Plenty of free local events to entertain on Culture Night
Culture Night takes place throughout the country tonight, Friday September 20, celebrating culture, creativity and the arts. In Athlone and surrounding areas, it is an opportunity to explore the fantastic cultural venues available to us and also highlight vibrant artistic community in our midst.
Visitors to Athlone Castle will enjoy free entry to the Castle Visitor Centre between 5 and 8pm (last entry 7.30pm). Traditional games will be set up for visitors of all ages to play with. Children will also be invited to engage in the work of an archaeologist, with the 'Dig It With David' workshop.
Across the road at the Luan Gallery, exhibiting artist Conor Walton will be undertaking an all-day portrait drawing marathon from 11am-7.30pm. The gallery will be extending its opening hours until 8pm and offering free guided tours of Walton’s exhibition 'Asymmetrical Warfare'.
At Abbey Road Studios, visitors will have the chance to experience the Open Studios from 4-8pm, providing a unique, behind-the-scenes view of the artists’ practice.
Resident artists will be on hand to showcase some of their work and explain their working process. Abbey Road will also play host to a photography exhibition by Athlone Photography Club.
Shambles Art Studio Artists also invite you to the studios in Excise Street, Athlone.
Athlone Gramophone Society will play a selection of classics in Parnell Room in the Prince of Wales Hotel. Or pop over to Athlone Civic Centre where Rosemarie Langtry will host her art exhibition 'Serendipity', and there will be a performance from Athlone Youth Orchestra from 6pm. Kara Richards reads from her book accompanied by songs and classical guitar from The Klass in Athlone Library from 6pm. And then join in a walking tour of John Broderick’s Athlone, through poetry and prose with Martin Dyar and Gearóid O’Brien.
In Moate’s Tuar Ard there will be totem poles on display, the works of local schools with help of artist Dominique Foley. Moate Library has a real treat in store with local portrait artist Colm Noonan exhibiting some of his amazing pieces. The exhibition will be accompanied by the multi-talented multi instrumentalists Andy Yau and Niall Mannion, and Moate Museum has late opening.
Anne Rigney, who has lived in Knockcroghery for over 30 years, will showcase a selection of her limited edition prints at her pop-up exhibition at the back lounge of Murrays, Knockcroghery. The exhibition will include prints of some of her recent 'Heartline' paintings, which are currently on view at Roscommon Arts Centre.
Anne is also part of the Knockcroghery Ukulele Collective and will be joining Ukephoric for their performance in Murrays. A very eclectic evening of art and music is promised - do drop in between 7 and 9pm. Exhibition opening at 7pm with refreshments.
Meanwhile, a selection of paintings and artworks by local artists is on display in the Suck Valley Visitors Centre in Athleague, Co Roscommon from 6pm to 11pm, with wine and finger food reception on arrival.
A full schedule of Culture Night events is available to view at www.culturenight.ie.