“Celebrate, Discover and Explore”
The programme for Culture Night Dublin 2024 is unveiled
Irish-Palestinian trad concert and open-air dance floors announced as part of September 20th celebrations
The programme for Culture Night Dublin 2024 has officially been announced. The annual night time celebration of culture will take place on Friday, 20 September, with over 300 events throughout Dublin city and county. Museums, galleries, cathedrals, studios, libraries, parks, government buildings, theatres, and more will open their doors to the public, as the city comes to life with specially arranged tours, workshops, exhibitions, and performances.
This year’s programme also includes several specially commissioned events supported by Dublin City Council:
The Wood Quay Amphitheatre will feature Seisiún Palaistíneach, a traditional music concert uniting Irish and Palestinian musicians, along with opportunities to learn the Dabkeh, the traditional dance of Palestine. The concert will feature Palestinian artists Abdullah Al Bayyari, Leen Maarouf and Latif Midoume, and members of Irish trad music group Faró.
A ground-breaking pop-up project by artist Rita Marcalo, titled “Dancing With Strangers: From Palestine to Ireland” will invite members of the public to take part in dance routines based on audio instructions sent by Palestinian dancers who can not be present due to the ongoing conflict.
At Meeting House Square celebrations will kick off with an event titled “Squish Stomp Spin, The Magic of Stim” using circus and spectacle to destigmatize stimming and promote positive representation for neurodivergent individuals. There will be “Queer Set Dancing” classes, and a packed evening of live performances from hip-hop artist JyellowL, Culchie Goth, Roo Honey Child, followed by an array of electronic DJs curated by BPM Energy Ltd.
Central Plaza will transform into a “Brazilian paradise” with introductory classes in Brazilian Forró dance, along with performances by Dublin’s renowned samba group, 353 Samba Club, celebrated for their electrifying rhythms and engaging stage presence.
Later in the night, a new initiative called “City Sounds” will highlight Ireland’s emerging soundsystem culture, turning Central Plaza, Essex Street, and Capel Street into open-air dance floors. Each location will offer its own distinct vibe and rhythm, showcasing the rich diversity of Ireland’s electronic music scene with performances from collectives such as Rise Up Soundsystem, Bang Bike and Interruption.
For those looking to celebrate long into the night, “Nocturnal Beats” Late Night Venue Trail offers a celebration of electronic music and DJ Culture across a host of nightclubs, late night bars and cultural spaces. Participating venues include, Index, Tengu, Pygmalion, Hen’s Teeth, Fidelity, Love Tempo and Wigwam.
Speaking at the programme launch the Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan invited audiences to join the celebrations:
“Join us on September 20th for the annual cultural-nocturnal extravaganza. Culture Night is our chance to celebrate, discover and explore all that Dublin’s vibrant arts and culture scene has to offer. From theatre, music, and dance to podcasting, painting and poetry, countless surprises await at iconic heritage sites and quirky venues alike! Once a year, we come together to honour the amazing talent of our artists, creatives, and arts workers who make Dublin city a wonderful place to live and work.”
This year’s Culture Night Dublin features over 250 venues. At the National Concert Hall on Earlsfort Terrace, the National Symphony Orchestra will hold an evening dedicated to contemporary American composers John Luther Adams and Philip Glass. Atelier Now on Charlemont Street will host an open studio with artist Maser, while the artists’ studios, Flux, on Chatham Row will celebrate their official opening with a members’ exhibition.
The Abbey Theatre will offer complimentary tickets to the dress rehearsal of their upcoming production Grania, and CoisCéim Dance Theatre will provide free tickets for their performance DanceHall Blues.
Food lovers can enjoy engaging discussions about the bakery’s rich heritage at The Bretzel Bakery on Lennox Street, while sampling freshly baked artisanal breads and pastries. The Patriot’s Walk, a Living History walking tour from Dublin Castle to Kilmainham Gaol, will commemorate the heroes of 1916, and there will be a family-friendly 5km bike disco ride in Phoenix Park.
The full programme of events is now live. See culturenight.ie/Dublin
Culture Night Dublin will take place on 20th September. Supported by Dublin City Council and The Arts Council of Ireland.
