Minister for Arts To Attend Culture Summit In Edinburgh

The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys, is to attend the Edinburgh International Culture Summit.

Minister Humphreys will attend a number of meetings during her visit, including Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs. The Minister will also join over 40 Culture Ministers from around the world participating in the Culture Summit, which includes sessions on protecting our cultural heritage, resourcing the cultural sector in challenging times and breaking down barriers to cultural participation.

Culture Ireland is supporting six Irish shows through its Showcase Programme at this year's Edinburgh Festivals.

Minister Humphreys said: "The Edinburgh Festivals provide Irish artists with an invaluable opportunity to showcase their work to a varied international audience. The six Irish shows being supported by Culture Ireland this year feature some of best of Ireland's contemporary theatre and dance artists.

"The quality of this year's Irish artists at Edinburgh has already been recognised, with Remember to Breatheby Orla Murphy winning the Lustrum Award, and Lïnger by Breandán de Gallaí has been nominated for a Total Theatre Award in the category of Dance. In recent years, artists and companies who have featured as part of Culture Ireland's programme have gone on to international success and acclaim, underlining the importance of supporting Irish artists to showcase in Edinburgh.

"The Edinburgh International Culture Summit will provide a valuable opportunity to discuss some of the key challenges and opportunities for culture and heritage with other arts and culture ministers from around the world.

"I also look forward to meeting with Fiona Hyslop, to discuss issues of mutual importance to Ireland and Scotland, including the implications of the Leave vote in the EU-UK Referendum."

(MH/CD)