15 Year Landmark Exhibition for Culture Night
Performing Arts School Centre-Stage for Culture Night 2025
On Friday 19th September, we presented a very special anniversary exhibition, celebrating fifteen years of our Performing Arts School and achievements of all forty-five graduates that have acted, sang and danced their way through its three-year QQI accredited programme.
Founded in 2010, the Performing Arts School was established to address the fact that there was no formal performing arts training for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) anywhere in Ireland at the time. We committed to filling this gap, creating a vibrant three-year programme facilitated by some of the West of Ireland’s finest theatre arts practitioners.
Our Performing Arts School was born out of the fact that in 2010 there was no quality, accredited performing arts training for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) anywhere in Ireland. So, we committed ourselves to establishing a vibrant programme, facilitated by some of West of Ireland’s finest theatre arts practitioners, to start levelling the playing field for ID artists. Today, our Performing Arts School delivers to fifteen students every year with its own premises unlocking extraordinary artistry and expanding the lives of its students. – Artistic Director Petal Pilley
The exhibition charted this extraordinary journey, showcasing photographic archives from the first enrolled students in 2010 to the present day. Over 200 visitors enjoyed displays of costumes, puppets and theatre crafts, as well as screenings of theatre productions and short films. Current students and graduates hosted the evening, giving the public a unique insight into the creativity and talent that has flourished over the last decade and a half.
Graduates Roisin and J
ack interviewed live on RTE ONE as part of their Culture Night broadcast
WorkAbility
Leading up to the exhibition, third year students received Front of House training to welcome and guide the public throughout the show. This work experience forms part of our WorkAbility programme, that supports and prepares students for working within the arts sector and beyond. WorkAbility programme is administrated by Pobal and co-funded by the EU and the Department of Social Protection.
Visit our WorkAbility page for more about the 5 year programme.
About Culture Night
Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir is brought to you by the Arts Council. It is a national moment, celebrating culture, creativity and the arts, and seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day. It is delivered nationwide in cities, towns, villages and rural locations as well as online and through media partners.