Wexford County Council Open Call
Community Dates - National Opera House 2027
Wexford County Council is committed to the promotion of arts and culture in the community, as highlighted in the County Arts Plan, whose mission is to engage, enable and enrich our communities through quality access to the arts.
We are delighted to offer, in partnership with the National Opera House, a series of subsidised community dates in the National Opera House during 2027.
We invite expressions of interest from community groups for a subsidised community date
Closing date for applications: Friday 2nd October 2026
Email applications to: arts@wexfordcoco.ie
All applications will be notified by Monday 26th October 2026.
This call is open to all community, arts groups and schools based in County Wexford, who are interested in staging an event in the National Opera House for community and or/ fundraising purposes. There will be up to 10 community dates available in 2027, with five for the O’Reilly Theatre (full seating capacity of 855) and five for the Jerome Hynes Theatre (172 seating capacity).
The subsidised Community Date covers:
- Facilities: Hire of theatre for the day including all in-house sound and lighting, box office (including 24-hour online service), dressing rooms, green room, bar(s), toilets.
- Staff: Duty Manager and FOH team, Technical Supervisor, Box Office staff, Stage Door Staff and Bar Staff.
- Utilities: Heat, Lighting, Cleaning.
- PR/Marketing: support in promoting your event.
The subsidised Community Date does not cover:
- Box Office Charges (3% Spektrix fee & 2% Admin fee + 23% VAT applies)
- Technical Staff required to operate your event
Due to the expected high demand, all applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be entered into a lottery process. To allow for fairness and rotation between groups, please note that groups who were awarded a free community date in 2025 and 2026 will not be eligible to apply for a free date for 2027. A group can only be allocated 1 free date in a 3-year period.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply you must be:
- A community group of interest, art/music groups or a school
- The community group must be based in Co. Wexford
- The event must be for community and/or fundraising purposes
- The group is not eligible to apply if they have already received a free community date in 2025 or 2026.
To apply please send an expression of interest with the following information:
- Name of Group and event proposed.
- Contact person, email & telephone.
- Please specify which theatre you are applying for and why.
- Please outline the purpose of your event (Max 100 words)
Please note: If you are awarded this opportunity, you will be put in touch with the Opera House to confirm date for your event, subject to availability. Please note once you have confirmed your date for 2027 with the Opera House, you may not change this date.
All applications to be emailed to Arts Office, Wexford County Council by Friday 2nd October 2026.
Email: arts@wexfordcoco.ie
Titled: Community Dates 2027 National Opera House
Queries:
If you have any queries, please call the Arts office on 053 9196369.
Supports:
Wexford County Council promotes opportunity and inclusion for all. Should you require any additional supports to assist you with your application, please contact arts@wexfordcoco.ie or phone 053 9196369
Please note:
The National Opera House current hire rates as of August 2026 are as follows:
Local arts/community hire:
O’Reilly Theatre:
Daily Hire Rate for a Performance Day (allowing for 1 performance): €2,275 + 23% VAT.
Jerome Hynes Theatre:
Daily Hire Rate for a Performance Day (allowing for 1 performance): €600 + 23% VAT.
Commercial Hire:
O Reilly Theatre: Daily Hire rate €3,500 +23% VAT.
Jerome Hynes Theatre: Daily Hire rate €750 + 23% VAT
