Wexford County Council has announced funding for 20 festivals in the county, supporting a diverse range of artistic events and promoting tourism. The funding will contribute to the vibrant arts and cultural scene in County Wexford.

20 Festivals in Wexford County Awarded Funding for 2024

( Credit to: Southeastradio )

Wexford County Council has recently announced that 20 festivals in the county have been awarded funding for 2024 through the Arts Office Small Arts Festival Fund and Fáilte Ireland Festival Scheme. This investment amounts to a total of €50,000, which will greatly benefit our local communities.

The grant scheme was divided into two strands this year. The first strand, the Small Arts Festival Grant, aimed to support a diverse range of small arts festivals and experimental artistic events throughout Wexford County. The second strand, the Fáilte Ireland Festival Grant, focused on festivals that drive domestic tourism and improve the visitor experience in County Wexford.

Small Arts Festival Grant: Supporting Artistic Quality and Public Engagement

The Small Arts Festival Grant, with a total fund of €25,000, aimed to support festivals of artistic quality with a strong emphasis on public engagement. It welcomed applications promoting cross-disciplinary artistic collaborations and experimentation.

Fáilte Ireland Festival Grant: Promoting Historic, Cultural, and Food Festivals

The Fáilte Ireland Festival Grant, also with a total fund of €25,000, aimed to support festivals that drive domestic tourism and improve the visitor experience. It focused on historic festivals, traditional culture festivals, and festivals promoting food culture.

A Diverse Range of Festivals Awarded Funding

Out of 37 applications, 20 festivals in Wexford County were awarded funding ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 each. These festivals cover a wide range of artistic disciplines and cultural themes, showcasing the vibrant and diverse arts scene in Wexford County.

• The Gap Arts Festival 2024: A weekend of celebrations, collaborations, and unique stories within the local landscape.
• The Gorey May Bush Féile 2024: Community engagement events culminating in a final performance.
• Flow Youth Dance Festival: Two days dedicated to dance workshops and live performances for young people.
• New Ross Guitar Festival: Showcasing local and international guitarists through concerts, workshops, and busking events.
• FuddleFest: A multi-genre music experience over two days in the rural environment of Fuddletown Farm.
• Jazz at Johnstown: Three days of jazz music across multiple stages, including evening concerts at Johnstown Castle.
• 'Write By The Sea' Literary Festival: Readings, interviews, discussions, and workshops with writers from around the world.
• 'SpringMoves' Dance Festival: Celebrating dance with workshops, street performances, and talks for all ages.
• One Voice Festival: Wexford Reflections 1974-2024: Showcasing new playwrighting voices in Wexford through monologue plays.

Enriching County Wexford's Cultural Scene

These festivals, among others, bring unique cultural experiences to County Wexford, attracting visitors and enriching the local community. The funding provided by Wexford County Council and Fáilte Ireland will ensure the success and sustainability of these festivals, contributing to the vibrant arts and cultural scene in the county.