The Galway International Arts Festival, which kicks off today, is expected to inject more than €20 million into the local economy, with organisers hoping to attract more than 200,000 attendees.

Attendances at last year’s festival was up 11 per cent on 2014, with over 200,000 people at 356 performances, exhibitions and talks in 27 venues over the course of two weeks.

The festival delivered a direct economic impact of €23.8 million and received national recognition for its theatrical productions.

Ulster Bank has announced a three-year partnership with the festival, which will see the bank’s innovation teams in Dogpatch Labs, a co-working space for scaling technology start-ups, working to develop innovative tools to support both the festival and its attendees.

Maeve McMahon, director of customer experience and products at Ulster Bank, said the arts and creative industries are an important social and economic contributor.

“It is for this reason, we are excited to announce a new innovation partnership with the help of our teams in Dogpatch Labs, to invent and develop innovative tools to support the festival and its attendees in an ever more fast-paced digital environment.”

Innovation teams

Galway International Arts Festival chief executive John Crumlish said working with Ulster Bank and their innovation teams in Dogpatch Labs represents a major opportunity for the festival.

“The challenges and opportunities provided by the digital environment for culture organisations make this new leadership partnership something that will have a significant impact on the future of the festival”.