Culture Night Dublin will celebrate "One Night For All" this Friday, 23 September, with over 300 participating venues, and more than 400 FREE events for everybody to enjoy across Dublin. The annual, nocturnal, celebration of culture will see the city and county come alive with specially curated tours, exhibitions, performances and events. Museums, galleries, heritage sites, government buildings and more will open their doors from 4pm until late, inviting visitors to explore places that would otherwise not be accessible to the public. All events are free to attend and open to all.
Free Bus Routes & On-board Entertainment
Dublin Bus are the official transport partner of Culture Night Dublin. To help attendees navigate the city on the night, a number of free Culture Night Buses will be in operation across 3 tailored routes. Visitors can hop on and off at each of the stops and drop into their favourite venues. The buses will be in operation from 6pm and will depart every 20 minutes from routes starting at College Green, Bachelor’s Walk and Aston Quay. Audiences can enjoy free travel to Dublin’s many cultural destinations until 10:40pm on the College Green and Bachelor’s Walk routes, and until 11pm on the Aston Quay route. Detailed route information can be found here.
To keep you entertained throughout your journey, a number of pop-up performances will take place on the buses, featuring performances from: the Black Canvas collective; a brass trio from high-energy funk, hip-hop, jazz and soul groups Cooks But We're Chefs and TBL8; Regina (Dublin's very own life-sized Barbie) and The Queens’ world-class drag show; raw rock ‘n’ roll from new-wave band Basht; plus songs from a host of young virtuosic ceoltoirí on uilleann pipes, fiddle, banjo, accordion and mandolin.
Culture Night Flagship Events
Running alongside this year’s programme is “Awaken The Metropolis”, a series of artist commissions funded by Dublin City Council. At Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, emerging artist and designer Tadhg will host a multiform performance. Visual artist Fionnuala Halpin will be illuminating Spencer Dock with live mural painting and the motley collective Acid Granny will be hosting a number of pop-up performances throughout the city. In addition, a flagship late night event called Night Moves will take place at the historic Fruit & Veg Market in Dublin 7. The event will feature a diverse range of DJ performances from the Irish electronic community, while exploring the future of clubbing in the city through a series of early evening panel discussions. Night Moves is presented in partnership with Dublin City Council and is generously supported by the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme. Tickets for the event are available via Eventbrite.
Culture Night Late Night Highlights
This year, Culture Night is excited to support the late opening of a number of venues across Dublin, some of which will play host to events until the small hours. Until 11pm, the Museum of Literature Ireland will be hosting readings, performances and live music, while at the National Library of Ireland, the public can drop in to the Yeats exhibition. Many venues will be open until midnight, including: a bilingual open mic at the Irish Writers Centre; live music at The R.A.G.E. and Icon Factory; screenings and performances at Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) and D-Light Studios; social dancing at MIND the STEP; live art at the studios of Aga Szot and Una Guy in Temple Bar; a night of literature and Joycean history at Leopold Bloom Press; as well as vibrant programming from the Tara Building and the Clockwork Door. Later still, you can catch a DJ set from Baliboc at the Civic Theatre until 12.30am, trad sessions and a Ciorcal Comhrá at Áras Chrónáin until 1am, join an outdoor journey through the dreamy landscapes of IMMA in Night Shift until 2am, or celebrate new waves in Irish Hip Hop at the Black Canvas event, NATIVES, until 3am at the Sugar Club. More information available here
Highlights By Genre
Visual Arts
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane Experience an exciting evening of art, music and performance inspired by modern and contemporary art whilst enjoying the gallery's permanent and temporary exhibitions. Charlemont House, Parnell Square N, Rotunda, Dublin 1. 4pm - 10pm. More information available here
Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) Experience an outdoor journey through the dreamy landscapes of the museum. Discover the histories of the site and its artworks with some eerie interventions. Royal Hospital, Military Rd, Kilmainham, D08 FW31. 10pm - 2am. More information here
Hang Tough Contemporary Derry based artist Aimee Melaugh will host a late night opening of her exhibition “Featureless Fine” which draws upon ideas surrounding identity and suppressed individuality. 4 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. 6pm - 10pm. More information here
Temple Bar Gallery + Studios Get the opportunity to meet an artist at work in one of the cities leading contemporary art galleries and studios. Home to 30 artist studios from recent graduates to internationally recognised names. 5-9 Temple Bar, Dublin 2. 4pm-7pm. More information available here
The Icon Factory: Attend the opening of “I sang you my sorrows - A Celebration of Irish Music”. The group exhibition will feature paintings, mixed media and photography inspired by icons of Irish music past and present. 3 Aston Place, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. 4pm-12am. More information here
History & Heritage
Dublin Castle Explore the castle after dark and visit The State Departments originally the public quarters of the viceregal court, today used for presidential inaugurations and prestigious functions. Dublin Castle, Dame St, Dublin 2. 6pm - 10pm. More information here
Christ Church Cathedral Take a guided tour of the iconic tower and get a chance to ring the cathedral’s famous bells. Christchurch Place, Dublin 8. various times. More information here
Glasnevin Cemetery From poets to presidents, join a guided tour of the final resting place of the people who shaped our nation. Includes a visit to the crypt Daniel O’Connell and the final resting place of Michael Collins. Finglas Road, Dublin 11. 4pm - 8pm. More information here
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Learn about the fascinating history of medicine in Ireland whilst exploring the magnificent Kildare Street building. 6 Kildare Street, D02. 5pm - 10pm More information here
Children & Young People
The Ark Explore the Arks colourful permanent collection and take a hand-on painting workshop where participants will create their own colourful artwork. (Suitable for ages 5-12). 11a Eustace Street, Temple Bar. 4pm - 6pm. More information available here
Taking Flight Aerial & Acrobatics An interactive family fun day with a “playground” of activities and aerial apparatus. Experience what it’s like to run away with the circus. Suitable for young people of all ages. Unit 4, Cross Guns Business Park, Royal Canal Bank, Phibsborough Dublin 7. 4pm-8pm. More information here
Children's Books Ireland at St Andrew's Street Post Office Pop into the Children’s Books Ireland for a free consultation with a book doctor. Every patient leaves with a prescription for the book that suits them best. 19-24 St Andrew’s Street, Dublin 2. 4pm - 8pm. More information here
Diverse Cultures
Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre Experience an exhibition titled “Belongings” featuring objects and the stories from the rich traditions of Traveller and Roma culture both past and present. 46 Charles Street Great, Dublin 1. 4pm - 9pm. More information here
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Visitors will be welcomed to the Ailesbury Road embassy to sample traditional Lithuanian music and food. 47 Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4. 6.30pm - 9.30pm. More information here
Casa Mexico An art exhibition featuring 20 Mexican artists and an opportunity to experience some Mexican cuisine. 35 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. 4pm - 11pm. More information here
European Union National Institutes for Culture in Ireland Immerse yourself in the diversity of European cultures and languages. Various participating venues. More information here
Culture Night Dublin will take place on Friday, September 23rd. The event is brought to you by Dublin City Council with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. For full programme details visit culturenightdublin.ie
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