ESB, in partnership with Business to Arts, has announced five projects spanning theatre, poetry, music, dance, sculpture, gardening, visual arts and soundscapes, that have been selected to receive funding from the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund. The €250,000 fund was established in 2021 to support artists and arts organisations to deliver creative projects that will promote awareness of climate change and inspire positive action around sustainability and the energy transition.
The five selected projects are:
- Future Limerick – a multidisciplinary climate arts festival which is a collaboration between Sunday’s Child Theatre Company and the Lime Tree Theatre | Bell Table in Limerick. This project will see performances, workshops, projections, and more take place in Limerick in May 2022.
- Theatre Royal Biodiversity Garden, Waterford – a partnership between Theatre Royal and Waterford City & County Council, this project will see a pollinator-friendly willow sculpture by artist Elaine McDonagh installed in a new biodiversity garden adjacent to the Theatre Royal.
- Future Light from Distant Stars, Carlow – a partnership between artist David Beattie and the Visual Centre of Contemporary Art in Carlow to create a colourful greenhouse installation powered by solar panels, emitting light, and acting as a growing space, workshop venue and meeting place.
- Almanac for a Walled City, Derry – a partnership between sound artist Christopher Steenson and the Nerve Centre, Derry to explore solutions to the climate crisis by looking at Ireland’s unique relationship with the weather.
- Moving Futures – Dublin Dance Festival –a partnership between Dublin Dance Festival and specialist Irish lighting / technology company Lightscape (www.lightscape.ie) to create a site-specific performance at ESB’s newly redeveloped Head Office in Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2, exploring the themes of sustainability and human connection.
Speaking at the announcement, Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive of ESB, said: “As a long-standing supporter of the arts in Ireland, ESB recognises the important role that artists play in helping communities not only to understand and interpret past and current events, but to imagine our future. Through this fund, we want to support artists and organisations committed to engaging and supporting communities to achieve a net zero future. The selected projects reflect the diverse and creative approach that was evident across all submissions, and we look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition over the next two years.”
Davina Saint, Chairperson of Business to Arts, said: “The five incredible projects across the island of Ireland that are being funded by the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund demonstrate how artists and arts organisations uniquely interpret and communicate critical issues in creative ways. ESB is a long-term supporter of Business to Arts and the arts. We champion companies that are committed to supporting the arts and we are proud to partner with ESB on this innovative fund.”
For more information on the fund or selected projects visit:
