Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Culture Night has grown from a relatively small-scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is, with more than 400,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres across the country on the night. I have been very impressed at the variety of events I have been able to attend on Culture Night as Minister. In 2018, a total of 1,606 venues across the island of Ireland participated in Culture Night, with an attendance of 420,000. Nationally, events are run in partnership with local authorities. Events were also held throughout Northern Ireland and overseas. In 2018, Sligo hosted 38 events in 19 venues and welcomed 2,435 visitors.

Culture Night 2019 will take place on Friday, 20 September from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Details of events in every area are available on . It is anticipated that attendance figures will increase this year. This year Sligo has been allocated funding of €4,500 to assist with the cost of events. This funding is provided on a matched funding basis through the local authority.

I know that Sligo has always been a place with a vibrant, active and devoted cultural community. Some of the innovative events in the Sligo programme for 2019 include Art House Open Studio, Sligo Global Kitchen at the Model and Culture Comhrá at the Hawk's Well Theatre.

My Department has also allocated a further €183,005 to projects in the Sligo area through my Department's Creative Ireland programme in 2018 and 2019, including "His Deep Gaze" and for activities in Cruinniú na nÓg.

The cultural scene is bubbling and bursting with new ideas and pioneering practices, and is winning the world over. It calls on people across Ireland not to miss out and get out and support our culture creators, big and small, across the country on Friday. Around every corner there will be something to explore from awesome animation and stunning light projections to rattling reading and pulsating performances, exhilarating exhibitions and resounding concerts.

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