Friday, 19 September 2008: Norman Villa Exhibition

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Norman Villa

Galway's fabulous Norman Villa Gallery stays open late tonight to show work by major Irish artists with a passion for the west. In the welcoming rooms of Norman Villa you can see outstanding contemporary work by Barrie Cooke, Brian Bourke, Dolores Lyne, Dermot Seymour, Tony O'Malley, Debi O'Hehir, Paraic Reaney, John ffrench and Michael Wilkins. Admission free 6.00 - 8.00pm

Friday, 19 September 2008: University Hospital Exhibition

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, University College Hospital, Galway

The University Hospital will also be showing its exhibition of treasures from the Office of Public Works collection. Entitled In the Mind’s Eye the show features powerful work from Dermot Seymour, Fergus Bourke, Eithne Jordan, Catherine McWilliams,Bill Doyle and many other leading Irish artists. Admission free. 6.00 pm – 7.30pm

Friday, 19 September 2008: Blue Teapot Theatre Company

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Blue Teapot Theatre Company

With music, literature and drama the Blue Teapots welcome Culture Night to their great new performance space in Galway’s West neighbourhood. A drama project founded by the Brothers of Charity for adults with learning challenges the wonderful Blue Teapot Theatre Company has won the hearts of Galway audiences with a series of great theatre shows and performances, Tonight the Blue Teapots showcase their work and that of their colleagues, the community music makers of Soundscapes and the writers of Away With Words, led by award-winning author Mary Madec. Admission free. 6.00 pm – 7.30pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Culture Night

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Bold Art Gallery

Galway’s wickedest gallery joins Culture Night with a Madhatter’s Tea Party from 6.00 pm; there will be loads of music in the gallery, a Meet the Artists feature on the current fab exhibition by Mark Redden (“passionate and charismatic”) and Tom Campbell (“clown by heart, artist by nature”). The night concludes with an exciting clay performance by Tom Campbell, heading to a Culture Night climax at 11.00pm! Admission free 6.00 pm – 11.00pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: What does it take to be an Artist…

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Artspace Studios

Artspace will also host an exhibition, In Situ, a print demonstration - guiding visitors through the mysteries and delights of making fine art - and an installation devised for the studio project room. Admission is free, there's a reception and the studios will remain open until 11.00pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Mrs Nellie Murphy at BK's Wine Bar

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, BK's Restaurant and Wine Bar

Mrs Nellie Murphy, Dublin’s favourite fishmonger and poetess combo, will be holding a ‘cultural chat’ and ‘poem discussin’’ at BK’s Wine Bar, Spanish Parade.

Nellie will read and discuss with the audience, some favourite poems, as well as perform some of her infamous ‘erotic writings for the elderly lady’.

The event, according to the Poet, will run 6 to 7.15ish “depending on the amount of drink had”. www.myspace.com/mrsnelliemurphy

Friday, 19 September 2008: Con Tempo Recital

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Galway City Museum

Galway’s eclectic civic museum presents a Culture Night recital by Con Tempo, Galway Ensemble in Residence with poetry by Moya Cannon. Recognised as one of the world’s top string quartets Con Tempo have been resident in Galway since 2003, bringing music to new people and venues and broadening the experience of those already involved in music. Bogdan, Ingrid, Andrea and Adrian have played to acclaim from Connemara to Carnegie Hall; tonight they present a sparkling personal choice of delightful chamber music with a special festive air. Con Tempo are joined by renowned Galway poet Moya Cannon, whose lyrical evocations of time and spirit embody all that is good in contemporary writing. Accessible, thoughtful and listenable, Moya’s elegant verse is the perfect complement to Con Tempo’s soaring strings in what promises to be a classic night at the museum.

Following the recital the action moves out to the Museum Square where innovative Galway artist-led initiative G 126 is making possible a unique evening of performance and temporary installation featuring Glasgow-based performance artist Dan Monks. Using only the Galway streets, the company of pigeons, a shopping trolley, a fake beak and a lot of cardboard Dan will recreate a lost and perfect city – perhaps Galway itself? Dan will also be feeding the local birds and supplying sound-based excursions for the enjoyment of Culture Night flaneurs, the birds and himself.

