The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, announced new initiatives for the Night-time Economy which includes a new pilot scheme, in partnership with the Arts Council, to help existing arts and cultural spaces open their doors to new late night activity, a €2 million capital grant scheme to support venues implement soundproofing measures at their venues to reduce noise at night and an exciting new pilot initiative to turn Dublin’s newest oldest Market into an early evening and night-time outdoor food and culture destination.
The Late Night Events Pilot Programme, which is being rolled out by the Arts Council and funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is aimed at art centres in towns and cities around the country, who are in receipt of Arts Council Art Centre Funding or Arts Grant Funding (arts centres). The selected pilot art centres will be required to host events late at night, events could range from traditional music to electronic music, DJ nights, theatre, comedy or dance. The pilots will also seek to identify and address any challenges which arts centres may associate with staying open late. Funding of up to €60,000 is available for the selected lead arts centre.
Announcing the Night-Time Economy initiatives, Minister Martin said, “the Late Night Events Pilot Programme which I am announcing today, will seek to use our publicly funded cultural spaces around the country to their fullest potential and make them appealing to new audiences. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Arts Council for their support in the management and development of this Pilot Programme and for their continued support in finding creative solutions to opening up much needed space in the late night economy.”
Speaking, Arts Council Director Maureen Kennelly said, “the Arts Council is delighted to partner with the Department in creating the pilot programme for Late Night Events, which advances the recommendations of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce. Following the Night-Time Economy Forum organised by the Arts Council in the National Gallery in January, a pilot scheme for arts centres has been created whereby arts centres are invited to apply for funding to work with other stakeholders in exploring a wide range of late night opportunities to take place either in arts centres or elsewhere. This scheme will be supported by research to assess the outcomes of the scheme and it will provide direction for further initiatives in the future.”
The Noise Mitigation Grant Scheme announced is targeted at late night venues, such as nightclubs and late night live music venues that are in need of funding support to help reduce noise emissions in and outside their venues. A maximum allowable grant of €70,000 will be made available per project, to fund works such as the installation/replacement of noise cancelling systems, the construction of acoustic absorbers and the installation of outdoor noise barriers.
The scheme is also being launched ahead of the proposed reform of the alcohol licensing laws and will help support any planned modification of opening hours for nightclubs and other late night venues operating in the Night-Time Economy. Further details in relation to this scheme can be found here.
Minister Martin added, “I am also launching a new Noise Mitigation Grant Scheme today which will help support our late night sector to implement noise reduction measures at their venues and will help improve relationships with local residents and businesses. If we are going to develop our cities and towns as vibrant places to live, socialise and work, we need to manage the Night-Time Economy in a balanced way so we support those residents living in our busy towns and cities, whilst also supporting the growth and development of our Night-Time Economy Sector. I want to also acknowledge that it has been a difficult time for late night venues since the pandemic and I am aware that the cost of living crisis has put further pressure on our Night-Time Economy Sector. I will continue to work with the industry as we continue to navigate our way through this particularly challenging period.”
The Department provided details on support for a cultural programme of events for “Summer Nights at Moore Street” which is supported by Dublin City Council through the Office of City Recovery. The events which began last week, will take place every Thursday night from now until the 6th of August and will feature eclectic food stalls from around the world plus a full programme of street art, live music, storytelling, magic, and circus performances. This initiative is part of a wider strategic partnership with Dublin City Council to provide a series of night-markets in Dublin City which will also be rolled out to towns around the country in future, to support efforts to provide inclusive and exciting diverse offerings that do not centre around the sale of alcohol.
Minister Martin continued, “the Summer Nights at Moore Street which started last Thursday will celebrate Dublin’s rich market history by mixing cultural events, live music, live art, artisan craft and food. I am delighted to be partnering with Dublin City Council and The Temple Bar Company on this new initiative on Moore Street which is playing a vital cultural and commercial role for Dublin’s creative community. This pilot will support the learnings for further expansion of Night-Markets in Dublin City and around the country in the future.”
