Welcome to the sixteenth annual Five Lamps Arts Festival

This year we are kicking things off on the 13th of March with a jam-packed schedule ending on the 2nd of April. These three weeks of fun will celebrate all things art, culture, diversity, and inclusion.

Paul Kelly’s exhibition in Central Bank will mark the beginning of the festival with a captivating exhibition. Named ‘Winds of Change’, this will illustrate the ever-changing urban landscape of Dublin1 through his photography and short film. By coming to this event, you will immerse yourself in the culture and spirit of the North Inner City and witness the winds of change that are shaping its future.

Furthermore, this year we are welcoming ‘To Be Migrant’. The Five Lamps Arts Festival, Artmulti Brazil and REIC are bringing artists from many different backgrounds to share the stage and talk about stories, culture and feelings. This is a multilingual event and a welcoming space that will be held at the CHQ building. We look forward to seeing you there.

The fun continues on the 23rd of March with the Craic Club, hosting a thrilling night of live music, dance, burlesque and queer performances hosted by Drag Queen Marian Mary the 6th in the Grand Social. Marian Mary the 6th blends a unique style of music and comedy with a political twist exploring what it means to be Irish. This event aims to celebrate queer identity and inclusion at its best.

As always, we will have our family-friendly events held at Mud Island Community Garden. The local community developed the garden on a derelict site over ten years ago. It plays not only a social, recreational and educational role in this area, but it is a bio-diverse and environmentally sustainable place. The garden will host Imagination Playground, Cikada Circus, and more surprise events, including an arts and craft market. These events are ideal for families and children to enjoy their day and have fun.

Each and every year, we are inspired to continue encouraging the arts in the North Inner City, but of course, we would not be able to do so without the devoted help of our many friends across Dublin. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our sponsors, including the Arts Council, Dublin City Council, the Central Bank, Coopers Crossing and, of course, the NEIC, our biggest supporter in the last few years.

Moreover, we would love to thank and express deep appreciation for our Chairperson, Sean Mulchinock, for his nine years of dedicated help to the festival. Sean’s leadership and guidance were instrumental to our growth and success.

To Marcela Parducci, our talented project manager, volunteers and interns from all around the globe, we cannot thank you enough.

We hope you enjoy the events this year,