Showcasing the diversity and drive of older people
Get ready to celebrate Bealtaine!
Bealtaine Festival, Ireland’s National celebration of arts and creativity as we age, announces its highly anticipated return for 2024. The festival invites arts organisations of all kinds to register their events and join the vibrant festivities set to unfold. The Bealtaine Festival team is calling out nationwide for individuals and organisations of all sizes to join in the celebration, to plan and register events to take place in their regions in May. Events can range from music and choral performances to visual art, theatre, writing workshops, dance, literature, circus, discussions on ageing diversity, film screenings, storytelling and much more.
‘Prom Night’ is revealed as just a taste of what festivalgoers can expect. Hosted in partnership with Street 66 and Outhouse at Street 66, ‘Prom Night’ is set to be an inclusive event for older LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those who may not have been able to participate when they were younger, to don their finest attire with a partner of their choice and step back in time to recreate the magic of prom. Iconic drag artist Alan Amsby (AKA Mr Pussy) will perform, with a special photo-booth intervention by photographer Enda Burke and music by DJ Ruth Kavanagh.
This year Age & Opportunity unveils an all-new festival theme, ‘Lust for Life’, which reflects a familiar experience for many older people. To celebrate the theme Bealtaine Festival has commissioned a new essay, ‘Lust of Life’, by writer, former Labour TD and Bealtaine Festival ambassador, Liz McManus, which explores the newfound vitality and appreciation for life that often accompanies later years. Bealtaine is seeking innovative ideas that capture the essence of this theme and invites participants to explore and celebrate the joy of living when planning events for registration.
Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, says: “We are so pleased to announce the return of Bealtaine Festival this May, showcasing the diversity and drive of older people and the deep connections across and between generations throughout Ireland. Our team is curating an exciting programme of events, across a range of artforms and celebrating the achievements and potential of those who may have previously gone unsung. We look forward to welcoming submissions from organisations and creatives of all ages.”
How to register events for Bealtaine 2024:
Organisations are encouraged to incorporate the 2024 festival theme ‘Lust for Life’. Once the event is ready for promotion, it can be registered via the Bealtaine website.
Visit the registration page and either log in or create an account.
Once you have an account and are logged in, you’ll be brought to the ‘Add/Manage Events’ page.
Add your event using the registration form. Hit submit and the Bealtaine team will review your submissions in five working days.
Need to make some changes? Log in, head to ‘Add/Manage Events’, and click the ‘Manage your Bealtaine Events’ tab.
Make sure you record the email address you used and your password for future logins.
Bealtaine Festival is an initiative by Age & Opportunity, funded by The Arts Council and the HSE. Bealtaine is a pioneering national arts festival that fosters creativity among older people across Ireland through intergenerational collaboration, showcasing older artists, and promoting skills and experiences that can lead to a rich, creative life.
Registration is open throughout the month of May. Queries regarding the online registration process or the festival in general, can be sent to the Age & Opportunity Arts Administrator on arts@ageandopportunity.ie.