Council awards €21,000 to small arts festivals

The Arts Department of Wexford County Council has awarded a total of €21,000 in grants to Small Arts Festivals and Experimental Art Avents taking place in the county during 2018.

The new grants scheme aims to promote and support a diverse range of arts events with a focus on festivals and events of high artistic quality that are innovative and have a strong emphasis on public engagement.

There are 11 recipients for 2018 including Gap Arts Festival, Gorey; Eugene O’Neill International Festival of Theatre, New Ross; Wexford Film Documentary Festival, Kilmore; Music & Literature Event with Crow Duo & Gorey Writers Group, Gorey; Wexford May Bush Festival, Enniscorthy; Write by the Sea Festival, Kilmore; Streams of Bunclody Festival, Bunclody; New Ross Piano Festival; Artists Book Symposium, Kilmore; WexWorlds Sci-Fi & Fantasy Festival, Wexford; Thanksgiving Song & Poetry Festival with Lon Dubh Productions, Foulksmills.

County Arts Officer Liz Burns said the Arts Department was delighted to have received such a great response to the recent call for funding applications under the scheme.

‘It highlights the variety and quality of such arts festivals and events taking place throughout County Wexford in urban and rural context.’

‘As the overall fund is limited to €21,000,it was a difficult selection process,’ said Liz. She wished all the festival success with their ventures in the coming year.