2024 Year in Review

As the year draws to a close, we are reflecting on some of the remarkable projects brought to life by our incredible partners. We work in partnership and collaboration to support, develop, and facilitate. It’s been our privilege to play a role in enabling these inspiring initiatives.

Support to the Digital Creative Industries

In 2024, we supported the Digital Creative Industries through projects at the intersection of art, technology, and design, empowering creatives to innovate, embrace new technologies, and build global partnerships.

Here are some of the projects we’ve supported in this area:

Virtual Production Creative Residencies

In collaboration with Ardán and Galway City of Film, we welcomed European virtual production practitioners to Galway, fostering collaboration and facilitating the exchange of skills and expertise between our local creative industries, research community, and international practitioners.

Cybernate

This digital arts residency, a collaboration between Ireland and France, challenged artists and producers to reimagine access to public spaces through digital art. 2024 saw a 2nd successful round of the residency supporting 4 artists and 2 producers, produced by Culture Works (IE), with support from Galway County Council, Embassy of France in Ireland and Réseau HACNUM, and in partnership with Pôle PIXEL, CREW, ATU Galway City School of Design and Creative Arts and the Centre for Creative Technologies @ University of Galway.

CREW Creative Practitioner Residencies

We partnered with CREW as they work to foster a vibrant creative enterprise community in Galway, supporting multidisciplinary practitioners in their journey of innovation and entrepreneurship with 4 residency opportunities.

Designer in Residence Programme

In partnership with Institute of Designers in Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office Galway, this programme saw 5 talented designers from the West of Ireland teamed up with forward-thinking businesses, using design to solve real-world challenges in innovative ways.

Digital Artist in Residence Exchange

In partnership with Centre for Creative Technologies @ University of Galway and the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology at Virginia Tech, this residency bridged continents, inviting artists to explore new ways of integrating digital technology into their creative practices.

Galway Film Fleadh European Programme

We continued to support the Europa Film Festivals network and the Peripheral Visions Competition, which strengthens European film festivals and celebrates emerging filmmakers, bolstering Galway’s role as a UNESCO City of Film.

S+T+ARTS4WaterII

We were proud to support this European initiative that is using artistic residencies as catalysts for innovation, addressing global water challenges, with three residencies hosted across Ireland, including one at Port of Galway. Partners included ADAPT Centre, Beta Festival & many others.

Supporting Artists Through Partnership

This year, we were proud to support a range of bursaries and residencies, offering artists opportunities to develop their practice and thrive. Here’s a snapshot of what we supported this year:

Macnas Career Development Bursaries

In partnership with Macnas, we supported 16 creatives with travel bursaries, enabling them to learn from artists and cultural partners across Europe.

Branar Meitheal International Residencies

With Branar, we are supporting two international residencies, offering artists and producers opportunities to connect and collaborate with creators in France and New York, expanding their practice globally.

Galway International Arts Festival Elevate Bursaries

We partnered with Galway International Arts Festival to support 7 bursaries, helping artists in Galway develop sustainable creative practices and careers. Round 2 will see more bursaries in 2025!

Galway Arts Centre Artist Bursaries

We supported Galway Arts Centre to award 10 artist bursaries, providing funding for time, research, materials, and mentorship to develop their work and practice.

Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society Residencies

In collaboration with Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society we supported two residencies focusing on writing, nature, and visual arts, celebrating the legacy of the Yeats family.

Druid FUEL

Partnering with Druid Theatre Company, we facilitated professional development for 4 emerging theatre-makers through the FUEL programme, providing EU-based cultural immersion experiences.

Architecture at the Edge Design Lab Bursaries

Through Architecture at the Edge, we funded bursaries for creative practitioners championing young people and innovative approaches to the built environment.

Irish Language Programme Supports

In 2024, we proudly supported initiatives that celebrated Galway’s rich Irish language heritage, creating opportunities for cultural expression and bilingual engagement across the city and county. Here are some of the projects we supported in this area: 

Scéal na Gaillimhe

In partnership with Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc, this unique initiative celebrated Galway’s cultural and artistic heritage through the medium of Irish. Featuring local artists, performers, and creatives, six projects were selected through an open call and showcased on stage at An Taibhdhearc.

