It’s back – finally.
After two years of pandemic hiatus, Culture Night is back for 2022 – and it’s bigger and better than ever.
Next Friday, September 23rd, we come together to celebrate the diversity of culture in Ireland with more than 1,000 events taking place up and down the country.
With events happening late into the night from art to architecture, culture to comedy, music to museums, handcrafting to heritage, sport to science, film to fashion, dance, literature and much more, Culture Night is a truly special occasion and the perfect opportunity to visit a venue, try something new or make your return to the cultural scene in a safe, easy and enjoyable way.
Brought to you by the Arts Council in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations throughout the country, Culture Night puts a spotlight on the quality and breadth of Ireland’s existing cultural offerings and institutions, as well as introducing new venues and emerging talent.
And the best bit? There are tons of things to see and do with kids, so you can enjoy this night together as a family.
Here are just some of the events taking place across the country next Friday night:
Musical Theatre Sing-Along, Rockwell Music Academy, Cahir, Tipperary
Rockwell Music Academy, Carrigeen Industrial Estate, Cahir, Co. Tipperary will host a musical sing-a-long on Culture Night, Friday 23rd September, from 7pm to 8pm. It will be specifically designed for families, with capacity for 50 people to attend. We encourage everyone to get into the spirit of things and dress up for the occasion. You can specify at booking any additional languages your family may speak so we can add and adapt our set list. Snacks and props will be provided on the night also. So sign up and sing up!
Luke’s Deadly Dinosaurs, Carnew Library, Wicklow
An hour long fun and interactive workshop where you will look at some of the most spectacular dinosaurs ever to have lived. A combination of models, 3D printed replicas and real fossils will feature. Children will also get to meet and greet Reggie, the baby T-Rex! Booking essential, please call (053) 942 6088 during library opening hours. This event is supported by Wicklow Arts Office and Wicklow Library Services and funded by Creative Ireland.
Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic, Dublin
Are you a young reader? Looking for a new series to delve into? Feeling uninspired by your bookshelves at home? Then pop into the Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic at St Andrew’s Street Post Office proudly supported by An Post! Young readers and their families are invited to drop in for an informal consultation with one of Children’s Books Ireland’s friendly Book Doctors, who are ready to offer the best advice for young readers. The consultation begins with some questions about books the young reader previously read as well as activities, movies, TV shows and video games they enjoy. This lets the Book Doctor know a little bit more about the patient so they can write a book prescription, which is a personalised list of books recommended for the individual patient. Every patient leaves the Book Clinic with a book prescription to take to their local library or bookshop to have filled.
Making Shapes & Flying Colours, Temple Bar, Dublin
Through a fun colour trail children are guided through The Ark building to the Gallery, where they are introduced to a Philip Flanagan painting, which has recently become part of The Ark’s permanent collection. Artist Asha O’Neill will lead a 20 minute taster, visual arts workshop responding to this painting. This lively, hands-on workshop will explore the visual magic that happens when you combine strong colours with bold shapes – straight, ragged, wavy and curved! Participants will build their own bold and colourful artworks, which may be decorative, representative or completely abstract and can be taken home with pride.The 6pm workshop will be delivered in Polish.
Tour of the Garda Museum, The Garda Museum, Dublin
The Garda Museum welcomes you to take a tour through the last 300 years of policing in Ireland on this, the Centenary year of An Garda Síochána. We will be welcoming people through our doors on Culture Night for a self guided tour of the Garda Museum. We will also be making our virtual tour available in the evening for those unable to attend.
Illustration for Children: Workshop with artist Daniele Trombetti, Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin
Have your crayons and pencils ready and enjoy this workshop on illustration for children with artist Daniele Trombetti where you’ll learn how to draw fantastic worlds and characters. Daniele was born in Imola (Italy). He published illustrated books for children, and collaborated with various Italian and foreign publishers, writing the texts and illustrations for his books. Room: 1st floor. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Age Suitability: 8+
A Family-Friendly Evening of Dance at CoisCéim, Clontarf, Dublin
This year, come and take a glimpse inside CoisCéim’s new studio at the landmark building with a family-friendly programme of dance gems, including cinema-style screenings of the international hit ‘The Wolf And Peter’ by David Bolger and more.
Explorative Drawing and Eco-experiments, Void Gallery, Derry
Join Void for a family drop-in workshop inspired by Luke Fowler’s exhibition, “Being in a Place – A Portrait of Margaret Tait”, led by artists Zoe McSparron and Anna Barclay. Explore the exhibition through various creative mediums. The gallery floor transforms to a giant collaborative sketchpad, the education space becomes a creative eco-laboratory and personal drawing boards are available for participants to conduct independent drawing experiments.
