ARTS Mayo gears up for Culture Night

County gears up for Culture Night


Culture organisations and groups are busily preparing to throw open their doors to eager audiences on Culture Night 2011, which takes place on September 23.
Mayo first participated in the event in 2009, and it was the first in the country to stage a county-wide Culture Night. Since then, the number of participants has steadily grown, and this year 25 cultural hotspots will be sharing and showcasing a wide variety of cultural events.
The main focus of the evening will be on access, and participating venues will extend their opening hours and organise free events open to the public.
Busily finalising their programmes of activity for the night are Scoil Acla in Achill; Comhar Dún ChaochΡin and Áras Inis Gluaire in Erris; Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina Library and the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina; Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle; Custom House Studios and BLINK Visual Arts Trail (ten visual art venues) in Westport; The Linenhall Arts Centre and Artsquad in Castlebar; Claremorris CCÉ and Claremorris Open Exhibition; the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life in Turlough; Charlestown Arts Centre; and the Nephin Blacksmith Revival Group in Lahardane.
Planned activities range from family workshops, films and exhibitions to performances, craft displays, music seisiúns and more. With almost 70 free events taking place throughout the county there is bound to be something for everyone, no matter what their age and tastes.

To get a Mayo Culture Night 2011 brochure, which contains the full list of events, email mayoarts@mayococo.ie. Brochures can also be downloaded from www.mayococo.ie/en/Services/ArtsOffice/CultureNight.