Press release
Dublin Pride Festival 2022 launches with department support for cultural programme
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, has welcomed the launch of this year’s Dublin Pride Festival 2022, and particularly the programme of activities featuring the work of artists and other creatives.
Minister Martin was pleased to approve a funding allocation of €54,000 from her department towards the cultural elements of Dublin Pride 2022.
She said:
“The annual Pride festival has grown to become the largest demonstration and celebration for equality and the acceptance of diversity in our society. It is not only an invitation from the LGBTI+ community to everyone to attend the festival events but also to support the progress towards a more fair and inclusive society. I hope that the tremendous organisational effort will be rewarded with success. I send my congratulations and best wishes to the organisers, the participants, their families and friends for a special and enjoyable weekend of Pride.”
The Chair of Dublin Pride 2022, Philippa Ryder, said:
“Being able to tell our stories and celebrate our culture and identity is vital to any community. Our artists, performers, poets, and storytellers do that for us, they help us share our culture with other people and that helps us reach peoples’ hearts and minds. The Minister’s support has allowed us to support Queer artists and cultural projects, not just during Pride week but throughout the year. We look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting LGBTQ+ artists who in turn support our community."
Minister Martin has also today announced the approval of a special support allocation of €23,000 towards the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival (IDGTF). This will help strengthen the organisational capabilities of the project, help in promoting the Festival internationally and enhance overall programming, booking and commissioning for future years.
Announcing the support today, Minister Martin said:
“The IDGTF has been a great success over many years. This has been achieved through community effort. The commitment and support from performers, producers, venue operators, and a range of service providers has also been of utmost importance in providing artwork, printing and production skills. I am pleased to assist the organisers in securing a bright future and enabling them to take the necessary steps to grow and engage a wider audience in the years ahead."
IDGTF Founder and Artistic Director, Brian Merriman, said:
“The Minister’s significant and fulsome endorsement is a vital shot in the arm for the incredible voluntary work that has created and sustained our first two decades of unique identity theatre. After a very difficult period to keep our inclusive LGBT+ theatre viable, this crucial level of support will greatly assist us in reaching our 20th anniversary in 2023. It will finally allow us to develop and innovate and hopefully will encourage more private sponsorship, so that this unique theatre event can reach its full potential.
"In addition to our exciting, curated programme, we will now share this vital support with artistic partners through a new production Bursary opportunity. An Irish and international panel of qualified assessors will select three successful Bursary applicants for an additional direct financial support to bring their work ‘from page to stage’ in our 2023 Festival programme. Thanks to this affirming support by the Minister and her department today, we can finally look forward to our next decade of enabling writers and artists to have their LGBT+ stories seen and heard by all in Dublin next May.
"The goal is to assist the IDGTF to become a stronger platform for their future programmes, providing opportunities for writers, performers and all those involved in theatrical production. The Festival intends to re-establish its international connections and networking in the aftermath of COVID-19, to strengthen marketing and advertising strategies to engage wider audiences and to enhance visibility online with information about programmes and activities.”