Story Time & Interactive Dance Performance, Navan, Meath
Celebrate the joy of storytelling and contemporary dance in this year’s inclusive family event. Selma Daniel from Little Lion Dance Theatre together with a dance performer, will guide you in an immersive experience, exploring a picture book in a unique and fun way. Booking is required (please book 1 ticket per family). No dance experience necessary. Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.
Puppets will take on the role of tour guides, showing children around the Crawford Art Gallery. Exploring the Meat and Potatoes exhibition, the puppets will talk about some of the artworks, engage the children with stories and create an interactive fun experience for all. Suitable for children aged 6+.
Junior Explorer at the GAA Museum, Dublin
Join us for Junior Explorer Night at the GAA Museum. Younger visitors are encouraged to take a Junior Explorer passport and find the answers to the questions amidst the museum’s exhibitions. Learn about the evolution of the GAA and see some awesome objects along the way! We’ll also have pop-up workshops, colouring in Chulainn’s Den and pitch viewings. Advance online bookings only.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Through the Ages, Dublin
Take a journey through the ages with our expert guides who will recount the epic story of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Beautiful multilingual audio guides are also available in seven languages for those looking to tailor their experience through an immersive self-guided tour. Share some snaps online at our selfie station and step into character as Jonathan Swift or pose as Ireland’s patron St. Patrick. Family activities and treasure hunts will be in full swing on the night, as well as a competition for Culture Night visitors to win a behind the scenes tour to the belfry and the roof!
Crazy Art Halloween Prop Making by Mags Rudnicka, Tipperary Town
Crazy Art by Mags Rudnicka, a workshop for 8-12yrs creating fun props for Halloween. This workshop will include lots of painting and collage. Mags will teach the children how to discover their inner artist. She will help them to use their imagination and guide them through the process of creating their own masterpiece. Because “Every child IS an artist.” waiting to be discovered so let’s enable our kids to express themselves and learn who they are through art.
What a character – TADA! Theatre School, Thomastown Community Centre, Kilkenny
Participants will take part in a fun drama workshop with writer and drama facilitator, Gillian Grattan. This workshop will focus on the creation of a character and then build a short scene around the character they have created, using a box of tricks that will be provided on the day! Following this, participants will work together to create short scenes for their characters.
Trinity Geological Museum: After Hours, Dublin
The ‘Story of the Earth’ exhibition highlights the geological evolution of the planet, with displays of rocks, minerals and fossils. Discover some of the museum’s hidden treasures, retrieved from storage for the occasion – including ammonites, trilobites, volcanic rocks and beautiful minerals. Come see the Attenborosaurus, named after Sir David Attenborough! Usually open by appointment only, not to be missed.
Painting Mirror presented by the French Embassy at the National Gallery, Dublin
Take part in this fun, interactive outdoor digital art installation presented by the French Embassy in association with the National Gallery of Ireland. A real-time digital exhibition that puts you in the frame of your own masterpiece on a grand scale as we project your portrait or landscape onto the historical Merrion Square façade. For kids & adults alike, join in and have your picture taken & mirrored on the walls in the style of Claude Monet, Mainie Jellett or other masters. Be our muse and take part in this fun digital experience inspired by Irish, French & European chefs-d’oeuvre from the NGI collection & accompanied by Dj sets! From anywhere in Ireland, France & beyond you can view the live projection on our Facebook Live & participate by sending your landscape photo in advance.
An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, Louth
Explore all that An Táin Arts Centre has to offer at this late evening event for all the family with special performances from our School of Music throughout the evening. All events are free to attend, no booking required! Events include: Face painting with Linda McC and Tara Tine, storytelling workshop with Tara Tine, late night gallery opening, artist studio and painting workshops with our Emerging Artist in Residence, Lijuan McQuillan, Open Studio at Bó Studios and Open Mic Night with An Táin Arts Centre’s School of Music, presented by Grow Music, showcasing our fabulous students and teachers.
Hands-on-History:Create A Train at Castlerea Railway Museum, Castlerea, Roscommon
All aboard for a special craft workshop to create and decorate your own toy train! Join Scéal Heritage Consultancy to build, paint, and decorate your own small locomotive train cab, and learn about the story of the first trains. During the workshop, step on board a real train in the Museum! Experience what it was like to be the train driver, pretend to be a passenger, and discover the exciting history of trains in Ireland! The workshop is suitable for children aged 7 to 12 years old. Participation in the workshop is free, but places are limited, so advance booking is essential.
For more information on Culture Night, check out www.culturenight.ie
