Culture Night 2024

Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2024 will be held across Ireland on Friday, September 20^th. Last year, 1,205,834 participants from all backgrounds and sectors came together to celebrate diversity, culture, and the arts at over 1,700 Culture Night events nationwide.

New Communities Partnership is thrilled to join the Culture Night 2024 Steering Committee, contributing to the organisation and oversight of events across Ireland. This all-island, free public event promotes the sharing and appreciation of culture, diversity, and creativity. This year will mark the 19^th annual Culture Night, and we are delighted to offer our support and expertise as stakeholder.

Initiated by the Temple Bar Cultural Trust and Dublin City Council, the first Culture Night took place in 2006 as a small local event in Dublin’s Temple Bar neighbourhood. That first year, forty collaborators shared their vision of culture and art. By 2007, the number of participating cultural venues had more than doubled, and by 2010, Culture Night events had spread to ten cities across Ireland.  Since then, Culture Night has continued to expand its reach. In 2012, Culture Night became an international phenomenon, taking place in London, Leeds, Belfast, Newcastle, and Liverpool. By 2017, thousands of events were held in cities and towns across Ireland, the UK, Paris, and New York. In 2019, the Arts Council took over responsibility for Culture Night in collaboration with local authorities and cultural organizations. Culture Night’s growth in scale and geography since its humble beginnings in Temple Bar is a testament to the magic and connection that flourish when creativity and culture are made accessible.

Culture Night celebrates the rich arts, music, and heritage cherished and practised in daily life across Ireland while encouraging curiosity, learning, and participation in our neighbor’s diverse cultural traditions. Events begin in the afternoon and continue late into the evening. Museums, galleries, tours, dance, workshops, films, live music, exhibitions, and more will be accessible to the public free of charge. This year’s events encompass everything from The Historical Harp Society of Ireland sharing the live music, history, and hands-on workshop of the ancient Irish harp at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, to an Italian book reading and game night held at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, to tours and celebrations of lifelong learning spread out over six floors at the National College of Ireland, and so much more.

We at New Communities Partnership are proud to play a pivotal role in guiding the 2024 Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir and are eager to experience this incredible night full of unique events firsthand. Everyone, from everywhere, is invited to discover and enjoy the cultures from around the globe that make up Ireland’s rich cultural diversity. Visit here for more information and for the 2024 programme.