RT Supporting the Arts
RT Almost Doubles Support for Irish Arts and Cultural Events since 2014
Watch our promo: RT Supporting the Arts | 10 Years in Review
RT supported 178 arts and cultural events all over the island of Ireland in 2024. This represents an 82% increase over the ten years since the scheme was re-launched in 2014, when 98 events were supported by RT . The renowned scheme - which won the Business to Arts Special Recognition Award in 2018 - also increased the number of supported events year-on-year, from 170 in 2023 to 178 in 2024.
The RT Supporting the Arts scheme aims to promote attendance at arts events nationwide, and supports the full range of genres, from dance to opera, visual arts to children's events, literary festivals, film and Irish-language events. In 2023, RT delivered a 30% increase year-on-year in the annual number of campaigns supporting Ireland's rich and vibrant cultural landscape. The scheme offers dedicated promotion on RT 's television, radio and digital services, and extensive support across RT 's social channels. With production services provided by RT , in addition to promotional airtime, the RT Supporting the Arts scheme is a lifeline to Ireland's creative and cultural sectors.
Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RT , said: Artists not only deserve an audience, they need an audience. Ireland's rich and vibrant arts and cultural sector can only thrive and grow if it is consumed - watched, read, listened to, participated in, and - crucially - attended. This is why the RT Supporting the Arts scheme is so important. RT allocates over 1million worth of promotional airtime each year to the arts, so that audiences all over Ireland can be informed about arts and cultural events near them, in every genre, and for everybody. I'd like to thank the RT Supporting the Arts committee, and the teams in RT 's commercial and promos divisions, for their steadfast support of the scheme, which has allowed it to grow so substantially and consistently. But most of all I'd like to thank the artists, the organisers, the national cultural institutions, the festivals, arts organisations and cultural bodies, whose incredible work we are so proud to support in ever increasing numbers.
This January RT is supporting 13 amazing arts and cultural events all over Ireland through the RT Supporting the Arts scheme, including First Fortnight Mental Health Arts and Culture Festival, which takes place across the country from 4th-18th January, with events across art forms including poetry, music, textile art, and theatre.
There are several music events to enjoy including Music for Galway Midwinter Festival celebrating 150 years since the birth of Maurice Ravel, one of the most original and sophisticated composers of the twentieth century. In Killarney, FOLK iN FUSION will showcase the very best in folk, roots, bluegrass, country, and beyond. While Drogheda Classical Music Concert Series in Louth, will continue to bring some of the world's most renowned musicians to Ireland's north-east.
In Dublin, the Royal Irish Academy of Music's Wigmore Series will host an array of music performances, Glasshouse perform Ryuichi Sakamoto at the National Concert Hall, Brigit 2025: Dublin City Celebrating Women will host an array of events across the city, and TradFest, Ireland's leading trad and folk festival, celebrating 20 years, will be a joyful celebration of Irish music and culture.
There is also lots of theatre to enjoy with James Joyce's The Dead continuing at the Museum of Literature Ireland, while The Ark will present The Giggler Treatment, a marvellous, mischievous new musical based on the novel by Roddy Doyle for children and grown-ups alike. The Borrowers is at the Gate Theatre. Based on Mary Norton's beloved adventure novels, it follows the fortunes of the tiny Clock family.
Events supported by the RT Supporting the Arts scheme this January:
Dublin Abbey 120 years | www.abbeytheatre.ie
Nationwide Irish National Opera | www.irishnationalopera.ie
Dublin The Dead @ Museum of Literature Ireland | www.anuproductions.ie
Dublin Wigmore Series Dublin | www.riam.ie/whats-on
Dublin The Giggler Treatment | www.ark.ie/events/view/the-giggler-treatment-2024
Nationwide First Fortnight Mental Health Art and Culture Festival 2025 | www.firstfortnight.ie
Dublin TradFest 2025 | www.tradfest.com
Dublin The Borrowers | www.gatetheatre.ie/production/the-borrowers
Kerry FOLK iN FUSION | www.inec.ie/gigs/folk-in-fusion-yras-live
Louth Drogheda Classical Music 24/25 Series | www.droghedaclassicalmusic.com
Dublin Glasshouse perform Ryuichi Sakamoto | www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/glasshouse-perform-ryuichi-sakamoto
Galway Music for Galway Midwinter Festival RAVEL | www.musicforgalway.ie/midwinter-festival-ravel
Dublin Brigit 2025: Dublin City Celebrating Women | www.dublin.ie/brigit
Every year, RT supports over 170 arts and cultural events all over Ireland through the RT Supporting the Arts scheme. Spanning film, music, dance, opera, festivals, literature, theatre and exhibitions, and with dedicated promotion on RT 's television, radio and digital services, and extensive support across RT 's social channels, the RT Supporting the Arts scheme is a lifeline to Ireland's creative and cultural sectors.
