Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport announced on the 1st November funding in excess of €1 million towards Cultural Tourism Technology projects. The projects to be funded are those which were successful under the Cultural Technology Grant Scheme – an initiative aimed at using technology to promote Irish arts and culture announced by Minister Hanafin in July 2010.

The aim of the initiative is to use a variety of the best emerging and existing technology information and communications methods to deliver a promotional, educational or information product to promote the Irish arts, culture and creative sectors and the successful projects each fulfils this aim.
The level of interest in the grant available greatly surpassed all expectations and Minister Hanafin said that “the extent and calibre of the applications received is clear evidence of our national spirit of innovation and creativity and demonstrates the vital role which the arts, culture and creative sectors can play in our economic recovery. Ireland is already well-placed as a destination for the cultural tourist and the projects being funded under this initiative will further develop and support the cultural tourism product on offer in Ireland.”

The high regard and widespread popularity of both our traditional and popular music will be further promoted and developed under the initiative.

Minister Hanafin added that “great ideas and innovations in technology are developing all the time and this initiative has allowed us to marry our innovative and creative thinking to our rich and developing cultural offering, thereby allowing us to showcase the best of our Irish art, music, culture and heritage in the most exciting, innovative and dynamic ways. This is the application of smart technology to culture, heritage and tradition.”