Galway City Council is offering grants of up to €2,000 for city and Salthill coffee shops to stay open into the night – and the deadline is tonight!
Galway is one of nine cities piloting a night-time economy model, and officials say that based on public consultation, there is a strong demand for late night spaces for entertainment and cultural events away from alcohol.
Coffee shop owners and managers are encouraged to apply for ‘Café Late’ grants to help fund the introduction of engaging cultural programming in their premises after 6pm. Grants range from €500 to €2,000, and may cover the expense of activities such as book clubs, literature readings, performances and workshops.
The city council’s Nighttime Economy Advisor, Kate Howard, declined to confirm an overall budget for the pilot scheme, but said more funding could be released based on the number of applications now and in future. To date “around a dozen” applications have been received.
