Call out for people to share memories of Kilkenny Arts Festival ahead of 50th anniversary

Kilkenny Arts Festival has announced a special initiative designed to celebrate and preserve its rich and vibrant history.

The festival is calling upon artists, audience members, volunteers and the local community to share their cherished memories of the festival, as part of the Echoes of a Festival: Celebrating 50 years of Kilkenny Arts Festival initiative.

The festival is this year celebrating 50 years of presenting outstanding national and international artists in Ireland’s Medieval city.

The collective memories will be shared as part of a special supplement in the Kilkenny People, part of an online display available from the beginning of August and as physical installation presented as part of the festival from August 10-20.

Organisers are inviting the public from both Ireland and around the world to delve into their past experiences and recollections of the Kilkenny Arts Festival. Whether they’re fond memories of unforgettable performances, chance meetings with inspiring artists, or simply the atmosphere and camaraderie of the festival, they want to hear and share them all.

Participants can share their memories in various forms — written accounts, voice notes, or video clips. Contributions can be sent via email or WhatsApp.

To further facilitate the collection of the memories, there will be two special afternoons dedicated to memory collection at the Smithwick’s Experience on Saturday, July 1 and Saturday, July 15. Details will be announced shortly via the festival’s website.

Festival-goers and locals are warmly invited on these dates to share their personal experiences and tales from the festival’s past.

For more information see kilkennyarts.ie or follow Facebook - @Kilkennyarts and Instagram - @Kilkennyartsfestival.