Galway International Arts Festival is asking local businesses and arts lovers to help them put on a blockbuster show this summer.
After two years operating mostly online, Galway Arts Festival is returning to the streets this summer, for the extravaganza that makes it so renowned the world over.
Part of what allows this to happen is the Friends of the Festival programme, which allows people to support GIAF financially, in return for benefits such as complimentary tickets.
GIAF Friends Manager Aisling O’Sullivan said that they have developed “lasting friendships” with many people and businesses through the years.
“Especially over the past year when we looked to each other for support. I look forward to building on these friendships in 2022 and to developing new ones.”
GIAF is a non-for-profit organisation which relies on a mix of state funding, box office, sponsorship and the support of its business and individual Friends to make up Festival costs.
Friends membership, which starts from as little as €250 for businesses and €150 for individuals, comes with a host of benefits, including priority booking, tickets and festival merchandise.
Eugene Greaney, one of the eponymous Dough Bros of local pizza fame, said that the arts festival symbolises everything that is great about the city.
“It’s a celebration of the arts, the people, the culture, the music, the gigs, the pubs, the restaurants; everything about our city is merged into two great weeks.”
Seeing the Big Top erected each symbolises “the good times to come” he added, calling it a highlight of the type of craic Galway International Arts Festival brings.
For the past two years, it hasn’t been possible to hold the famed Big Top concerts, but this has just been a setback rather than a calamity.
In a promise of the fact that good times always return, the concerts which were due to take place before the pandemic are still going ahead this summer, and original tickets will remain valid.
Jess Murphy, head chef and co-owner of Kai restaurant, said that the arts festival is her favourite time of the year.
She said that there is always something on, and that there is a “real crossover” with local communities in the festival.
Learn more about the range of benefits that come with membership here: https://www.giaf.ie/support/fr…
