The longstanding partnership between NUI Galway and Galway International Arts Festival has been shortlisted for the Business to Arts Awards 2022.
The shortlist announced this morning sees them as one of four nominated for the Best Long-Term Partnership category.
The partners have collaborated on the creation and delivery of postgraduate courses in Creative Arts Management and the SELECTED internship programme, which educate the next generation of arts professionals.
The partnership also covers GIAF’s very successful volunteer programme, which, with a recruitment of 1,000 volunteers in a ‘normal’ year, is integral to the delivery of the festival.
CEO of the Arts Festival John Crumlish said, “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the award and have the partnership recognised in this way.”
“The relationship with NUI Galway is a very valuable one, which has grown significantly in recent years.”
“It plays a role in the development of the next generation of artists and arts producers while also facilitating the development of a best practice volunteer programme.”
“It provides a very valuable resource for GIAF and also helps inform our thinking as to what a festival can be.”
The partnership between the festival and university has also helped increase the cultural output of NUI Galway.
There have been an increasing number of productions presented on campus during the GIAF, and NUI Galway has been associated with award-winning productions, bringing an average of 80,000 visitors to campus each year.
NUI Galway Vice-Dean for Engagement, Patrick Lonergan said, “At a time when NUI Galway is focussing on the links between the arts, business, and our communities, our relationship with Galway International Arts Festival is ever more important.”
“Being shortlisted for a Business to Arts award is a huge honour – and a huge boost to our joint efforts to transform the cultural landscape of Galway, the west of Ireland, and the nation.”
NUI Galway also plays a key role in the long term history of Galway International Arts Festival, by holding the GIAF archives for posterity.
The partners are also collaborating to create oral histories of the festival, kicking off earlier this year with a podcast on the making and staging of GIAF’s major artwork Mirror Pavilion during the global COVID pandemic.
Galway International Arts Festival 2022 kicks off next Monday, July 11, taking over the streets of Galway once again as it returns to full scale.
