Dozens of Dublin's museums, galleries and theatres will take part in a new cultural initiative next month.
The inaugural Culture Night, modelled on well-established projects in Paris and Rome, will give visitors free access to some of the capital's leading cultural spaces on Friday, September 22nd.
Some 40 participating venues - many of which will remain open after 9pm - will include the recently reopened Hugh Lane Gallery, the Temple Bar Music Centre and the National Museum of Ireland, where the Bog Bodies will be on exhibit.
Further offerings will include outdoor films in Meeting House Square, the Yeats exhibition at the National Library and A Tribute to the Ryder Cup in Collins Barracks.
Organisers will devise three suggested routes around the city to help guide people to the various locations with ease, while a bus has been provided by the Office of Public Works to shuttle people around the city on the evening.
Gráinne Millar, head of cultural development at the Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT), said the project's aim is to encourage those who might not normally visit a gallery or museum to do so.
"The key to Culture Night is promoting accessibility - it's about opening doors. There is an undercurrent of people wanting to explore and enjoy Dublin's offering."
Similar initiatives on a smaller scale have been held in Temple Bar for the past two years. Culture Night is being co-ordinated by the TBCT in association with the Council of National Cultural Institutions of Ireland. Further details from 01 6772255 or www.templebar.ie.