Galway Arts Festival

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The Galway Arts Festival takes place in Galway, Ireland every July. It first began in 1978 and since has grown into one of the biggest arts festivals in Ireland. It attracts international artists as well as providing a platform for local and national performers also.

The Festival includes parades, street performances and numerous plays, musical concerts and comedy acts. Over the years the Festival has developed a reputation to rival the near-hedonistic atmosphere which envelopes the city of Galway during those weeks. Highlights of the festival tend to be Macnas and Druid performances, two large local performance groups.

It is organized by Galway Arts Festival Ltd. which is a registered charity and a non-profit organization.

Many critics have stated that the festival (like many arts festivals before it) has become elitist, moving away from its roots. This was one of the reasons behind the creation of project '06, a 'protest festival' which involved many local performance groups. The festival proved to be a huge success and it has yet to be seen whether it will develop into a fringe to the main festival.