Galway Culture Company

As the year draws to a close, we are reflecting on some of the remarkable projects brought to life by our incredible partners. We work in partnership and collaboration to support, develop, and facilitate. It’s been our privilege to play a role in enabling these inspiring initiatives. In 2024, we proudly supported initiatives that celebrated Galway’s rich Irish language heritage, creating opportunities for cultural expression and bilingual engagement across the city and county. ▪️ Scéal na Gaillimhe In partnership with Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc, this unique initiative celebrated Galway’s cultural and artistic heritage through the medium of Irish. Featuring local artists, performers, and creatives, six projects were selected through an open call and showcased on stage at An Taibhdhearc. Fíbín Media ▪️ Lánú Collaborating with Ealaín na Gaeltachta and Údarás na Gaeltachta, we supported projects that strengthened cultural ties with Celtic neighbours and EU partners. This strategic partnership aims to facilitate new festivals, touring exhibitions, and creative collaborations across Ireland, the UK, and Europe. ▪️ Branar sa Scoil Commissioned by Galway Culture Company, this school arts engagement programme by Branar brought music, theatre, and visual arts to classrooms across Galway City and County. With 71 workshops and 13 performances, the project involved 14 artists and reached 561 students. ▪️ Tonnta Irish Language Festival Led by Gaillimh le Gaeilge, we proudly supported Tonnta, one of Galway’s newest festivals. It celebrated Galway as a bilingual city and showcased the vibrancy of the Irish language through diverse themes and events. Well done to all our partners for their fantastic work on these programmes! 

As the year draws to a close, we are reflecting on some of the remarkable projects brought to life by our incredible partners. We work in partnership and collaboration to support, develop, and facilitate. Climate and sustainability are central to our mission. While these values are embedded across all our work, we also proudly support projects that place a dedicated focus on the intersection of climate and culture. Here’s a few projects we were delighted to support in this area: ◼️ The Air We Share We are delighted to advise on this innovative programme that connects artists with the Westside community to creatively engage with local air quality and climate research conducted by citizens and University of Galway scientists. Led by Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe / Galway City Council, the project brings together partners including Galway Arts Centre, Centre for Creative Technologies @ University of Galway, Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies and Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at University of Galway, Westside Resource Centre, and Galway Culture Company to inspire creative responses to environmental challenges. ◼️ Climate on Culture Conference  We were proud to support and partner on the Climate on Culture 2024 Conference held in Galway, in partnership with the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora. This global event explored the relationship between climate and culture, bringing together leaders and practitioners to share ideas, strategies, and innovations for addressing climate challenges through cultural and diaspora perspectives. ◼️ National Mirror Group  Our CEO sits on the National Mirror Group (NMG) to support the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission in Ireland. The NMG will act as a key support mechanism for Cork, Dublin, and Galway Cities to achieve the objectives of the EU Mission and Pilot Cities Programme. A huge well done to all involved in these fantastic projects!

2024 has been a busy and exciting year at the Centre for Creative Technologies @ University of Galway, including the launch of our Art X Residency exchange in partnership with the Virginia Tech Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, Solas Nua and TULCA Festival of Visual Arts. This residency programme was generously supported by funding from Galway Culture Company. In September artists Ruth Clinton and Niamh Moriarty spent a three week residency between Virginia Tech, Washington DC and New York, developing their creative engagement with Irish-US migration, including through material from the IMIRCE archive of Irish emigrant letters at the University of Galway Library. During their residency they presented work at the New Music + Technology Festival at Virginia Tech and at a pop-up exhibition in Washington D.C., supported by Irish Arts Festival Solas Nua. In November, Chelsea Thompto spent a two week residency between the Centre for Creative Technologies and the Burren College of Art, where she developed her digital art practice focused on the politics of visibility, and the trans body as a site of political violence and potential. During Chelsea's residency, the Centre hosted a number of workshops exploring issues of inclusivity and sustainability, culminating in talks from Chelsea at the Burren and the University of Galway, in partnership with the TULCA Visual Arts Festival. We look forward to further developing this exchange of creative and critical engagement between Galway and the US in 2025!