Galway City Museum’s collection galleries will remain open until 9.00pm and its expert staff will be on hand to assist, guide, explain and entertain. Admission free. 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm

Friday, 19 September 2008: Druid and Baboro Screenings

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Town Hall Theatre

Galway’s municipal theatre welcomes Culture Night audiences with three presentations. In the foyer downstairs Baboró, Galway’s international arts festival for children will programme a video loop of the highlights of the forthcoming 2008 festival. Upstairs the bar will host a screening of the DruidSynge documntary, telling the epic story of Druid Theatre Company’s mammoth Synge cycle project, the most acclaimed event in contemporary Irish theatre. Admission free. 6.00 pm – 7.00pm

Friday, 19 September 2008: Lorg Printmakers

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Lorg Printmakers

Lorg, Connaught Fine Art Printmakers will open their studio space late on Culture Night, providing lectures and demonstrations in screenprinting, intaglio and digital printing and running an exhibiton of members’ prints. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to see one of Ireland’s finest print studios and to discover the history and the secrets of a very beautiful artform that flourishes in Galway. Admission free. 6.00 – 10.00pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Galway Spirit Centre

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Galway Spirit Centre

An oasis of peace in the heart of the busy city the Galway Spirit Centre is a space where you can find harmony for mind and body in relaxed surroundings. On Culture Night leading Galway dance therapist Bernadette Divilly will lead an open workshop in City Sense - Moments of Beauty, getting in Touch with our City, an exploration of the beauty to be found all around us in Galway. The workshop is open and welcome to all who would like to appreciate and contemplate our complex and amazing city.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Galway Arts Centre

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Galway Arts Centre

The magnificently preserved former town house of Lady Gregory’s family is now a centre for cutting edge contemporary and community arts. For Culture Night Galway Arts Centre hosts an evening of music, with harpist Annie Chambers – a favourite Galway musician - on stage at 6.00 pm, ace percussionist Brian Flemming and friends coming on at 7.00 pm and at 8.00 pm the divine banjo artist Mary Shannon and friends staging a mighty hooley ‘till late. The Arts Centre galleries will be open all evening, showing an extraordinary photographic exhibition by Ruby Wallis and Tamany Baker. Visual contemplations of domestic relationships, loss, love and the end of youth these striking and very accessible artworks will reward and inspire the viewer. Admission free. 6.00pm till late.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Charlie Byrne’s

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Charlie Byrne Bookshop

The Galway institution that is Charlie Byrne’s bookshop hosts the standing army of western writers on Culture Night, inviting to the microphone any and all of our locally based writers whose fiction, non-fiction and poetry were transformed into books within the last year. Co-ordinated by Michael O’Loughlin, Galway’s empathetic writer in residence, this mega-reading features our beloved local heroes, appropriately celebrating their art amongst the fantastically groovy bookshelves of Ireland’s supreme literary cornucopia. Refreshments will be served. Admission free. 6.00 pm – 11.00pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Dance Night at the City Library

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Galway City Library

Culture Night is Dance Night at the City Library as Galway Dancer in Residence Tanya McCrory and County Librarian Pat McMahon present an evening terpischorean treats, headlined by the official launch of the Galway Dance Library. The Galway City Library is now the home of a collection of books, videos and dvds on all dance genres: stay active this winter with instructional videos in tap, hip hop, foxtrot, swing, traditional Irish and contemporary dance or settle down with one of the riveting biographies from Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Bariyshnikov and many more. It’s all there at Galway City Library. Following the gala launch and reception Tanya and Pat will present an evening of multi-media dance celebration, and a final pas de deux, not to be missed! Admission free. 6.00pm – 9.00 pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Galway Atlantaquaria

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:00, Galway Atlantaquaria

Galway Atlantaquaria, Ireland’s National Aquarium, "where science makes a splash" will open its doors to welcome everyone free to its enchanting underwater world. In addition to the country's largest display of living marine and freshwater life and an outstanding display of ancient and historic Irish boats, Atlantaquaria will programme special events, tours and lectures for Galway Culture Night. Admission free. 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Don’t stop until you drop…

Friday, 19 September 2008, 18:15, St. Nicholas Collegiate Church

Galway Cuture Night celebrates St. Nicholas’s unrivalled tradition of music programming with a concert of highlights from Galway Youth Orchestra, Galway Choral Association, the great singer - songwriter John Faulkner (Galway music artist in residence) and friends and special guests. Admission free. 6.15pm – 8.30pm

Friday, 19 September 2008: Kenny's Art Gallery

Friday, 19 September 2008, 19:00, Kenny's Art Gallery

The Kenny Gallery will stay open on Culture Night to welcome viewers to Rosemary Carr’s Connemara. The exhibition Moments, Colours and Effects shows this famous artist at the peak of her powers, capturing the fleeting light effects, the fugitive shades and nuances of a landscape she has been painting for over forty years. If you cannot visit Connemara on Cuture Night this is the next best thing! Admission free. 6.00 – 8.00pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: White Room Gallery

