Could US-Irish relations hinge on the arts?

ARTSCAPE:WILL THE arts – or the US stage, at any rate – save us all internationally? With the self-inflicted damage to our reputation arising from the financial crisis and with apprehension about possible changes in US tax law for multinationals, there are more indications that the only good news out of Ireland is cultural.

At George Mitchell Scholars reception on Tuesday, US-Ireland Alliance president Trina Vargo (who has also advised Obama on Ireland) said relations between the two countries are at a pivotal moment in history and drastic measures are required to solidify them into the future. She said the future of the relationship, if there is to be one, will be built on arts, culture, business and education.

This comes on the heels of Obama's recent comment to the New York Timesmagazine that, having grown tired of briefing books, he's been spending his evenings with Joseph O'Neill's 2008 novel Netherland.Also this week, Michelle Obama spoke from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, saying the US's creative spirit is critical to its ideals and its identity, and the arts need to be nurtured even during difficult economic times. "The arts are not just a nice thing to have," she said, but "they define who we are as a people . . . My husband and I believe strongly arts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation's leaders of tomorrow."

Though many other states do, the US doesn’t have a dedicated arts ministry, while rumours are circulating here about the possibility of the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism being split up and hived off into different departments after the upcoming local and European elections; suggested future homes for the arts include within the Department of Education (at least there might be an improved relationship between them) or the Department of the Taoiseach. Despite the rumours of demotion, the Taoiseach has stressed the centrality of culture to the US-Irish relationship, and plans a series of “high-profile cultural events” in the US in 2011, led by Culture Ireland and involving both the Department of Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Midsummer buzz in Cork

The buzz around this year's Cork Midsummer Festival (June 13th to 28th) is shared by director William Galinsky, who is optimistic and undaunted about having to reduce his season by five days, writes Mary Leland. "What's going on has really galvanised the sector," he says of the collaboration and commitment characterising the programme's 18 production partnerships.

Expectation is focused on the first Irish visit by Scotland's Traverse Theatre with Midsummer, a new play from David Greig with songs by Gordon McIntyre. Presented by the festival in association with Cork Opera House, this is one of a Scottish trilogy that also includes the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe First winner Slickfrom Vox Motus, and David Leddy's Susurrusfrom Site Specific Theatre, a day-long event at Fitzgerald Park that takes its theme from the first night of Benjamin Britten's opera of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Corcadorca has chosen the Vertigo Suite at County Hall for MedEia, the Oscar van Woensal retelling of the Greek revenge tragedy featuring lyrics by Madonna, the Beatles and Joy Division. Cork's Hammergrin offers Hollander; Making Strange Theatre Company brings Luck, a one-woman show with Megan Riordan; Jack Healy's Shostakovichis at the Cork School of Music; while Raymond Scannell presents his solo show Mimic. Other welcome returns include Spencer Tunick in an online exhibition, and Crazy Dog Audio Theatre's cheerfully affectionate People's Republic of Gerry Murphyon the Everyman main stage.

Sol Pico Dance Company returns to the Opera House, Croí Glan Integrated Dance Company is at the Firkin Crane, the first Cork appearance of the AIB Street Performance World Championship starts at Fitzgerald Park, and the Dance Marathon is at the Spiegeltent, which has a diverse programme of its own.

There is a “grass roots food market” on Oliver Plunkett Street (this is, after all, the Festival of the Senses, and food is also an option at Corcadorca and Hammergrin).

Galinsky’s faith in the future is seen in the performance project Out of Order, a performance project that people aged 16-21 can devise and perform in. Also, Pol Heyvaert of Belgium’s Victoria Theatre is preparing a show for the Granary for 2010. Galinsky promises he will still be around for this, and for the opera on the Air India disaster that the festival has commissioned from Jurgen Simpson and Michael West as a co-production with the Canadian Contemporary Music Centre in Banff. This will premiere in Vancouver before its presentation in Cork for the festival of 2011. 021-4273944, www.corkmidsummer.com.

It’s Irish season in Paris

Sheila Pratschke, director of the Irish College in Paris, and who was just awarded the French government's Ordre National du Mérite, has put together another superlative programme for the cultural centre's summer season, writes Lara Marlowe. This week Prof Roy Foster gives a talk, Yeats, Ireland and Europe,with special emphasis on Yeats in Paris. The College hosts A Feast of Friel, a dual celebration of the Donegal playwright's 80th birthday and new French translations of five of his plays, from June 2nd to 6th. The playwright will be introduced by Ambassador Anne Anderson and will remain for the four-day event, while Ouroboros Theatre Company performs excerpts from Friel's work.

Former Irish Timesjournalist Terence Killeen, the author of Ulysses Unbound: A Reader's Companion to James Joyce's Ulyssesexplores The Joyce of Music, with recordings of some of Joyce's favourite pieces on Bloomsday. On June 21st, the Irish College is a venue for the annual French Fête de la Musique, a casual, city-wide party where Kerry group Béal Tuinne will play, with composer Shaun Davey and singer Rita Connolly among the musicians. Three days later the Irish Chamber Choir of Paris performs composer Jane O'Leary's Dream Songs, as well as pieces by Mary Kelly. Advance booking advised. www.centreculturelirlandais.com.

- For those who want to do more than just look at art, why not join in? Drawing Day, organised by the National Gallery in conjunction with 32 Irish museums, galleries and arts venues, takes place today. At the National Gallery there’s a morning session for adults on still life and figure drawing, and an afternoon project for families. Admission is free and no booking is necessary, bring bring your own equipment. www.nationalgallery.ie.

- Tom Mathews's new exhibition Artoon and Othersopens at the Blackbird Gallery, Kilkenny, on Thursday.See theblackbirdgallery.com