RT Almost Doubles Support for Irish Arts and Cultural Events since 2014

09/01/2025

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

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2025/01/09/rte-almost-doubles-support-for-irish-a...
	See more stories from rte

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 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...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

Net Insight Names Larissa GrnerMeeus CPO

Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4. Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...

18/03/2026

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...

18/03/2026

SVG's SportsTech@NABShow Blog Goes Live as Countdown to Vegas Heats Up

The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...

18/03/2026

The Premiere of Dead Lover Showcases Grave Robbing and Sex With a Giant Finger

(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...

18/03/2026

Music Row Piano from Wiltone Productions

Yamaha C7 captured in Nashville Wiltone Productions have announced the release of Music Row Piano, a deeply sampled Yamaha C7 piano library that's been ...

18/03/2026

Techivation introduce T-Warmer Mk2

Bass-enhancement plug-in upgraded Along with a steady stream of new releases, Techivation have recently been revisiting some of the older plug-ins in their ...

18/03/2026

Tonal Balance Control 3 from iZotope

Mix-reference plug-in overhauled iZotope's powerful mix-referencing plug-in has just reached its third major version, and now boasts a new capture proce...

18/03/2026

Toontrack Transistor Organ EKX

Latest EZKeys 2 expansion arrives Toontrack's staggering collection of EZKeys 2 expansions has grown once again, and the latest instalment delivers a on...

18/03/2026

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture 18 March, 2026 Media releases New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...

18/03/2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz at NAB 2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz...

18/03/2026

LCTWS 2026

London Calling - When The Industry Convened to Help Streaming Find its MoJo In this blog, Laura Rognoni reflects on key discussions from the Connected TV World...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026