Dublin Culture Night: An Evening of Arts and Creativity
Dublin Culture Night is set to celebrate its 19th edition this Friday, 20th September, promising an evening filled with creativity and cultural experiences. Thousands of people are expected to participate in this annual celebration of arts and culture, which features a wide range of activities from theatre, music, and dance to podcasting, painting, and poetry. From the capital’s iconic heritage sites to its quirky off-beat arts venues, all events are completely free to attend, inviting everyone of all ages to join the festivities.
City Sounds: Transforming Dublin Streets into Open-Air Dance Floors
One of the exciting new initiatives for this year’s Culture Night is “City Sounds,” supported by Dublin City Council. Starting at 9pm on Culture Night, a number of Dublin streets will be transformed into outdoor dance floors, highlighting Ireland’s growing soundsystem culture. Essex Street will feature the iconic Bang Bike mobile sound system, playing old-school classics. Capel Street will host a lineup of Techno DJs curated by Interruption, and Central Plaza will showcase the Cork-based collective Rise Up Soundsystem.
Conor “Jonezy” Jones of Rise Up Soundsystem expressed his excitement for the event, encouraging the public to join the celebrations. “Visitors to Dublin city this Culture Night are in for a fantastic experience! We will be hosting an open-air party at Central Plaza on Dame Street, celebrating electronic music and soundsystem culture. A variety of DJs will be performing genres including bass-heavy tracks, reggae, dancehall, garage, and jungle. This event promises to be a unique occasion and first for Dublin city. I encourage people of all ages to come by, you won’t be disappointed.”
Artistic and Cultural Offerings Across Dublin
In addition to the musical festivities, this year’s Culture Night programme includes several specially commissioned events supported by Dublin City Council. Meeting House Square will be a hive of activity with everything from neurodivergent-friendly circus spectacle and “Queer Set Dancing” to live performances from artists like Culchie Goth, Roo Honeychild, JyellowL, and electronic DJs curated by BPM Energy Ltd.
Wood Quay Amphitheatre will host a unique event honoring Mongolian culture, featuring traditional Mongolian throat singing, dance, and music. Additionally, a bi-lingual cabaret show will showcase several spectacular divas celebrating the beauty of the Irish language. For those looking to continue the celebrations into the early hours, the “Nocturnal Beats” Late Night Venue Trail will showcase electronic music and DJ culture across a variety of nightclubs, late-night bars, and cultural spaces throughout the city.
Museums and heritage sites will also play a significant role in Culture Night, staying open late and hosting specially curated events. The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) will present “Earth Rising,” a festival of free events addressing the climate crisis. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral will feature a choral performance by the Cathedral Choristers, and the Abbey Presbyterian Church will showcase music, art, and a tasting of African cuisine. Younger visitors can enjoy 3-D making workshops at Chester Beatty.
Exploring Dublin’s Visual Arts Scene
Culture Night is an excellent opportunity to delve into Dublin’s visual arts scene, with many notable exhibitions taking place throughout the night. Flux Studio on Chatham Row will launch its new artist studios with a group show from its members. Graphic Studio Gallery will host a solo exhibition featuring Ailbhe Barrett, with an opportunity to explore printmaking. Pallas Projects and Studios will offer tours of their latest exhibition by artist Neva Elliott, and The Hungarian Embassy will present an exhibition highlighting the Weeping Virgin Mother of Győr, known as the Irish Madonna.
Culture Night Dublin promises to be a vibrant and engaging evening, showcasing the diversity and richness of the city’s cultural offerings. Whether you’re interested in music, dance, visual arts, or heritage, there is something for everyone to enjoy on this special night of celebration. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience Dublin’s thriving arts scene in a fun and interactive way this Culture Night.
