Limerick’s culture campaign video proves big hit

A video to launch Limerick’s bid for European Capital of Culture has received over 40,000 views in its first 24 hours.

Ireland's first national City of Culture unveiled its identity as part of the bid process for the European designation with the limerick2020.ie website and campaign video, launched with the help of BlindBoy BoatClub from international hiphop comedy duo The Rubberbandits at an event in Culture House.

The video has received over 40,000 views on Facebook since Tuesday and is also available on YouTube.

"Everyone in Limerick knows what culture means to our city after our fantastic year as National City of Culture 2014 and we want to build on this as Limerick continues to have a great story to tell," said Limerick 2020 bid director Mike Fitzpatrick.

“We’ve established a fantastic network in the city of cultural practitioners and artist-led organisations with an appetite and a new confidence after 2014 - but we need the people of Limerick’s help. We want the entire community to get involved, support us and make it happen.

“This summer our Bid team will be asking the broader Limerick community to engage with us and to discuss how we can collectively become European Capital of Culture and we will listen to your vision for 2020. The competition to be designated European Capital of Culture is definitely challenging, but we feel that if we all join forces, then Limerick has a fair and fighting chance.”

The Limerick 2020 team will develop and coordinate a series of small-scale cultural events, interventions and discussion to inform the set of values and priorities that will underpin Limerick’s bid.

These activities will take place across Limerick city and county and will be free and open to anyone who wants to participate.

The 2020 designation for European Capital of Culture will be given to both Ireland and Croatia and is one of the most prestigious and visible European cultural awards in the EU.

The process is competitive; bidding cities must demonstrate that they can provide a unique and promising programme of cultural and artistic events and activities and show how the opportunity forms part of the ambition of the city, with culture at the centre of the project.