To find out more information about RT Supporting the Arts and to apply visit
About RT Supporting the Arts - About RT (rte.ie)
Find out what's happening near you on www.rte.ie/culture
ENDS
For information:
Neil O'Gorman, Corporate Communications Manager, RT | E: neil.ogorman@rte.ie
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
18/05/2026
Continued investment across Europe and Germany is expanding local teams and improving access to stock, regional expertise, and specialist broadcast support.
CV...
18/05/2026
Comscore March 2026 Consumer AI Chatbot Usage Rankings Show Claude Gaining Share OpenAI's ChatGPT maintains lead while Anthropic's Claude continues to c...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
16/05/2026
Helps to deliver a clean, balanced midrange
Developed alongside Newfangled Audio, the latest plug-in in Eventide's software collection has been designed...
16/05/2026
Brings onboard stem rendering to RANE System One
Engine DJ have just released Engine DJ 5.0, a free update for their Engine DJ OS embedded hardware and Engi...
16/05/2026
Boris FX Continuum Pairs AI Precision and Advanced Creative Controls
Jessie Electa Petrov May 16, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic de...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, in partnership with RAVE Foundation an...
15/05/2026
Dan Brumm has served as sound designer on Bluey, the Australian children's t...
15/05/2026
The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) and Shure Incorporated are accepting applications for the 6th annual Mark Brunner Professional Audio Schola...
15/05/2026
Netflix has announced an expanded NFL schedule for 2026 and beyond under a four-year partnership extension with the NFL through the 2029-30 season. Each season,...
15/05/2026
Ateme is supporting TVRI (Televisi Republik Indonesia) with a contribution and d...
15/05/2026
Concacaf has announced the launch of a new website and mobile app built on Deltatre's FORGE platform. Concacaf.com and the mobile app, available on iOS and ...
15/05/2026
Eutelsat has announced the launch of QBC Business Economic Channel by Qatar Media Corporation, broadcasting in 4K/UHD via Eutelsat's 7/8 West video neighbo...
15/05/2026
Major League Soccer has announced four original content series timed to the 2026...
15/05/2026
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced it will exhibit and present at InfoComm 2026, taking place June 13-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Cente...
15/05/2026
InfoComm 2026 will take place June 13-19 (exhibits June 17-19) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show will include sessions and exhibits covering broadcas...
15/05/2026
Tracy McGrady's Ones Basketball League (OBL) and FuboTV Inc. have announced ...
15/05/2026
Disguise has partnered with Creative Technology (CT) to deliver visual playback ...
15/05/2026
Sony Electronics has announced two new products for professional imaging: the Alpha 7R VI full-frame mirrorless camera and the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS super-te...
15/05/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
15/05/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
15/05/2026
For sports organizations, the most valuable assets are often the most sensitive:...
15/05/2026
The NFL's broadcast partners released their 2026 regular season schedules ye...
15/05/2026
When MMA icons Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano meet inside the Hexagon at Intuit Do...
15/05/2026
Daniel Roher attends the Tuner Premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Theatre on January 22, 2026 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Neilson Bar...
15/05/2026
Last night, the Spotify Podcast Awards in Mexico returned to the country's capital. Now in its second year, the evening honors creators whose voices are hel...
15/05/2026
Rebranded show announced
Ahead of their 2026 return, Music Expo have announced that they have now officially changed their name to the MONO Music Conference...
15/05/2026
Fuzz pedal joins UK companys line-up
UK-based pedal makers Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices have recently unveiled their latest creation, the Bolster. Said to pay...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
15/05/2026
Join Calrec at MPTS 2026 | May 13-14 | Stand A40 | Olympia, London We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at this year's Media ...
15/05/2026
86% of media planners would move more linear TV budget to CTV if they had show-level targeting and reporting - and 65% would also shift dollars from programmati...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Clear-Com will showcase new communications solutions and major platform updates at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7005), June 17-19, in the North and Central Halls of t...
15/05/2026
Following an outstanding inaugural year in 2025, Rise AV is proud to announce the return of its flagship leadership initiative, Elevate. The programme continues...
15/05/2026
Berklee Announces Lineup for Inaugural AI Music Summit The three-day event puts musicians at the center of the future of music creation, ethics, and the indus...
15/05/2026
Lightware returns to InfoComm 2026 with a focused showcase of scalable USB-C connectivity, next-generation AV-over-IP solutions, and technologies that help over...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
RT Supporting the Arts 
