News & Events

Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD opens Dublin's International Festival of Science, Arts, Design & Technology

- Dublin's International Festival of Science, Arts, Design & Technology opened today with a reception at URBAN ESCAPE, The Atrium, Temple Bar Galleries and Studios - Events running across the City until Sunday 24th July

Dublin's International Festival of Science, Arts, Design & Technology, The Festival of Curiosity today (Thursday) kicked off 4 days of curious exploration in Dublin.

The festival was opened this morning by Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D., Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who was shown around the Urban Escape in Temple Bar. The Urban Escape is a pop-up experience which explores the affect of nature & mindfulness activities on the brain, the body and the mind and runs at Temple Bar Gallery and Studios through the weekend.

Minister Mitchell O'Connor said: “I am delighted to open The Festival of Curiosity 2016, which aims to create a culture of curiosity in Dublin and beyond. Innovation is at the heart of building a prosperous and vibrant society and curiosity is at the heart of innovation. With over 42,000 people due to attend across the four days, I am pleased to see Dublin and Ireland take the lead in building a curious and innovative society for all of us." 

From curiosity carnivals & urban escapes to night cycles and secret tours, to curiosity gardens & playful installations, to dancing in the dark and escaping to virtual realities, to immersive rooms controlled by your brainwaves to building robots and taking curious trails across Dublin, take yourself, your friends and your family on a curious date with the city this weekend. 

With over 42,000 people descending on Dublin from across the globe, visitors can experience the PLAYFUL DAYS (family programme) to the lively and energetic CURIOUS NIGHTS (adult programme). Home grown in Dublin, The Festival of Curiosity takes place every July and is Ireland’s annual international celebration at the intersection of art, science, technology and design and has quickly grown to being one of the most exciting and innovative festivals of it’s kind in Europe.

Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, said: “Science Foundation Ireland is proud to support The Festival of Curiosity 2016, which gives people the confidence and the tools to explore the key science and technology issues facing us as a society. Through the Festival of Curiosity we are helping build a culture that values science and sees it as a means to improve our lives and develop our economy."

The Festival of Curiosity is made possible through the support of Core Partners Dublin City Council, Matheson Foundation and Science Foundation Ireland, and in 2016 by a Welcome Trust People Award.

For more information contact: 

Vincent McCarthy - Co-founder & CEO of The Festival of Curiosity: +353 85 739 6023  e:   vince@festivalofcuriosity.ie