The Arts Council has announced that more great art is due to visit Mayo over the coming weeks as details of its Touring Scheme were revealed. In addition to supporting a range of other artistic schemes in 2013, the Arts Council has spent €1.3m assisting various artistic productions to tour the country.
The primary purpose of the Arts Council’s Touring and Dissemination of Work Scheme is to ensure that regional audiences have access to high quality arts experiences. The scheme provides support to artistic companies and networks to present their work to the widest possible audience.
Over the next number of months, audiences in Mayo will be able to enjoy performances by some of Ireland’s most talented artists.
For example, Fidget Feet Performance Company’s innovative aerial dance production The Elves and The Shoemaker will be visiting the Áras Inis Gluaire in Belmullet. The show is an immersive theatre experience that invites the audience on to the stage and into the world of the elves. Storytelling, theatre, aerial and music will all interweave to create an exciting retelling of this much-loved story.
Arts Council director Orlaith McBride said: “We are delighted that we are able to bring great artistic performances to Mayo. At the Arts Council, we are committed to the promotion of the arts in Ireland and this scheme is a very important component of the work we do. This funding follows other support for artistic endeavours such as festivals and artist bursaries that we have targeted towards local communities all around Ireland throughout 2013.
“There are so many talented artists in the country and everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy their work. The funding provided through this scheme enables artistic companies to reach audiences across the country. It also helps to drive economic activity for both local businesses and local tourism because these performances provide wonderful arts experiences that attract people into towns and cities.”
As well as Fidget Feet Performance Company, there will be other productions visiting Mayo over the coming period. For more information on the companies which have received funding as part of the Arts Council’s Touring and Dissemination of Work Scheme and the counties they will be visiting, visit www.artscouncil.ie
