and exciting work partnerships, encourage new audiences into existing cultural facilities and make the arts more accessible.

“It will also seek to identify and address any challenges which venues may associate with staying open late.  I wish the arts centres well with their upcoming events,” she said.

“The project’s core objective is to create a sustainable framework for cultural experiences beyond standard operating hours,” added Director of the Arts Council Maureen Kennelly.

“The plans proposed by these 14 Arts Centres will provide tantalising experiences for audiences and artists alike.”