05/07/2013 - Bid enjoys the support of IFB and 50 arts organisations

Galway has bid to join the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Creative Cities network as a City of Film. UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network is designed to promote the educational, social, economic, scientific and cultural development of cities. Currently there are 34 member cities around the world in the network, with Sydney and Bradford being the only two Cities of Film. Galway is twinned with Bradford and enjoys the city’s support. The Irish Film Board and 50 other Irish arts organisations are backing the bid.

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Besides film, the City of Film will have a broad remit to include television and animation and so Galway’s heritage of productions such as Ros na Rún, Na Cloigne, 1916 Seachtar na Cásca and Rásaí na Gaillimhe will form part of the bid. Over the last 25 years the Galway sector has grown to be the largest concentration of people working in film, television and animation outside of Dublin and the West Ireland audiovisual sector has made a direct contribution of €72 million to the region in 2012.

There are some 600 people working in the film and television in Galway, showing a 24.5% growth in employment over the past five years, supported by an 18.6% increase in revenue for the industry over the same time period. If granted, the UNESCO status will provide international networking and business opportunities for production companies, greater awareness of the region’s potential to produce film and television projects, and promote the region as a location destination.