Museums and galleries to open at night over summer and autumn

Museums and art galleries will be hosting night-time tours and events during the summer and autumn under plans unveiled by Minister for Culture Catherine Martin on Tuesday.

The process of appointing night-time-economy advisers for six towns and cities is also due to begin as part of post-pandemic efforts to revitalise nightlife in Ireland’s urban centres.

Funding has been provided to allow National Cultural Institutions to open later in the evening in the coming months.

There are also plans for the National Concert Hall, Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and the National Museum of Ireland to host large-scale pilot events this year, and to trial new and more diverse offerings later into the night.

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The initiatives have been brought about as a result of recommendations made by the night-time economy taskforce which was set up by Ms Martin to support a “vibrant, diverse, and sustainable night-time economy”.

In June to August the national museum will be opening late on Thursdays at its Collins Barracks and Kildare Street locations.

The National Library will open up its rotunda and reading room to evening audiences and will host a new series of evening events from September to December.

The Crawford Art Gallery in Cork will host a series of new Thursday night tours until 8pm.

Elsewhere the “IMMA nights” programme will continue until mid-September

Each Thursday and Friday throughout a pilot season, IMMA will open its 48-acre grounds to a range of activities including talks workshops, art, dance and theatre performances, DJs and live music.

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Separately, the selection process has begun to pick six towns or cities to take part in the new nocturnal economy pilot programme.

Ms Martin said: “The establishment of night-time advisers … will be a significant step towards securing a vibrant and importantly a more sustainable night-time culture for all our citizens.”

The process is being led by the City and County Managers Association which has recently issued a call to all local authorities to apply for funding to establish the role in their town or city.

The closing date for applications is June 24th and the chosen towns or cities will be announced this summer.