Draíocht News Update - 20 March 2020

A message of hope & inspiration from Emer McGowan, Director of Draíocht, as we deal with the current Covid19 crisis:

"Draíocht is about facilitating connections. Connections between our local community and our community of artists, between members of the public, from the youngest to those of more advanced years to the range of programmes we offer. Most importantly, we are about the connection between all of us, recognising and giving voice to our experiences, to our hopes and dreams, loves and losses. If the current crisis has highlighted anything, it’s how much we all value and need that.

Draíocht’s staff team are working hard behind the scenes to maintain same. We are reaching out to you through every platform available to us, informing you of re-scheduled dates and future plans; we are available at the end of the phone to answer queries; we are making plans with artists, figuring out how we can get through the next few weeks or further if required. Thank you for your patience as we work through it. We really appreciate it. And until we can welcome you back in person, we will continue to share, not only the work that Draíocht has been directly involved in, but also links to online resources that will help us enjoy our own creativity at home with our families. It is at times like this that we realise just how much art and culture we engage with every day and how poorer our lives would be without it. Let’s never take it for granted but instead support all our amazing artists in any way we can, not only now, as they find ways to connect with us and bring some lightness and joy into our lives at a dark time, but into the future.

The reality for venues like Draíocht is that we walk a financial tightrope every year. We carefully manage our resources to ensure that we facilitate a range of high quality and diverse arts experiences for all of our audiences and participants. These can only be delivered because we engage artists with the skills, talent, creativity and dedication to the development of their own practice, to work with us. Covid19 has pushed us off the tightrope. It is important to us that we honour our commitment to our artists and we have and will continue to do that. You can help us by buying tickets/vouchers for future events or coming to our re-scheduled performances.

Please also consider responding to the brilliant initiative by our colleagues in The Civic as they raise funds through their Artist Emergency Relief Fund to enable artists, whose fragile incomes have been directly impacted by Covid19, receive some vital support.

Take care of yourselves and your families and we'll see you all back in Draíocht as soon as possible."

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Rest assured that if you've booked a ticket for a show, and Draíocht cancels that show because of Covid19, we will be able to offer you the choice of a Full Refund, Moving to Another Date (if we can reschedule that show), or a Draíocht Gift Voucher, for use at a later date. Please continue to support our events if you see something you'd like to book, and we'll be working on a week by week basis.

For updates on show cancellations and re-scheduled dates, stay tuned to our events page and Blog

Please be patient with our Box Office staff who are under considerable pressure and be assured that we will be in contact with all audience members as quickly as possible.

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JOIN IN!

If you're on Social Media, come and join us as we keep the content flowing on our Facebook, Twitterand Instagramaccounts. We've postponed our next Gallery Launch, but will be featuring the artists and their work on our Gallery account from next week.

We also have a range of content on our Youtube channel for you to enjoy, including all our Home Theatre Ireland videos, and Our Place Our Stories videos, as well as all Gallery Exhibitions from recent years.

Perhaps you'd like to make a Donation to Draíocht, anything from €2 upwards is very gratefully received, to help us cope with the uncertainty of the coming months.

Or why not buy a Gift Voucher and choose to print at home!

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This is going to be a tough time for everyone concerned and we want to thank all our stakeholders for their continued support and well wishes; all our promoters, performers, funders and audience members; our project participants, suppliers and facilitators; all our industry colleagues, local schools & colleges … thank you all for your understanding as we take these unprecedented measures.

Ultimately, we want to keep you all safe and well.
Look after each other, stay safe, stay well and we’ll see you all on the other side!

Best wishes and keep in touch!
Draíocht's Team
Emer, Teresa, Cliona, Philippa, Nicola, Alex, Paula, Dylan, Laura & John, our Curator Sharon & all our part time bar staff & ushers.

#StaySafeStayHome