€182k in arts grants to Louth

TWO Drogheda arts organisations are to receive over €100,000 in grants between them, with a further €80,000 going to another Louth-based group.

The Upstate Theatre Project from Drogheda will receive €95,000 for Participation in Arts, the Louth Contemporary Music Company will receive €80,000 to invest in their music programme with €7,000 going to Drogheda Classical Music again to invest in their music programme.

“This is significant funding and recognition for some of the outstanding artistic talent here in county Louth, particularly as we approach the much anticipated Fleadh Cheoil in August,” commented local TD Fergus O’Dowd.

Upstate Theatre Project is a community-engaged performing arts organisation founded by Declan Mallon in 1997 and their workshop programme is designed as a place where people can collectively work in collaboration with artists to realise performances based on themes, ideas, and issues of mutual interest.

Drogheda Classical Music, which has just announced their line-up for 2018/2019, was founded in 2012 by local musician and artistic advisor Pauline Ashwood and brings the finest international classical artists to the area.

Formed in 2006 by Eamonn Quinn, Louth Contemporary Music Society (LCMS) seeks excellence and innovation in contemporary music programming in Ireland, by presenting the leading international composers of our time in person.