Owen Gilhooly as Escamillo, Carmen, Opera Theatre Company.
Opera in Ireland has a long tradition reaching back more than three hundred years, enjoying periods of great public interest and participation and artistic dynamism during this time. Though a relatively small country, Ireland has produced and continues to produce a significant number of creative and performing opera artists of national and international standing.
Though a relatively small professional sector by relevant international comparisons, Ireland currently has a highly vibrant and energetic opera composition and production landscape, resulting in a growth in the levels of opera productions and audiences for Opera throughout the country and the development of a significant national and international reputation for the creative invention and appeal of both new work and productions of historic opera.
The twin priorities of the Artist and Public Engagement is set out in the overarching Arts Council’s policy Making Great Art Work: Arts Council Strategy (2016–2025). This policy has been given a detailed expression in the Council’s Opera Policy & Strategy of 2016
The Council gives effect to its opera policy and strategy through a series of funding and investment programmes providing supports for (a) individual creative & performing artists and (b) a wide range of music organisations serving the public and supporting artists. Each funding scheme has an annual or (occasionally) bi-annual online application process, with all schemes reviewed on an ongoing basis and subject to change.