Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has announced funding of €455,000 by Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts globally in 2021 and 2022.

The funding will support 51 projects, including an Irish theatre showcase in Edinburgh later this year.

“This funding will help many artists continue to present their work online, reaching international audiences," Minister Martin said of the news. "I am delighted that the recently announced Government roadmap for international travel has enabled support of artists to travel again to present their work in person, starting with the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival this August.”

Marking the return of physical presentation to global audiences is the world premiere of new work by Enda Walsh, Medicine - a co-production between Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival being presented at Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh International Festival in August.

Also as part of the Culture Ireland Edinburgh Showcase 2021, eleven Irish theatre shows will be presented online through the Fringe Marketplace to allow Irish artists to reach global presenters and secure future touring opportunities.

Later, in November, Dead Centre will present Beckett’s Room at Warwick Arts Centre in connection with Coventry 2021 UK City of Culture.

The online projects being funded involve a diverse range of projects and artforms including presentations of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground, an opera by Gerald Barry presented by Irish National Opera in partnership with the Royal Opera House London.

Irish musicians will perform at key Irish festivals in the US over the summer and Irish language writers will present their work alongside Maori writers in a collaboration with Cúirt International Festival of Literature in Christchurch, New Zealand in August 2021.

Culture Ireland’s support will ensure that Irish artists can reach a worldwide audiences both online and in person, reconnecting with audiences physically for the first time in eighteen months.

Please see Culture Ireland's website for the full list of April 2021 and Edinburgh grant round recipients.

Today I've announced €455k to help promote Irish arts globally in 2021 & 2022

This will support 51 projects present work online and it will also support them when international travel opens back up again @culture_ireland https://t.co/I5y3YDOWeE pic.twitter.com/AmKM5RrLKS

— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) June 15, 2021