Galway International Arts Festival and the University of Galway have announced a new five year strategic partnership which will see ever more events staged at the university, and more students getting involved in volunteering.
The 45th annual Galway International Arts Festival comes to a close this weekend, with this also marking 13 years of the University serving as the festival’s official Education Partner.
Over the course of the last five year partnership, 121 events have taken place on the University of Galway campus, with 128,727 people brought on to campus to see musical greats, symphony orchestras, exhibitions, installations plus great Irish and international theatre.
The Festival Volunteer Programme has welcomed 3,248 participants over the last five years from an average of 41 different countries each year.
The festival provided creative and cultural opportunities for graduates, with more than 50% of the productions at GIAF 2021 featuring University of Galway graduates.
Academic staff have also had the opportunity to break bread with their colleagues and wider audiences in the First Thought Talks and Backstage talks series.
The new partnership will see a further expansion of this work, plus a University association with the festival’s First Thought Talks programme.
The GIAF archive housed in the University Library will also be expanded with the creation of a new oral festival histories section.
Other aspects of the partnership will involve GIAF and University of Galway exploring ways to develop the creative industries in the West to foster career pathways for University graduates.
CEO of Galway International Arts Festival John Crumlish said: “This is a hugely exciting development for GIAF and a potential game changer for a number of areas of the festival’s work.”
“The partnership will allow the organisation to further progress its EDI ambitions, progress its discussion platform First Thought, further support artist development, explore development opportunities in the Creative Industries, support the festival’s transition to a sustainable future and support programming.”
With close to 20% of GIAF events now held on campus, GIAF and University of Galway have also agreed to work more closely together on the delivery of more sustainable festivals year on year.
In addition, University of Galway and GIAF will also work together as part of a European consortium over the next two years, examining how cultural entrepreneurship can be used to support climate transition.
Commenting on the new partnership, University of Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said, “We are delighted to further extend our strategic partnership with GIAF.”
“The partnership speaks to the values of our University – respect, openness, excellence, sustainability – and to our status as a university for the public good and of the creative city that is Galway.”
“I look forward to working with GIAF over the coming years through increased collaboration on events, research, civic engagement and learning opportunities for our students.”
