Galway Arts Festival and NUI Galway announced details of a new partnership, whereby the university will support the festival through development of the Festival Volunteer Programme and Selected, a new artist development strand.
The aim of the partnership, which was announced this week, is to help further develop performance arts in the Galway region.
The Selected strand will see five NUIG students and graduates join five other artists and provide the students with the opportunity to see how a festival is put together. They will also attend shows, post-show talks, and get a hands-on experience from performers and organisers.
“Selected is a really exciting development,” said Galway Arts Festival artistic director Paul Fahy. “Selected will benefit NUI Galway’s MA in drama and theatre studies and BA in theatre and performance, in addition to a number of individual artists living and working in Galway.”
Lorraine Tansey, student volunteer coordinator for NUIG’s volunteer programme, ALIVE says the new partnership will enhance the university’s volunteering reputation.
“The arts festival is an incredible volunteer opportunity for students who are seeking to give their energy and enthusiasm while gaining valuable experience and skills from engaging with the city’s creative, fun and vibrant community,” she said.
NUIG president James J Browne said: “NUI Galway is delighted to be involved with this well-established, international festival. The volunteering aspect of the partnership re-enforces our place at the forefront of pioneering models for civic engagement.”
Arts festival CEO John Crumlish said the new partnership will “introduce a new generation of volunteers” to the festival.
“Volunteerism plays a key role in Galway Arts Festival and has been hugely important in the success of the event,” he said. “It provides volunteers with the opportunity to engage with many aspects of staging a large festival, from involvement with the Macnas Festival Parade, the Festival Big Top, and the festival’s online television channel, GAFTV.”
Applicants interested in applying for the volunteer programme can contact Susan McKenna, Galway Arts Festival volunteer programme manager [email protected]
