The 17th edition of Culture Night will take place on Friday, September 23rd 2022. Brought to you by the Arts Council and supported by local authorities, Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir is a national moment, celebrating culture, creativity and the arts. It seeks to actively promote the rich and varied culture treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day across Ireland.
Delivered nationwide in cities, towns, villages and rural locations as well as online, Wicklow Arts Office have collaborated, supported, and funded a range of events and activities across the county for Culture Night.
The full programme of events and participating venues for Culture Night 2022 is now available on www.CultureNight.ie/Wicklow
This year, Wicklow Arts Office have collaborated, supported, and funded a range of events and activities across the county for Culture Night, thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council, Creative Ireland and the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme provided by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Creative Ireland.
With 11 locations across County Wicklow, the programme includes a diverse range of experiences purposefully created and selected to surprise and delight all ages.
Arklow Music and Arts present Arklow Culture Crawl featuring local musicians, bands, artists, poets, and actors on a guided tour of the town’s cultural and historic sites.
In Baltinglass, Aisling Ennis (harp) and soprano Catherine Redding (singer) will present Songs to the Moon, a recital of evocative and charming selections by Fauré, Debussy, Bellini and Strauss, with two more performances yet to be announced.
West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival presents a feast of party-fuelled rhythmic virtuosity with Bangers & Crash Duo, Caitríona Frost and Paddy Nolan, who are two of Ireland’s most accomplished percussionists. Later in the evening, the Yurodny Ensemble treat us to an energising musical melting pot of new interpretations of traditional music from around the world. It promises to be a magical musical evening in the stunning setting of The Avon, on the shores of the Blessington Lakes.
Mermaid Arts Centre is hosting three events for Culture Night including Abacus, a contemporary dance performance of nine women and 18 buckets choreographed by Laura Murphy, taking place on the Bray seafront; singer Susan O’Neill in concert at the Mermaid and extended opening hours for the Blacker Than Any Blindnessexhibition by artist Michael Durand.
Music in Calary have invited award-winning Wicklow classical musicians Annette Cleary (cello), John Feeley (guitar), and David O’Doherty (violin) to perform in the 19th Century Calary Church.
Dunlavin’s Market Square, will play host to a unique evening of gastronomy with an Interactive a Cookery Demonstration by Catherine Fulvio, followed by performances by four of Ireland’s finest musicians, Niamh Kavanagh (singer), Lynda O’Connor (violin), Gerald Peregrine (cello), and Brian Connor (Piano). This family friendly evening is rounded off by a by local singer-songwriter, Amy Barrett, in concert.
The Whale Theatre showcases an intergenerational celebration of jazz music featuring some of Ireland’s most celebrated jazz masters alongside a new generation of emerging young jazz musicians.
Bray Jazz Festival will stage a double-bill of live music at the 18th Century St. Saviour’s Church in the heart of Rathdrum village, presenting live performances by bands led by Bray-born jazz singer Aoife Doyle, and by Arklow-based Irish jazz guitar legend, Nigel Mooney.
The Courthouse Arts Centre is bringing a multi-dimensional experience of sound and vision to Tinahely with presents live music with on stage by Mark Caplice, Layzee Gold and Sam Ali; while visual artist, Liing Heaney will animate the townscape buildings with projections from her film exploring Tomnafinnoge Woods.
Finally, Wicklow Arts Office in collaboration with Wicklow Library Services have curated an exciting programme of fun-filled activities and workshops for children and adults at Baltinglass, Carnew, Dunlavin, Rathdrum and Wicklow Town Libraries including:
- Baltinglass Library – Felt making and painting workshops;
- Carnew Library – A children’s interactive workshop exploring 3D printed replicas and real dinosaurs fossils for children, followed by a poetry open mic session with Lorcan Brennan;
- Dunlavin Library – traditional craft workshops such as candle making and willow weaving;
- Rathdrum Library – Geli Printmaking with Whitedoodle Art and Mosaic Making;
- Wicklow Library – And a Podcasting Workshop with Createschool and Make your own personalised Ex-libris/Bookplate workshop for adults.
Wicklow County Arts Office is excited to announce six new additions to the Wicklow programme
Wicklow County Arts Office has created a special programme for Baltinglass to mark the launch of Creative Places Baltinglass, an Arts Council initiative which seeks to build upon existing cultural strengths to create new momentum.
In Fatima Hall, the programme line-up features a ‘Bodhrán Buzz’ family workshop where participants are taught how to hold the bodhran, and the stick, and master the basics of getting the first few beats. This will be followed by a classical recital titled ‘Songs to the Moon’ with harpist Aisling Ennis, soprano Catherine Redding and Robert Barrett.
The evening will be rounded off by trad sensations Kíla showcasing their unique brand of trad fusion. Baltinglass Library will host a range of activities perfect for creative minds including a Felt Making Workshop with Tamzen Lundy and two Painting Workshops with local artist Maura O’Halloran.
Joining the Wicklow programme are Bray Choral Society and Purple House Choir who will provide interactive performances in Bray that are especially designed for newcomers so everyone can come along, join in and have some fun.
Bray Literary Festival will present ‘Reviving Forgotten Women.’ This celebration in music and poetry will take place in Bray Library with performances by poet and songwriter Catherine Ann Cullen and songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Imogen Gunner who will reflect on the women of 100 years ago and their continuing influences on our lives today.
Signal Arts Centre invites people to celebrate the arts through the ages. Beginning at 2 pm with workshops, dress up and storytelling for children, the evening programme will feature poetry recitals, classical guitar, and an exhibition of works by Gaby Browett.
Though the Whale Theatre’s ‘Generations of Jazz’ and Culture Night at Killruddery House may be booked out, there’s still plenty in store across Wicklow County including:
- Dunlavin Market Square: performance by Mobile Music Machine, an interactive cookery demo with celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio and local singer and musician Amy Barrett in concert
- Blessington: Bangers & Crash Duo and Yurodny Ensemble presented by West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival at The Avon
- Bray Sea Front: Performances by Abacus, Susan O’Neill in concert, and extended opening hours for the Blacker Than Any Blindness exhibition by artist Michael Durand presented by Mermaid Arts Centre
- Calary Church: A Night of Music featuring award-winning Wicklow classical musicians
- Rathdrum: Jazz at St. Saviour’s presented by Bray Jazz Festival
- Tinahely Courthouse Arts Centre: Dimensional, a multi-dimensional experience of sound and vision
- Wicklow Libraries: a jam-packed programme of activities and workshops for children and adults at Carnew, Dunlavin, Rathdrum, and Wicklow Town
Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Tommy Annesley, said he was delighted to see this year’s Wicklow Culture Night programme expand further to feature over 32 events, representing local arts, creativity and citizens.
Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Mr Brian Gleeson, stated that he was pleased to have the continued support of the Arts Council, Creative Ireland and the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme provided by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht and Sport which has enabled the Wicklow Arts Office to produce such a varied programme across County Wicklow.
For more information and to book, visit www.culturenight.ie/wicklow.
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