Diary dates: To mark the 21st year of the Exhibition of Visual Art (EVA) in Limerick, the organisers are holding a weekend of Colloquies on Contemporary Art and Culture (October 24th-27th), devoted to the exchange of opinion and experience on the issues and practices of contemporary art. Participants will include an international group of former EVA adjudicators, curators and guests and there will also be readings, recitals and exhibitions. All interested artists, curators, gallery administrators, students, teachers and critics are invited to join in this informal event. For further information and registration details, tel: 061-310633 . . .

The closing date for applications for the next round of Arts Council capital grants - for equipment, small buildings for the arts, and for major proposals for large-scale projects - is Monday, September 1st. The Council has approximately £1m to allocate. For further information, tel: 01-661 1840 . . . Book launches in your local library? Readings? Recitals? Exhibitions? Performances? Workshops? - anybody interested in contributing ideas about how to bring public libraries back from the margins should write to the newly appointed Library Committee of the Arts Council (70 Merrion Square Dublin 2), who are researching a report on the subject of public libraries and the practice of the arts. Further information from Lar Cassidy, tel: 01676 1167.