Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. This year, it will take place on Friday September 18^th.

On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes extend their opening hours and organise special and unique events and workshops which are available to the public free of charge. 

Culture Night is particularly suited to venues seeking to encourage new audiences and organisations such as local arts groups, choirs, theatre companies, book clubs etc. who could host an evening of novel or exciting activities designed to engage new members. Other areas of particular interest include events that celebrate new communities and underrepresented voices, and which promote and connect artists from marginalised backgrounds and showcase the culturally diverse communities living in the County.

All events must embrace the following:

• Be free.
• Be registered through the relevant Arts Office/local authority and uploaded to the national programme/website.
• Embrace the Arts Council’s Pay the Artist  policy and ensure that all engaged artists and practitioners are paid, unless participating in a voluntary capacity or as part of a community group.
• Embrace Culture Night sustainable resources https://culturenight.ie/organiser-toolkit/.
• Be open to all and seek to create a sense of community and belonging – and promote the belief that ‘I am part of this, and this is part of me.’

If you are interested in organising or hosting a Culture Night event, we would like to hear from you.

Meath County Council Arts Office, supported by funding from the Arts Council, can provide financial support towards events and will include details of these events as part of local and national Culture Night publicity material.

Please Note Funding is limited. It may not be possible to offer funding to all applicants and it may also not be possible to offer the full amount requested to any individual applicant. Proposals will be evaluated on quality, how they align with Culture Night priorities and a cost-efficient budget. 

Assistance shall be given only in respect of Culture Night events held in County Meath. The event must take place between 4pm and 11pm on Friday 18^th September 2026 and be free of charge to the public.

The value of grants provided will depend on the number and quality of applications received. It may not be possible to fund all applicants and available funding will be allocated to those applications which best meet the objectives of the programme.

The maximum grant available is up to €800.

Closing date: Friday 31st July, 1pm

Apply here: https://meathcocoarts.submit.com/show/32