Arts

Imagine Arts Festival is a unique celebration of the arts in Waterford City. The festival showcases all forms of the arts, from film and theatre, to music and dance plus everything in between. It gives everyone an opportunity to experience and participate in a broad range of creative arts. Imagine features live performances and special workshops for all ages and interests. The festival also gives new local young talent a platform to exhibit their work along with established international artists. Events are held in a number of locations across the City with some free events. The festival takes place annually in late October.

The Lismore Festival of Travel Writing takes place in June each year. The word 'Immram' derives from the Old Irish im ram meaning 'rowing about'. In Ireland, there is a long tradition of making journeys and of the ensuing descriptions. The Focus of the festival is on travel writing and literature with a different theme is explored at each year. The programme includes literary presentations by major national and international travel writers and bilingual workshops. The festival programme is packed with a variety of fringe events, including an International visual arts exhibition at Lismore Castle Arts, exhibition and events at Lismore Library. The primary aim is to deliver a high quality international literary festival driven by the long-term cultural benefits to the participants, the town of Lismore and the greater South East region. . This is the only festival dedicated to the medium of travel writing in Ireland. By bringing a host of top international and national authors the festival is giving both the presenters and participants a unique opportunity for interaction and exposure to this genre, while also catering for the mainstream literary area.

The Lismore Music festival is a unique Summer Music & Opera Festival in the scenic town of Lismore, standing on the Blackwater River. The Festival takes place each year on the June Bank Holiday weekend in the surrounds of the spectacular Lismore Castle. Attendees are urged to arrive early to enjoy a three course opera picnic with wine in the romantic castle gardens. A Prosecco and Wine Bar within the castle walls is present for the weekend. Tickets are available from Lismore Heritage Centre, Jonathan Ackroyd Jewellers, and online at www.lismoremusicfestival.com. Tickets and accommodation sell quickly so early booking is recommended.

Spraoi International Street Arts Festival takes over the city centre of Waterford on the August Bank Holiday weekend and transforms the streets and squares of Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city into a series of giant stages. Street-theatre artists and musicians from around the world, mainly from Ireland, Netherlands, U.K., France, Italy, Catalonia, West Africa and U.S.A. create three days of stunning entertainment and virtually all events are free. The programme starts daily around lunchtime and runs late into the night. A highlight is the annual Spraoi Parade where hundreds of costumed performers, giant floats, live music and special effects combine to create a wonderful cultural experience. The event now attracts audiences in excess of 100,000 people to the city.

Waterford Film Festival showcases all forms of feature film and documentary film production including shorts, animation, experimental, student work, digital work. The brainchild of Stephen Byrne and his production manager Jamie Dower, the festival is well established with a strong focus on the short film genre. Running annually in November, the festival showcases a wide range of local and international talent over the course of a weekend. The Waterford Municipal Art Gallery at Greyfriars is transformed into a cinema for the duration of the festival.