100 venues in Cork city are set to open their doors for Culture Night

TONIGHT (Friday, September 22), a national cultural movement comes of age.

In Cork city, Culture Night 2023 will be the 16th edition of the beloved event that first captured our collective imagination back in 2008. This annual event showcases the rich cultural tapestry of Cork city and highlights its status as a place where arts and culture thrive.

From 34 participating venues in 2008 to 100 venues set to open their doors late into the evening for Culture Night 2023, the event has grown in scale and reputation with each passing year.

It’s a night where the venues, organisations and institutions of Cork make a collective effort to put the city’s best cultural foot forward, co-ordinated by the City Council.

Before the pandemic took hold, audiences on Culture Night were at a record 42,400, this year is likely to rival that figure.

So what makes Culture Night so special? Is it the accessibility? The ‘one night for all’ tag-line referring to the intent to welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to celebrate their shared love for culture?

Is it the fact the entire programme is free-of-charge? Is it the richness of the offering? From circus to music recitals to exhibitions, backstage tours to talks and walks on everything from Cork’s cinema heritage, to street art to beer and bats(!), yes, bats?!

Culture Night is about more than the arts, its about heritage, history, science and community. 

It's about getting the keys to the city, after hours, and a chance to explore the familiar through a different lens.

Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast, a family looking for a fun outing, or someone just curious about what Cork city has to offer, Culture Night has something for you.

There are two types of Culture Night attendee, the planners, and those that like to just stroll into town to follow their nose.

Culture Night suits both approaches, but the ‘planners’ will definitely have the edge when it comes to events that need to be pre-booked.

People with very young children (aged under three) will need to book for the early years interactive theatre presented by BEAG at Graffiti in Blackpool; backstage tours at the Everyman and the Opera House will also need to be booked, as do the tours taking place at the Cork Public Museum, which will be Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreted for the 6.30pm tour.

For families that want to ‘follow their nose’, walk-ups will be admitted on a ‘first come’ basis to both showings of The Science of Dragons in the Millenium Hall, which will also be ISL interpreted for the 4.30pm show.

From City Hall the adventure can start by hopping onto one of the Culture Buses. Thse are an enduring tradition of Culture Night in Cork city, the partnership with Bus Éireann sees three special routes that service the various venues across the city. Hop on and off or even travel full circle and enjoy one of the musical acts specially curated by graduates of UCC’s MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing.

Some other musical highlights include The Barrack Street Band at Elizabeth Fort and a visit to the Butter Exchange Band band rooms. The Cork Light Orchestra will perform at Cork City Gaol, and at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral the Choir will be in full voice.

Lovers of nature and biodiversity might want to try the workshops at TestSite on Kyrl’s Quay, learn about bats at Tramore Valley Park or take the Duck Walk in Blarney.

At St Peter’s, celebrate the cultural diversity of the city with a particular focus on Mexican and Romanian communities. Then, of course, there are the classic city venues, including The Crawford Art Gallery, The Glucksman and Triskel Arts Centre, all of whom have very special programmes planned.

One particular flavour of Culture Night is that behind the scenes treat. I’m always intrigued to see how art is made, where artists work and how the magic happens. Open studios and the chance to get behind the doors of places like Backwater Artist Studios, Benchspace, Cork Community Artlink, Cork Printmakers, National Sculpture Factory are a staple of Culture Night every year.

While much of the focus is on venue-based activity, perhaps the best thing about Culture Night is the atmosphere it brings to the city centre streets. With readings on Nano Nagle Bridge, dance on Emmet Place, circus walkabouts and workshops on Opera Lane, and music on Harley Street, culture can be found on every corner. The atmosphere is vibrant, welcoming, safe. The night-time economy is a current and developing focus of public policy and Culture Night exemplifies its impact.

In support of that night-time economy, this Culture Night is later than ever: Faoi Choim na HOíche, a celebration of sound, vision and movement presented by the Electronic Music Council at City Hall, will run until 2am, while the Crawford Gallery Teams up with The Good Room to present Culture Night Later and Candy’s Sweet as Circus Cabaret will delight into the wee hours at Marina Market.

Culture Night in Cork city is a celebration of culture, creativity, and community, a night the city’s artistic spirit takes centre stage, welcoming people from all walks of life to partake in the festivities.

Beyond the music, art, and performances, Culture Night symbolises Cork City’s commitment to the arts, its cultural inclusivity, and its pride in its creative community.

Cork City Council’s Arts and Culture Strategy proposes a vision of Cork as a city where art and artists thrive, where arts and culture is for all to enjoy, alive on our streets and in our neighbourhoods, a vibrant expression of all we are.

Culture Night in Cork city brings that vision to life, it is more than just an evening of entertainment; it’s a testament to the city’s creative spirit and its vibrant cultural scene.