6 Irish cities and towns set for NTE pilot
The Night-Time Economy pilot projects will include an extensive consultation process leading to the development of an action plan setting out a range of interventions to support the co-ordinated development of the area’s Night-Time Economy.
This programme – which includes the appointment of Night-Time Economy advisors in each of the selected towns or cities – aims to help boost the Night-Time Economy and promote an eclectic, vibrant night-time culture.
“The establishment of Night-Time advisors in the six pilot towns and cities will be a significant step towards securing a vibrant and importantly a more sustainable night-time culture for all our citizens,” said the Minister, “The selection of these pilot towns and cities is a vital stage in this process and I’d like to thank the City and County Managers Association and the local authorities for their leadership and support for this process. This is in direct response to an action in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce which I published last year.
“The Taskforce explored ways in which we could promote a thriving, inclusive and diverse Night-Time Economy. It’s crucial now that we follow up on their recommendations and act on them to create and support opportunities for audiences, venues, businesses and performers.”
Ann Marie Farrelly, Chair of the CCMA’s Business, Enterprise, Innovation, Urban/Town Economic Renewal Committee and member of the Night-Time Recovery Taskforce, welcomed the progress made towards establishing the pilot areas saying she “looks forward to some innovative and exciting pilot projects across the country which will be developed in partnership with key local stakeholders.”
The Minister has committed funding for a two-year period to support the recruitment of the Night-Time Advisors for each of the chosen areas. The process is being led by the CCMA which recently issued a call to all local authorities to apply for funding to establish the role in their town or city. The application call for Local Authorities closes on the 24th of June and the chosen cities/towns will be announced later this Summer.
Minister Catherine Martin has also provided funding to support late-night openings in a number of the national cultural institutions this Summer and Autumn.
The national cultural institutions will support late-night openings throughout this year, hosting new innovative pilot events to boost the Night-Time Economy.
The Ministerial funding will allow national cultural institutions to open later than usual in the evenings but also to support events and performances with the aim of broadening and diversifying the range of cultural offerings available to the public at night.
In addition, with support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the National Concert Hall, IMMA and the National Museum of Ireland will also be hosting large-scale pilot events this year to trial new and more diverse offerings later into the night.
These initiatives are as a direct result of recommendations made by the Night-Time Economy Taskforce (as per Action 6, 9 and 10) which was set up by the Minister.
The Night-Time Economy pilot projects will include an extensive consultation process leading to the development of an action plan setting out a range of interventions to support the co-ordinated development of the area’s Night-Time Economy.
