Feile in Temple Bar
The forthcoming ‘Feile’ exhibition at the National Photographic Archive in Dublin’s Temple Bar coincides with St Patrick’s Day. It will include material from the archive depicting images of celebrations and festivals in Irish life over the past century, including St Patrick’s Day parades in Donegal and Dublin, Easter parades, Corpus Christi processions, fetes, general market days, weddings and feiseanna. Feile: until end May.
 
Solo Show in Omagh
Michael Smyth one of Ireland’s emerging artists will stage a solo–show at Gormley’s Fine Art, Omagh. The award-winning artist has been influenced by his friend and fellow artist Basil Blackshaw. The forthcoming event thus sounds full of promise. However, as the promoters have not elaborated on what precisely will be showcased (‘Michael’s aim is to capture the essence of the subject matter’), we will just have to wait and see. Michael Smyth: 24 May
 
Twice As Good
Although little more than two years since the concept of a European-style annual art fair was first introduced here, Art Ireland has been so successful that founder and organiser Maria McMenamin has decided to make it a twice-yearly event. The inaugural Art Ireland Summer Exhibition in the Main Hall of the RDS will run from 9–11 May. The event has attracted its fair share of celebrity buyers, including Norma Smurfit, Dermot Desmond and Michael Flatley, but it has also proven to be a boon for the artistic community, as last year’s fair set new records in terms of visitor numbers and sales by participating artists. Art Ireland Summer 2003 will feature close to 90 galleries and independent artists such as Sandra Bell, Kevin Sharkey, Liam O’Neill, Terry Bradley and Willie Redmond. Art Ireland 9–11 May
 
Calling All Patrons of the Arts
The Allianz Business2Arts Awards 2003 is calling on companies and arts organisations to put forward their nominations for best business sponsorship of the arts. Now in its 12th year, the Awards have been tremendously successful in motivating sponsorship of the arts by Irish business—to the tune of approximately e34 million a year, apparently. Seven awards will be presented to businesses for their sponsorship of the arts, and a cash award of e4,000 will be presented to an arts organisation for the most effective and imaginative use of business sponsorship. The closing date for nominations for the Allianz Business2Arts Awards 2003 is 21 March 2003. Contact Business2Arts for further details