THE Future Limerick festival has been selected as one of just five arts projects across the country to benefit from the ESB Brighter Future Arts fund.
The €250,000 fund was established last year to support artists and arts organisations to deliver creative projects that will promote awareness of climate change and inspire positive action.
The ‘Future Limerick’ project will see Sunday’s Child Theatre and the Belltable/Lime Tree Theatre come together with artist Eva O’Connor to create a multidisciplinary Climate Arts Festival. The aim is to use art and creativity to engage the wider Limerick community on the issues of sustainability and climate change, and to spark debate about what a low carbon future could look like in Limerick.
Organised as a multidisciplinary festival across the city Future Limerick will feature acclaimed play ‘Afloat’ by Sunday’s Child Theatre Company, as well as a host of cultural events including music, spoken word, film screenings, a short story competition, visual art and much more.
ESB chief executive Paddy Hayes said they recognised the key role that artists play in helping communities not only to understand and interpret past and current events, but to imagine our future.
“Through this fund, we want to support artists and organisations committed to engaging and supporting communities to achieve a net zero future. ‘Future Limerick’ and all the selected projects reflect the diverse and creative approach that was evident across all submissions, and we look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition over the next two years.”
Eva O’Connor, of the Sunday’s Child Theatre Company, said the Future Limerick Festival would deliver a programme of events that would showcase the crucial role the arts have to play in envisaging a more sustainable future Limerick.
“We’re planning a vibrant week of culture that will both entertain and spark vital conversations about how we as a community can tackle the climate emergency, and create a brighter future.”
Belltable/Lime Tree Theatre Director Loouise Donlon said they were very excited to work with Sunday’s Child Theatre Company and the ESB on Future Limerick.
“Addressing the challenges we face through the medium of the arts will help to frame them in a way that makes them seem less daunting, and we hope this festival will inspire new & creative ideas for a local-led response to the climate change.”
The project is due to run from May 14 to 21.
Further details at www.esb.ie/arts
