Galway International Arts Festival 6

Galway International Arts Festival has been connecting audiences and artists for almost four decades. Founded in 1978, it has grown into an event with a major reputation where, in 2016, there were 200,000 attendances at 200 performances, talks and exhibitions in 26 venues over 14 days.

The Festival was established by a group of fledgling and experienced artists, who, sitting around a kitchen table one afternoon, dreamed of bringing world-class artists to Ireland, while also supporting Irish artists and showcasing their work on the world stage, creating unique and wonderful experiences for all...and so they did.

The Festival has contributed massively to placing Galway firmly on the map, as both a key cultural centre for the arts and a cultural tourism destination on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. The Festival has also founded and acted as a seedbed for a number of well-known and established arts organisations in Galway.

Galway International Arts Festival presents and produces programmes of the highest quality across all art forms featuring theatre, music, visual arts, opera, street spectacle, dance, discussion and comedy. The Festival is committed to continually developing and producing new work, which tours internationally. In recent years, the Festival’s co-productions - Ballyturk, riverrun and Chapatti have toured extensively throughout Ireland, UK, USA and Australia. In 2017, the GIAF co-productions, Rooms, by Enda Walsh, Arlington and Ballyturk will tour Ireland and the US, with more touring dates planned.

Highlights from the programme in recent years include; Elvis Costello, The National, Primal Scream, Philip Glass, New York Dolls, David Gray, David Byrne, Brad Mehldau, Blondie, Kronos Quartet, Brodsky Quartet, Bon Iver, David Hockney, Joni Mitchell, St Vincent, Patricia Picinini, Henri Matisse and David Mach.

Visiting international theatre and dance companies have included John Mahoney and Northlight Theatre, Cillian Murphy, Enda Walsh, The Royal National Theatre, Propeller, The Royal Court, Steppenwolf, Fabulous Beast Dance Company, Hofesh Shechter Dance Company, The Abbey Theatre, Druid Theatre Company and the Bristol Old Vic.

What the Press Says...

"A powerhouse of ideas and innovation." - The Guardian

“The biggest, most exciting, most imaginative explosion of arts activity this country has.” – The Irish Times

“A glorious kaleidoscopic fortnight of events.” – The Irish Examiner

“This year's Galway fortnight made you look at life anew. ” – The Irish Times

“One of Europe's most important cultural events.” – BBC TV

“The spirit of Galway International Arts Festival is all-inclusive, accessible and always open to suggestion. Contemporary festivals fall over themselves to state their commitment to both street and ‘high art’. The difference in Galway is, that ambition is realised.” – The Observer

“It's festival season, one event triumphs them all - Galway Arts Festival.” – The Irish Independent

“Galway... one of the most significant arts Festivals anywhere.” – The Irish Independent