Announcing the Solas Nua New Voices Award

A Solas Nua & Dublin Fringe Festival Partnership 

We are delighted to be announcing the Solas Nua New Voices Award, a new international partnership with Solas Nua in Washington D.C. for this year’s edition of Dublin Fringe Festival. This new initiative will give one playwright in the festival the opportunity to have a reading of their play performed at Solas Nua in Washington.  It will be awarded to a writer with a singular voice who is making work that speaks to contemporary social, political or cultural issues. This award will facilitate a public play reading of the script by Solas Nua in Washington which will be coordinated in conversation with the playwright. The winner of this award will be announced at awards ceremony on the 24th of September.  

Solas Nua’s Artistic Director of Theatre, Rex Daugherty, shares 'I’m incredibly excited about this new partnership between Solas Nua and Dublin Fringe. I’ve been deeply impressed with the level of talent and energy from Dublin Fringe over the years, and after programming so many artists that I’ve met through the festival, it feels like a natural development to establish a pipeline between Dublin and DC. This award will not only showcase new Irish writers to US audiences but will also provide an opportunity for Irish artists to share their global perspectives, ideas, and dreams. I look forward to celebrating and championing these artists and their work.' 

David Francis Moore, Director, Dublin Fringe Festival added, 'Through the Solas Nua New Voices Award, we strive to celebrate and amplify the voices of Irish playwrights. This exciting international partnership with Solas Nua opens the doors for new possibilities and cross-cultural dialogues, bridging the gap between Dublin and Washington D.C. We believe that storytelling has the power to shape perspectives and bring about positive change, and we look forward to unearthing the extraordinary talent that will inspire audiences and artists on both sides of the Atlantic.'

Solas Nua, ‘new light’ in Irish, is a leading multi-disciplinary arts organization that is dedicated exclusively to contemporary Irish arts. Based in Washington, D.C., their mission is to bring the best of contemporary Irish arts to the U.S. Solas Nua acts as an ambassador and advocate for Irish arts in the U.S., promoting contemporary, multi-disciplinary Irish arts and culture. By offering new opportunities for artists based in both Ireland and the U.S., Solas Nua provides access and inclusion for artists and audiences to connect and participate on both sides of the Atlantic. They present, produce, and commission thought-provoking and ground-breaking work across the arts, and are recognized for making a substantive, unique contribution to the artistic and cultural richness of the city of Washington, D.C. and beyond. They present work that is cross-cultural, representing today’s Ireland - a globally diverse society. Their programming reflects our conviction that Irish arts can travel across borders, cultures, and socio-economic lines.