Friday, 19 September 2008, 19:00, White Room Gallery

The White Room Gallery hosts an exhibition launch featuring the work of Anna St. George, an artist with romantic Galway roots whose paintings fitingly capture the mystery and beauty of the west of Ireland, the power of the sea and the magical light of Achill. Admission free. 7.00 – 10.00pm

Friday, 19 September 2008: Some days you're the pigeon, some days you're the statue

Friday, 19 September 2008, 19:00, Galway City Museum

126 is pleased to make possible an unique evening of performance and temporary installation. Glasgow-based performance artist Dan Monks will intervene on the streets of Galway. He will be using only the streets, the company of pigeons, a shopping trolley and a lot of cardboard.

Dan Monks will be traversing Galway with a shopping trolley, athering cardboard from the outside of shops, from the backstreets, from bins, etc. Dan and his makeshift materials will converge with audience members at Spanish Arch from 7-11pm and over the course of the night the cardboard will be built into a miniature 'city'.

Additionally, Dan will be feeding the local birds in and around the 'city' and supplying sound-based excursions for the enjoyment of the passers-by, the birds, and himself.

Dan Monks was borne in 1981 in Dublin and raised in the suburbs. In 2005 he moved to Glasgow to attend the Master of Fine Art program at the Glasgow School of Art. Negotiation, collaboration and utterance are three words he keeps returning to in relation to his work. He lives and operates, most often, in Glasgow.

126 is an artist-led project and gallery space in Galway, which promotes experimental artworks that wouldn't be shown in conventional institutions such as commercial galleries.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Cripple of Inishmaan

Friday, 19 September 2008, 20:00, Town Hall Theatre

The Town Hall Theatre’s main auditorium presents Druid Theatre Company’s production of The Cripple of Inismaan. Directed by Galway legend Garry Hynes and starring fellow Tony winner Marie Mullen amongst a superb cast this comic masterpiece takes us back to Aran of the 1930s as a Hollywood film crew descends, as Druid resumes its great love affair with one of the most scintillating talents on the world stage: Connemara’s most enigmatic playwright, Martin McDonagh. Admission €24/€18. 8.00pm – 10.45pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Seoda ón Taibhdhearc

Friday, 19 September 2008, 20:00, The Black Box

The Black Box is delighted to host Seoda ón Taibhdhearc. Beidh togha Ceolchoirm ag Compántas na Taibhdhearc san Dubhlann. The great Taibhdhearc - Ireland's national Irish language theatre company - will be presenting a night of opera jewels from Tosca, Nabucco, Carmen, Rigoletto and other great operas, featuring some of Galway's best known soloists including Sandra Schalks, Hildegarde Naughton, Treasa Tiernan, Delia Boyce, Frank Naughton and Michael Hannon. Culture Night audiences will also be treated to a special guest performance by renowned composer Tom Cullivan and music by Eamonn Rabitt and Elena Gekker. Curtain at 8.00 pm €17 / €12.

Friday, 19 September 2008: St. Patricks Bandroom

Friday, 19 September 2008, 20:00, St. Patricks Bandroom

True to the tradition St. Patrick’s Bandroom will host an open night on Culture Night with all welcome to hear the band, observe the practice and enjoy themselves in the company of some of Galway’s finest musicians. Admission free. 7.30 pm – 10.30 pm

Friday, 19 September 2008: Return of the Galway Youth Theatre…

Friday, 19 September 2008, 20:00, Nuns Island Arts Centre

Galway Youth Theatre’s home theatre features a welcome return for the company’s highly praised production of Enda Walsh’s Chatroom, one of the highlights of this year’s Galway Arts Festival. With an innovative and entertaining chatroom format and lots of comedy worked through a great script that explores depression and teenage bullying, expertly acted by an outstanding young Galway cast this well lives up to the Galway Advertiser’s assertion that “Galway Youth Theatre has established itself as one of the most dynamic, imainative ventures ever to hit the already flourishing arts scene in this city.” Admission free. Curtain at 8.00pm.

Friday, 19 September 2008: Street Of Galway

Friday, 19 September 2008, 20:00, Galway City Council Arts Office

Culture Night also features Galway’s favourite performers, led by Littlejohn and Andrias de Staic, gallivanting gloriously through the streets and art-houses. Watch out too for Galway Community Circus / An Siorcas Beag and other favourite friends. The action starts at 6.00pm!