Lánú

Collaborating with Ealaín na Gaeltachta and Údarás na Gaeltachta, we supported projects that strengthened cultural ties with Celtic neighbours and EU partners. This strategic partnership aims to facilitate new festivals, touring exhibitions, and creative collaborations across Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

Branar sa Scoil

Commissioned by Galway Culture Company, this school arts engagement programme by Branar brought music, theatre, and visual arts to classrooms across Galway City and County. With 71 workshops and 13 performances, the project involved 14 artists and reached 561 students.

Tonnta Irish Language Festival

Led by Gaillimh le Gaeilge, we proudly supported Tonnta, one of Galway’s newest festivals. It celebrated Galway as a bilingual city and showcased the vibrancy of the Irish language through diverse themes and events.

Facilitating International and EU Relationships

This year we worked alongside partners to strengthen international connections, foster EU collaborations, and open up opportunities for creatives and communities to engage on a global stage. Through these initiatives, we aimed to drive innovation and sustainability across creative industries.

EU Funding Support Programme

In partnership with PorterShed, this programme provided expert advice and access to EU funding opportunities. Through online and in-person clinics, communities and creatives gained valuable connections to EU relationships and resources.

SPECTRA

As an associate partner on the SPECTRA project, we supported efforts to strengthen the creative industries in the West of Ireland. Coordinated by the Western Development Commission, SPECTRA fosters collaboration among regional and international partners to build resilient, sustainable, and interconnected creative ecosystems. Through innovation, advanced business support models, and challenge-based approaches, the project is creating new opportunities for startups, scale-ups, and cross-sector partnerships, contributing to the growth of the creative economy locally and beyond.

PACESETTERS

We sit on the External Advisory Board for PACESETTERS, a groundbreaking Horizon-funded alliance of 15 international partners. The project unites climate scientists, creative practitioners, and cultural institutions to explore bold, innovative responses to the climate transition. By combining artistic and practice-based research, PACESETTERS aims to generate sustainable ideas, test strategies for resilience, and empower local communities to lead the way in fostering more just and sustainable economies. 

Supporting the Cultural and Creative Sector

In 2024, we worked with partners to support skill-building, audience engagement, and recognition for the cultural sector, ensuring Galway’s vibrant cultural scene continued to thrive and connect with diverse audiences. Here’s a snapshot of some of the projects we supported in this area: 

Galway Street Ambassadors

In collaboration with Galway Volunteer Centre, the Street Ambassadors welcomed visitors to Galway, sharing local insights and cultural knowledge to help them feel at home. This initiative also supported the arts and culture sector by promoting events while building ambassador skills in customer service and community engagement.

Audience Development Training Programme

Partnering with The Audience Agency, this programme helped 16 organisations enhance their understanding of audience development and craft strategies to grow and connect with their audiences more effectively.

Galway Arts Centre Artist Development Workshops

Organised by curator and writer Iarlaith Ní Fheorais, these workshops provided artists across Galway and the West with tools for access, social engagement, and creative grant writing. Designed to empower artists, they focused on equipping them with the skills needed to create impactful work and seize opportunities.

Culture and Creativity Award

For the third consecutive year, the cultural sector was celebrated at the Galway Chamber Business Awards. This award highlights the vital contribution of Galway’s cultural sector to business and community life.

Culture and Climate

Climate and sustainability are central to our mission. While these values are embedded across all our work, we also proudly support projects that place a dedicated focus on the intersection of climate and culture. Here’s a few projects we were delighted to support in this area: 

The Air We Share

We are delighted to advise on this innovative programme that connects artists with the Westside community to creatively engage with local air quality and climate research conducted by citizens and University of Galway scientists. Led by Galway City Council, the project brings together partners including Galway Arts Centre, Centre for Creative Technologies @ University of Galway, Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies and Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at University of Galway, Westside Resource Centre, and Galway Culture Company to inspire creative responses to environmental challenges.

Climate on Culture Conference 

We were proud to support and partner on the Climate on Culture 2024 Conference held in Galway, in partnership with the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora. This global event explored the relationship between climate and culture, bringing together leaders and practitioners to share ideas, strategies, and innovations for addressing climate challenges through cultural and diaspora perspectives.

National Mirror Group 

Our CEO sits on the National Mirror Group (NMG) to support the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission in Ireland. The NMG will act as a key support mechanism for Cork, Dublin, and Galway Cities to achieve the objectives of the EU Mission and Pilot Cities Programme.

Thank you