WHEN TWO young graduates became besotted by an emerging Galway Arts Festival, little did they know that they would become bosses of a prestigious international event.
Now the festival’s chief executive John Crumlish and artistic director Paul Fahy have secured the support of NUI Galway for a partnership which will give students the sort of opportunity that the pair once had to seize for themselves.
The initiative will allow five NUI Galway students and graduates, along with five other artists, to participate in all aspects of the fortnight-long arts festival, running from July 11th. The initiative will be supported, both financially and with resources, by NUI Galway.
The volunteers will be given passes for shows, post-show talks, workshops and masterclasses, while also helping organisers. This year's arts festival programme opens with the world premiere of Enda Walsh's new work, Misterman, starring Cillian Murphy.
Artists from Africa, north America, Asia, Australia and Europe have been booked, along with Irish productions.
The Macnas parade, which includes a strong volunteer element drawn from the city populace, takes to the streets on July 17th.
“This partnership will introduce a new generation of volunteers to the festival experience as part of a developmental programme which includes our partnership with Landmark Productions on Misterman, and artist Hughie O’Donoghue’s exhibition with us which will travel to Prague later this year,” Mr Crumlish said.