The programme for Culture Night Dublin 2021 has just been announced. Culture Night Dublin will return on Friday, 17 September with over 200 participating venues, and more than 250 in-person and online events for audiences to enjoy across the city and county. All events are free to attend. The programme was unveiled at a ceremony today at Dublin’s Liberty Lane that was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland and the Culture Night Dublin Ambassador, broadcaster, Ola Majekodunmi. The details of three artist commissions funded by Dublin City Council were also announced.
Amongst this year’s programme, history enthusiasts will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jonathan Swift with a tour of Marsh’s Library on St. Patrick’s Close or view one of the world’s most important collections of ancient manuscripts at the Chester Beatty, Dublin Castle. Many important buildings that would normally have restricted access will be open to the public on Culture Night. The custodians of the Freemasons’ Hall on Molesworth Street will be welcoming visitors to explore their Victorian meeting rooms. The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland on Kildare Street will host tours and talks on the history of Irish medicine.
Interactive classes, workshops and demos will take place at various locations throughout the city. At Damn Fine Print studios in Stoneybatter, visitors can create their own limited edition screenprint. The Gaiety School of Acting on Essex Street will be providing free workshops in “acting for screen”. Trinity College Dublin will be hosting a series of talks about the “delicate science behind preserving the Book of Kells”. Experiment and make your own "chemigrams" at the camera-less workshop at The Darkroom on N Brunswick Street. At the Wood Quay Amphitheatre, two of the last remaining Traveller Tinsmiths, James Collins and Tom McDonnell, will be demonstrating their craft. At Pallas Studios in the Coombe, visitors can make their own sculpture installation with artist Róisín White.
Dozens of visual arts exhibitions will take place on the night. Visitors to The National Gallery of Ireland on Merrion Square can view the ‘Picturing People’ exhibition, showcasing the Gallery’s extensive collection of Irish photography. MART Gallery, Harolds Cross, will be presenting a performance exhibition by artist Katherine Nolan. The Icon Factory, Temple Bar, will be hosting a live painting session with artist Aga Szot. Artistic Liberties will present an eclectic open-air exhibition in Newmarket Square. Temple Bar Gallery and Studios will be exhibiting the work of Scottish artist Lucy McKenzie. Tucked away just off St. Anne Street, the Pawson designed Kerlin Gallery will be exhibiting new paintings by Marcel Vidal.
Lovers of dance can visit the courtyard of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham and enjoy a programme of works curated by Croí Glan or experience a vibrant outdoor performance by older people and CoisCéim Broadreach in Fairview Park. Music enthusiasts can listen to The Newman Vocare Ensemble performing in Newman’s University Church on Stephen’s Green South or visit The Contemporary Music Centre’s performances on Prussia Street and Fishamble Street to hear works by new Irish composers.
Further out in Dublin County, Malahide Castle and Gardens will be providing free tours whilst Rua Red Arts Centre, The Civic Theatre and Tallaght Library will be projecting images from “'Have Pass Will Travel’ a project by photographer Ste Murray. At the National Botanic Gardens, Irish language magazine “Comhar” will launch a special edition of their magazine with performances by Inni-K and the Culture Night Dublin ambassador, Ola Majekodunmi. This year's programme includes 16 walking tours across this city. Art historian Antony Suttle will be providing a guided tour of “Dublin’s Sculptural Landscape” from historical monuments to contemporary works. “Mostly Medieval” is a family tour where you will
“see the sunken sights, imagine the sounds and inhale the smells of Medieval Dublin”.
Three artist commissions that have been funded by Dublin City Council have also been announced. The commissions were selected from an open call process entitled Dublin Holds My Mind, which sought to “reignite the dialogue between the city and its communities, emerging from a period of isolation and disconnect, by celebrating its many layers and complexities through the means of creative expression”. Irish Modern Dance Theatre has been commissioned to create a new work called “Street Symphony” that will be performed at the Wood Quay Amphitheatre. Visual artist Niall Cullen will create a mapped projection artwork to be displayed in Barnardo Square. In response to the poem “Dublin” by Louis MacNiece, artists Kevin Bohan and lljin will be live painting two new murals on Bedford Lane, Temple Bar.
Speaking at the launch of the programme the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland, encouraged Dublin’s citizen’s to come and be inspired.
“After what has been a deeply challenging period, particularly for the creative sector, I’m deeply honoured to launch the programme for Culture Night Dublin. Originating in Dublin’s Temple Bar in 2006, Culture Night has grown to become a major celebration of the city's culture, creativity and heritage. The last 18 months has shown that culture is more important in our lives than ever. Dublin is a city with culture at its core, and culture allows us collectively to explore and make sense of events, such as the pandemic. The 2021 Programme presents an opportunity to start this process of understanding, for us to reconnect with each other and to reacquaint ourselves with our capital city’s magnificent cultural resources. There are over 200 participating venues and in excess of 250 events to explore, all of which are free. I would encourage Dublin’s citizens and visitors to come and be inspired this Culture Night.”
Dublin’s Culture Night ambassador is broadcaster, Ola Majekodunmi. Speaking at the launch Majekodunmi remarked:
"I have always been a huge fan of Culture Night, so it means a lot to act as Dublin Ambassador this year and represent my city. I'm so excited for us to experience live events again and for Dublin’s cultural venues to be reanimated on the night - especially after all they have endured over the last 18 months. Dublin is a multicultural city and Culture Night allows us to explore the best of what our vibrant capital has to offer. It provides a platform where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted and celebrated. Have fun reconnecting with family and friends and immerse yourselves in the wide range of events happening this September.”
The full programme of events for Culture Night Dublin 2021 is now live on the Culture Night Dublin website (culturenightdublin.ie). The Culture Night Dublin transport partner Dublin Bus will be providing free buses every 20 minutes along three new bus routes. Starting on College Green, Aston Quay and Bachelor’s Walk, the free shuttle services will bring visitors to and from their favourite cultural quarters.
Culture Night Dublin is brought to you by Dublin City Council with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. For further information visit: culturenightdublin.ie