The Arts Council is hosting a Night-Time Culture Forum next Monday in Cork city.
The Night-Time Culture Forum at Millennium Hall, Cork City will feature talks and discussions on how to sustain vibrant art and cultural events at night, and tickets are free to attendees. It runs from noon to 5pm.
Speakers include:
Carly Heath – Bristol’s first Night-Time Economy Advisor and chair of Bristol Nights. Louise Bruton – arts journalist, playwright, disability rights activist, DJ and author, Robbie Kitt – musician, DJ, activist, community facilitator.
Candy Warhol – one of Ireland’s most renowned drag acts and an acclaimed international host, performer and DJ.
The Forum is being held in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Cork City Council under the Government’s Night-TimeEconomy Initiative, which aims to enhance and sustain the cultural life of cities and towns after dark, in line with economic growth, public safety, cultural development, and social well-being.
Speakers List:
Louise Bruton
is an arts journalist, playwright, disability rights activist, DJ and author. She made her theatre debut in 2017’s Dublin Fringe Festival with a sold-out run of Why Won’t You Have Sex With Me? Louise is currently working on a short film inspired by Avril Lavigne and a nonfiction book using the title Identity Theft.
Fiona Collins
is the Night-Time Advisor in Cork City Council. Prior to this, she worked in the events industry, working on both corporate and community events. Fiona is the current Chair of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. She holds a Masters in Public Relations from Munster Technological University.
Monica Corcoran
is a Strategic Development Manager in the Arts Council where she has supported and led on research and policy in several areas, including the audit of arts and cultural venues, the Mapping your Audience tool and the Outcomes Measurement Guidebook. She is currently working on a significant project to improve the experience of people with disabilities when attending the arts.
Mark Davies
is the Night-Time Adviser in Drogheda for Louth County Council. Originally from South Wales, he has a background in community safety and a passion for creative, community-led solutions. He is also a published songwriter and active in the alternative rock scene since 1998.
Collette Farrell
is the Director of the Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda since 2017and
has worked in the arts and cultural sector for over 30 years as an actress, stage manager, outreach facilitator and theatre and film producer. The Droichead was a recipient of the Late-Night Events pilot. She is currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Trinity College Dublin.
Carly Heath is Bristol’s first Night-Time
Economy Advisor and chair of Bristol Nights. She designs people-centred solutions to support businesses, workers and audiences who enjoy the city from 6pm-6am. Her efforts with Bristol Nights have been at the forefront of Night-Time Economy innovations, such as the UK’s first city-wide Harm Reduction policy, the establishment of a Women’s Safety Charter, and Thrive-At-Night, which concentrates on the wellbeing of night workers.
She designs people-centred solutions to support businesses, workers and audiences who enjoy the city from 6pm-6am
Robbie Kitt
is a musician, DJ, activist, community facilitator and stalwart of the electronic music scene in Ireland for the best part of the last
decade. His music attempts to capture the unique power of the dancefloor as a radical cultural and social space. His activism and community work, including his work with Give Us the Night, focuses on the provision of infrastructure for such cultural and social activity. In 2021, he was awarded the Next Generation Award by the Arts Council.
Dermot Lambert
is the CEO of Garageland Ireland. With an extensive background in music production and artist development, Dermot has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging talent. Garageland has become a cornerstone of the Irish music scene, providing a dynamic platform for artists to hone their craft and connect with their audiences. Dermot is a passionate advocate for funding, policy reform and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within the industry.
NATMAC
(Natalie McCormack) is the founder and chair of the Cork based Electronic Music Council and Underground Ovation, promoting sustainability in electronic music. As NATMAC and Maggi Mai, she DJs and takes part in key discussions. She recently spoke at Dáil Éireann on the Sale of Alcohol Bill, highlighting its impact on Cork’s night-time economy.
Gwada Mike
(Michael Maurin) is a Cork based DJ and MC who has been captivating audiences with his open-format DJ sets since the late 1990s. Residing
in Cork since 2006 and hailing from Guadeloupe (French West Indies), DJ Gwada Mike maintains a deep connection to his Caribbean
roots, curating electrifying musical journeys that guarantee unforgettable experiences.
Beyond the decks, DJ Gwada Mike’s passion for music extends to promoting events and actively contributing to the Electronic Music Council.
Megs Morley
is Director of the Galway Arts Centre since 2021 and has developed a multidisciplinary artistic programme of over 300 events, residencies, commissions and exhibitions. As part of the Late-Night Events pilot programme, she curated a series of experimental and multidisciplinary events in Galway Arts Centre and other venues in Galway City entitled Disquiet Nights.
Pádraig Naughton
is the Executive Director of Arts & Disability Ireland which champions the creativity of artists with disabilities and promotes inclusive experiences for audiences. In 2022, The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., recognised his excellence in Accessibility Leadership. Pádraig represents Project Arts Centre as an Expert Collaborator on the Europe Beyond Access consortium.
Dafe Pessu Orugbo
is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist with a dynamic artistic practice coupled with years of industry experience. He has toured both nationally and internationally, featured in global television projects and works extensively in arts education around the country. He is particularly interested in art that centres on the audience’s experience.
Fearghal Reidy
is the Director of Services for Strategic & Economic Development in Cork City Council. He leads on the preparation and oversight of the implementation of the City Centre Strategy for Cork, enhancing the vibrancy and viability of the city centre, day and night. Fearghal is a member of the national Night-Time Economy Implementation Committee. Fearghal has over 30 years’ experience in economic development, regeneration, policy and community development.
Candy Warhol
is one of Ireland’s most renowned drag acts and an acclaimed international host, performer and DJ. Co-host of Comedy Central’s Dragony Aunts TV series,
they are also the host and producer of Mockie Ah! – Ireland’s leading drag haus. Recently named one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions by BBC One, the collective tours nationwide and hosts Cork’s biggest queer theatre, cabaret and club night events.
