On the Town:Launching Dublin Culture Night 2007 at the Dublin City Gallery, the Hugh Lane, this week, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Paddy Bourkesaid that the event "establishes Dublin as a cultural capital. It exposes people to art, to craft, to culture and everything that is great about Dublin."
The organiser, Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT), has designated the evening of Friday, September 14th as Culture Night and has persuaded 82 of Dublin's cultural venues to keep their doors open until 10pm on that day. Gráinne Millar, head of cultural development at TBCT, said: "People will see all of our national cultural institutions and also get the chance to see some smaller, independent art galleries that wouldn't be so visible at other times of the year.
They're going to get a chance to meet artists, get behind the scenes of theatres, see how things come together. Practically every art form is going to be celebrated and everything will be free."
"I think it's a wonderful initiative," said Eithne Healy, former chairwoman of the Abbey Theatre board. "It's Dublin joining so many other cities in having a culture night and encouraging people who don't go to the institutions to come out, have a bit of fun and see what's to be seen."
Patrick Sutton, director of the Gaiety School of Acting, said: "I think the Culture Night is an opportunity for people to take off their shoes and get their feet wet. People can have their eyes opened to what's on offer."
Ballet Ireland managing director Anne Mahersaid the event will be a boost to the performing arts in particular.
"The night will bring terrific awareness of dance to people, it will just generally allow people to see the wide, diverse forms of dance that are available to them."