Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. This year, it will take place on Friday 18th September 2020.

Traditionally Culture Night provides people with the opportunity to visit cultural venues and organisations, try new things and experience workshops and events that they may not have tried before.

Over the last few months however none of us have been able to visit a gallery, see a performance or take part in a workshop. Nonetheless, our artists, designers, performers and filmmakers have been working through that time and our venues and cultural organisations have been carefully planning how they can invite us back to share that cultural wellspring.

Some events will be presented live online or pre-recorded and broadcast on the night while others will be live events in venues throughout the county. Following the published guidelines and in the interests of the health and wellbeing of our audiences and artists, booking for live audience events is strictly required and masks must be worn by all patrons except for children under 13 or those with reasonable grounds.

Have a look at what’s on offer, organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes have extended their opening hours and organised special and unique events – and remember – everything is free of charge, so enjoy!

St. Georges Heritage Centre Church Lane, St Mary Close, Carrick on Shannon Co Leitrim, N41KP62 Lighting St. Georges Lighting Designer Michael Cummins is joined by Vincent Woods, Brian Leyden, Brendan Cryan, and Felip Carbonell with Anna Houstonto present a unique light and sound installation at St. Georges Heritage Centre. Outside St George's will be flooded with colour. Inside will be an intimate and atmospheric installation in light, video, projection and stained-glass illumination. Spoken word and live music will resonate through the building and through time and memory. See St. George's in a different light, expect the unexpected. Time: Every 30 minutes from 7.30pm with last entry at 10.00pm Booking: Booked Out

Rabbit’s Riot Theatre Company Online The Quiet Monologues Margaret prays by the ruins of Creevelea Abbey.

Grainne sings by the shore of Glenade Lake.

Rosa walks the paths of Glenfarne forest.

Three women from Leitrim legend and history tell us about their hopes, dreams and fears in a series of three short monologues written by Treasa Nealon, directed by Sonia Norris and produced by The Rabbit’s Riot Theatre Company. Time: Finding Peace starring Niamh O’Brien from Creevelea Abbey, Dromahair at 2pm On the Shores starring Sarah Ferguson from Glenade Lake at 4pm The Silence starring Sheila O’Keeffe from Glenfarne Forest at 6pm Booking: These pieces can be viewed online through our website and social media. The duration of each piece is 10 minutes.

Website: www.therabbitsriottheatrecompany.com

Facebook: @therabbitsriottheatrecompany

Instagram & Twitter: @RabbitsRiotTC

Ballroom of Romance Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim Celtic Mythology Workshop Scealta Beo will perform and host a workshop on celtic mythology and storytelling exploring Irish History and Craft Time: 6pm - 8pm Booking: 071 98 56831, info@glenfarnecommunity.com, www.therainbowballroom.ie

Glens Centre New Line, Manorhamilton Glens Shadow Theatre The Glens Centre offers families the opportunity to create their very own shadow theatre. Come into our auditorium and play in the magical lighting specifically designed for you to produce a bit of theatrical magic of your own. We will have props on hand for use in your story. And we will have the star and creator of RTE Junior’s Living With A Fairy, Jay Ryan, on hand to guide you through the space - Bring your mobile/camera along to capture the moments. Time: 2pm – 5pm Booking: 071 98 55833 Splódar theatre company presents The Last Prime Minister of Ireland by Gerry Farrell and Lough Derg by Paddy Kavanagh. Splódar theatre company presents extracts from Gerry Farrell’s new play ‘The Last Prime Minister of Ireland’, which is scheduled to be staged in full in the Autumn of 2021. Lloyd George had a reputation for having an unhealthy appetite for both sex and power. He was also the politician most responsible for the partition of Ireland. In these extracts the audience can experience some of the play’s humour and tension as the story of this complex man unfolds.In 1942 Patrick Kavanagh was commissioned by the Irish Independent to go on pilgrimage to Lough Derg and write an article on his stay on the island. The article was never published but his experience found expression in this famous long poem which he decided not to publish to avoid hurting the feelings of his fellow pilgrims. Colm Mac Giolla Fhiontain’s thoughtful interpretation of Lough Derg, highlights the beauty of Kavanagh’s language and his wit and deep insight into the human condition. Time: 8pm Bookiung: 071 98 55833

Leitrim Sculpture Centre New Line, Manorhamilton. Three Exhibitons OCCUPIED OBJECTS is a new exhibition by current Artist in Residence NADINE BALLOW at the LSC Main Gallery on the New Line. Nadine Baldow is a visual artist working mainly with site-specific installations. She studied with professor Eberhard Bosslet, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden after completing a woodcarving apprenticeship in the Alps. Her work predominantly addresses the relationship between humankind and nature, and their ongoing impact on each other. BETWEEN US ONLY GLASS is a selection of art works and video screenings by past and present studio-based residency artists which will be displayed in the large gallery window spaces and selected shop windows around the town. Artist in Residence CHRISTINE MACKEY presents THE LONG FIELD (phase 1) at LSC Community Pop Up Shop on Main St. Mackey will present a playful installation about the cultural resonance and significance of hedgerows from multiple locations in and around the town of Manorhamilton and beyond. Time: TBC Booking: TBC

Solas Art Gallery @ Drumcoura City Drumcoura City, Derrygoan, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. N41A0C2 Drive-In Movie – Jimmy’s Hall Based on the true story of Jimmy Gralton, the only Irishman deported from his own country as an “illegal alien”, Jimmy’s Hall focuses on the dance hall Gralton opened in South Leitrim at a time when Ireland was on the brink of Civil War. A place where young people could come to learn, to argue, and to dream, but above all to dance and have fun, but which quickly came to the attention of the Church and politicians who forced Jimmy to flee and the hall to close. Time: 8.30pm Booking: info@solasart.ie or 071 96 44210 - Please note that booking is per car with a limit of 6 occupants from one family

Carrick Cineplex Carrick Retail & Business Park, Cortober, Co. Roscommon Making the Grade MAKING THE GRADE invites us into the world of the piano lesson. Every year teachers and students throughout Ireland prepare for graded musical exams. These exams can be pleasing for some but daunting for others. Each student has their own particular goal but reaching Grade Eight is considered a pinnacle. This endearing and uplifting documentary explores the bond between piano teachers and their pupils as they struggle through these grades. This is a story of the transformative power of music and the pride and happiness it provides both the students and teachers. It may inspire us all to keep making the grade. Time: 7pm Booking: Directly Online or by contacing 071 96 72000

The Dock St. Georges Terrace, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim Open Galleries The Dock’s beautiful gallery spaces will be open to the public with guided tours of the historic building and current exhibition of paintings by Sinéad O Mhaonaigh for groups of 6 or less taking place at 5.15, 5.45. 6.15 and 6.45pm. Visitors are welcome to visit the galleries after 7pm in groups of no more than 6 people. We would ask that those taking a tour or planning to visit after 7pm to book in advance on The Dock website. Further additions to our Culture Night programme will be announced shortly. Time: 5pm to 9pm Booking: www.thedock.ie