Irish Arts Centre in New York to receive €3 million from Irish government

The Irish Arts Centre in New York will receive an additional €3 million in funding from the Irish government to complete its redevelopment project.

The funding will allow the "delivery a state-of-the-art facility fit for the 21st century", with the intention of providing a space for the next generation of Irish artists.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan announced that €2.5m of funding will come from his Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, with the remaining  €500,000 coming from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"The IAC has long been a home from home for Irish artists, providing audiences with the opportunity to engage with Irish arts and culture," Minister O'Donovan said. "This funding for the phase two redevelopment of the IAC’s original 51st Street home will add a second intimate venue to complete the new IAC Campus.”

The Irish Arts Centre was founded by political activists in 1972 in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. They present, develop, and celebrate work from established and emerging artists and cultural practitioners.

A budget of over €80m has been allocated towards redeveloping the IAC in recent years, with funding coming from New York City, New York State and the Irish government.

The first phase of the project delivered a new arts centre with a theatre, library, studio and function spaces. Phase two will see the redevelopment of the IAC’s original space on 51st Street into an "intimate venue capable of platforming more emerging and early career artists."

“This visionary partnership between the people of Ireland and New York has secured a permanent platform for Irish artists in the cultural capital of the world," said IAC Executive Director Aidan Connolly. "The second phase of this project will deliver a second, intimate, flexible space for Irish artists across a range of backgrounds, disciplines and practices - both established and emerging - for generations to come.”