On behalf of Galway International Arts Festival we would like to welcome you to this year’s Festival. We have a new name and a new look and we hope you like both. The Festival has grown significantly over the last number of years and we felt it an appropriate time to introduce the name change and new design given our growing international reputation and the changing nature of what we do.
We are very honoured to have so many wonderful artists, writers, performers and creative people join us from across the globe where once again new productions and exhibitions are at the heart of the Festival.
We are very excited about this year’s Festival productions and co–productions Ballyturk, Chapatti and Room 303 and are thrilled to be working with so many Festival friends on these. It is wonderful to think that some of these projects are touring internationally and will carry the flag to both the UK and USA for Galway. This builds on the continuing touring success of last year’s Festival co–productions The Rite of Spring, Petrushka, and riverrun.
We are delighted to have expanded the Absolut Visual Arts Programme this year to several new locations including a wonderful new city centre location for the Absolut Festival Gallery. In addition, we are happy to be able to take the visual arts programme outdoors with the fantastic installation RedBall Galway.
Our discussions strand First Thought has expanded again while our Festival Big Top programme continues to grow in popularity with our A Night at the Proms with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra returning following the success of last year’s introductory concert.
The Street Spectacle programme builds on the success of last year using the backdrop of the city to hopefully deliver similar memorable performances. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our funders, sponsors and friends for their support and also wish the city well as it bids to be European Capital of Culture 2020.
Hope you enjoy the Festival!
- John Crumlish, CEO and Paul Fahy, Artistic Director.
To find out more on all the creative collisions happening at the Galway International Arts Festival view the Festival preview here.
