Music for Galway last night (Wednesday ) launched an exciting three-year strategy document that will see it broaden its remit into encouraging emerging talent, enabling access for Galway audiences to the highest quality performances and continuing to work with the biggest national and international partners.
Presenting the strategy in Portershed A Dó, chair of the MfG board of directors, Mark Gantly thanked the Arts Council for providing the funds for this undertaking and paid tribute to Mary Carroll from Growth Potential for facilitating the process of devising the groundbreaking strategy. He also thanked the steering team as well as the board and all the stakeholders who took part in the consultation process.
On whatever level the projects operate – whether they are focussed on fostering emerging talent, providing access to quality classical music performances to school children, bringing top international artists to Galway audiences, or partnering with organisations at local, national and international level to deliver its programme, Music for Galway is taking it to the next level, not just in its scale of operations, but in sending a strong message that Galway is truly a world city of the arts, with classical and contemporary music a distinctive strength.
“From Galway to the World, the title of the strategy, conveys perfectly the main message of the organisation,” said Anna Lardi, CEO; “In recent years there has been a major transformation as the organisation has grown in capacity, ambition and output.”
“Music for Galway is certainly extending its reach; while it continues to deliver access to highest quality classical and contemporary music to audiences in Galway, it is increasingly working with national and international partners on initiatives to attract audiences from further afield.
CELLISSIMO, the triennial eight-day cello festival on the edge of Europe, scheduled for May 2024 is one such vehicle, with the exciting international initiative Songs of Travel a particular jewel in the festival’s crown, in which Music for Galway is leading a team of five countries; for this, the organisation and its international partners have been awarded €1million through the Creative Europe Cooperation Award.
Talking about CELLISSIMO, artistic director Finghin Collins unveiled details of a special concert connected to the festival and scheduled for November 18 at the Galmont Hotel.
Featuring major star cello/piano duo Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, this concert will be a tantalising foretaste of what is to come in May 2024: tickets are now on sale.
