Box Office opens for Galway International Arts Festival

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Galway Daily news Box Office opens for International Arts festival

Tickets are now on sale for the Galway International Arts Festival with one month left until it kicks off with theatre, music, and much more.

Over two hundred events will take place around Galway from July 16-29 in what CEO John Crumlish says is their biggest show yet. GIAF 2018 is 20% bigger and better that last year, Mr. Crumlish has said while promoting the festival this week.

Well known for his love of the Arts and Galway, President Michael D. Higgins will launch the First Though Talks strand of the festival on July 21.

First Thoughts Talks bring in speakers and creative thinkers from around Ireland and the world to get discussions going about a wide range of topics. Some are connected to the arts, like festival artists sharing their love of vinyl. Others topics include the Mother and Baby Homes, the Housing crisis, and whatever issues are staring society in the face today.

Due to popular demand, President Higgins’ talk has been moved from NUIG’s Aula Maxima to the Bailey Allen Hall at 10am so more tickets can be issued.

The festival’s box office at Galway’s Tourism Office on Forster street opened at 10am on Monday, and queues were quick to form as art lovers lined up to get their pick of summer shows.

Galway’s well known Big Top, renamed the Heineken Big Top for its new sponsor, will see ten acts performing over the two weeks including Grammy award winners The Flaming Lips, indie hit Caribou, golden oldies The Madness, and the returning RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Living up to the International part of its title, the Arts Festival has drawn in acts from very far afield indeed, including the Chinese National Traditional Orchestra performing on Tuesday July 24 at The Galmont Hotel.

John Crumlish says the festival is going all out on the road to Galway 2020, “We are very excited about this year’s festival. It is our biggest programme ever and continues our build up into 2020 when Galway has the European Capital of Culture designation.”

Galway will share the Capital of Culture 2020 designation with the Croatian Seaport of Rijeka.

Galway Daily news Galway theatre company going to Rijeka 2020

Using this opportunity to collaborate and share the best of the arts we have to offer each other, the Irish Embassy to Croatia has been in discussions with Rijeka2020 about bring some local artists to Croatia, with Moonfish Theatre company being one name that’s come up in talks.

A full programme of events for the Galway International Arts Festival 2018 can be found on its website. Tickets can also be booked online or picked up at the Tourism Office on Forster street.