Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir is an annual, all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts.

On Culture Night arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes, from independent studios and art-spaces to national cultural institutions, extend their opening hours to allow increased access for the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and, thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council and local authorities across the island of Ireland, all activities are made available to the public free of charge.    

Culture Night has grown from a relatively small-scale cultural event, staged only in Dublin in 2006, to a significant national cultural event, with some 400,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres across the island. The initiative has captured the public imagination and its success has been propelled by the enthusiasm of artists and cultural organisations.

Culture Night is an initiative of Dublin City Council (Temple Bar Cultural Trust) and became a national event with the support from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht from 2008 onward. In 2020, responsibility for steering and funding Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir on a national level was transferred from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to the Arts Council.

Culture Night Kildare is brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Kildare County Council Arts Office.

Culture Night 2023 is taking place on Friday 22nd September, for full details of events happening all across County Kildare click here.