As the year draws to a close, we are reflecting on some of the remarkable projects brought to life by our incredible partners. We work in partnership and collaboration to support, develop, and facilitate. It’s been our privilege to play a role in these inspiring initiatives. This year we worked alongside partners to strengthen international connections, foster EU collaborations, and open up opportunities for creatives and communities to engage on a global stage. Through these initiatives, we aimed to drive innovation and sustainability across creative industries. Here's a snapshot of some of the projects we were a part of in this area: ▪️EU Funding Support Programme In partnership with PorterShed, this programme provided expert advice and access to EU funding opportunities. Through online and in-person clinics, communities and creatives gained valuable connections to EU relationships and resources. ▪️ SPECTRA As an associate partner on the SPECTRA project, we supported efforts to strengthen the creative industries in the West of Ireland. Coordinated by the Western Development Commission, SPECTRA fosters collaboration among regional and international partners to build resilient, sustainable, and interconnected creative ecosystems. Through innovation, advanced business support models, and challenge-based approaches, the project is creating new opportunities for startups, scale-ups, and cross-sector partnerships, contributing to the growth of the creative economy locally and beyond. ▪️ PACESETTERS Project We sit on the External Advisory Board for the PACESETTERS Project, a groundbreaking Horizon-funded alliance of 15 international partners. The project unites climate scientists, creative practitioners, and cultural institutions to explore bold, innovative responses to the climate transition. By combining artistic and practice-based research, PACESETTERS aims to generate sustainable ideas, test strategies for resilience, and empower local communities to lead the way in fostering more just and sustainable economies. We were delighted to be a part of these meaningful collaborations that drive international engagement with some fantastic partners.

As the year draws to a close, we are reflecting on some of the remarkable projects brought to life by our incredible partners. We work in partnership and collaboration to support, develop, and facilitate. It’s been our privilege to play a role in enabling these inspiring initiatives. In 2024, we worked with partners to support skill-building, audience engagement, and recognition for the cultural sector, ensuring Galway’s vibrant cultural scene continued to thrive and connect with diverse audiences. Here’s a snapshot of some of the projects we supported in this area: ▪️ Galway Street Ambassadors In collaboration with Volunteer Galway, the Street Ambassadors welcomed visitors to Galway, sharing local insights and cultural knowledge to help them feel at home. This initiative also supported the arts and culture sector by promoting events while building ambassador skills in customer service and community engagement. ▪️ Audience Development Training Programme Partnering with The Audience Agency, this programme helped 16 organisations enhance their understanding of audience development and craft strategies to grow and connect with their audiences more effectively. ▪️ Galway Arts Centre Artist Development Workshops Organised by curator and writer Iarlaith Ní Fheorais, these workshops provided artists across Galway and the West with tools for access, social engagement, and creative grant writing. Designed to empower artists, they focused on equipping them with the skills needed to create impactful work and seize opportunities. ▪️ Culture and Creativity Award For the third consecutive year, the cultural sector was celebrated at the Galway Chamber Business Awards. This award highlights the vital contribution of Galway’s cultural sector to business and community life. This year's winner was Branar. A huge well done and thank you to our partners for all they do for the sector!

As the year draws to a close, we are reflecting on some of the remarkable projects brought to life by our incredible partners. We work in partnership and collaboration to support, develop, and facilitate. It’s been our privilege to play a role in enabling these inspiring initiatives. This year, we were proud to support a range of bursaries and residencies, offering artists opportunities to develop their practice and thrive. Here’s a snapshot of what we supported this year: ▪️ Macnas Career Development Bursaries In partnership with Macnas - Spectacle Theatre Company, we supported 16 creatives with travel bursaries, enabling them to learn from artists and cultural partners across Europe. ▪️Branar Meitheal International Residencies With Branar, we are supporting two international residencies, offering artists and producers opportunities to connect and collaborate with creators in France and New York, expanding their practice globally. ▪️Galway International Arts Festival Elevate Bursaries We partnered with Galway International Arts Festival to support 7 bursaries, helping artists in Galway develop sustainable creative practices and careers. Round 2 will see more bursaries in 2025! ▪️Galway Arts Centre Artist Bursaries We supported Galway Arts Centre to award 10 artist bursaries, providing funding for time, research, materials, and mentorship to develop their work and practice. ▪️Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society Residencies In collaboration with Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society we supported two residencies focusing on writing, nature, and visual arts, celebrating the legacy of the Yeats family. ▪️Druid FUEL Partnering with Druid Theatre Company, we facilitated professional development for 4 emerging theatre-makers through the FUEL programme, providing EU-based cultural immersion experiences. ▪️Architecture at the Edge Design Lab Bursaries Through Architecture at the Edge, we funded bursaries for creative practitioners championing young people and innovative approaches to the built environment. Sincere thanks to our partners for their hard work on these programmes.

As the year draws to a close, we are reflecting on some of the remarkable projects brought to life by our incredible partners. We work in partnership and collaboration to support, develop, and facilitate. It’s been our privilege to play a role in enabling these inspiring initiatives. In 2024, we supported the Digital Creative Industries through projects at the intersection of art, technology, and design, empowering creatives to innovate, embrace new technologies, and build global partnerships. Here are some of the projects we've supported in this area: ▪️ Virtual Production Creative Residencies In collaboration with Ardán and Galway City of Film, we welcomed European virtual production practitioners to Galway, fostering collaboration and facilitating the exchange of skills and expertise between our local creative industries, research community, and international practitioners. ▪️ Cybernate This digital arts residency, a collaboration between Ireland and France, challenged artists and producers to reimagine access to public spaces through digital art. 2024 saw a 2nd successful round of the residency supporting 4 artists and 2 producers, produced by Culture Works (IE), with support from Galway County Council, Embassy of France in Ireland and Réseau HACNUM, and in partnership with Pôle PIXEL, CREW, ATU Galway City School of Design and Creative Arts and the Centre for Creative Technologies @ University of Galway. ▪️ CREW Creative Practitioner Residencies We partnered with CREW as they work to foster a vibrant creative enterprise community in Galway, supporting multidisciplinary practitioners in their journey of innovation and entrepreneurship with 4 residency opportunities. ▪️ Designer in Residence Programme In partnership with Institute of Designers in Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office Galway, this programme saw 5 talented designers from the West of Ireland teamed up with forward-thinking businesses, using design to solve real-world challenges in innovative ways. ▪️ Digital Artist in Residence Exchange In partnership with Centre for Creative Technologies @ University of Galway and the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology at Virginia Tech, this residency bridged continents, inviting artists to explore new ways of integrating digital technology into their creative practices. ▪️ Galway Film Fleadh European Programme We continued to support the Europa Film Festivals network and the Peripheral Visions Competition, which strengthens European film festivals and celebrates emerging filmmakers, bolstering Galway’s role as a UNESCO City of Film. ▪️ S+T+ARTS4WaterII We were proud to support this European initiative that is using artistic residencies as catalysts for innovation, addressing global water challenges, with three residencies hosted across Ireland, including one at Port of Galway. Partners included ADAPT Centre, Beta Festival & many others. A huge well done to all our partners on these fantastic projects in 2024!

Huge congratulations to our colleagues EIT Culture & Creativity and to Niccolo Caderni and Bernd Fesel and all the amazing team Great news for our sector

Fantastic news! Congratulations to Eduard Valenzuela, Brian Ó Curnáin and Architecture at the Edge. Bayanihan: Building A Community looked like a fantastic project. We were delighted to support the 2024 Architecture at the Edge Design Lab bursaries.

Another week in the books! It’s been a brilliant and busy start to December. Here’s our roundup of news from the week: ▶️ Earlier this week our board member Kenneth Deery represented us in Brussels at the SPECTRA Insights and Future Visions Forum at European Parliament. The event brought together leaders and innovators hosted by Western Development Commission and Maria Walsh, and showcased the achievements of the SPECTRA project, underlining the transformative power of creativity and its vital role in driving regional growth. By fostering collaboration and sharing innovative approaches, SPECTRA has provided a framework to strengthen creative communities and unlock new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. Read more about SPECTRA here: https://lnkd.in/e25RvGSq ▶️Last Friday we had a fantastic evening at the Galway Chamber Business Awards where companies were honoured for their exceptional talent, groundbreaking innovations, and extraordinary achievements. We were proud to present the 2024 Culture and Creativity Award to Branar, whose dedication to creating world-class theatre for young audiences truly inspires and enriches our community. Congratulations again to all the finalists and winners! Check out the highlight video of the evening here: https://lnkd.in/eYjafE_i ▶️In EU opportunities this week, we shared a cross-sector call from Creative Europe for the Creative Innovation Lab. This call supports the design, development, and replication of innovative tools, models or solutions that are applicable to the audiovisual and cultural and creative sectors. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eCQSudW7 ▶️In case you missed it, there were a couple lovely pieces shared this week relating to some of our projects that took place this year, including:  🔶 A nice article featuring the digital arts residency Cybernate by Réseau HACNUM that discusses how residencies like Cybernate are shaping the future of artistic exchange: https://lnkd.in/ePywhMHF 🔶 A lovely video from Kieran Cooney and Studio@5 on the Virtual Production Creative Residencies featuring the work that took place with Diego Hernandez: https://lnkd.in/eJx4HtVg We hope everyone stays warm and dry this weekend!