| ISPA 2026 New York Congress – Eugene Downes |
 Eugene DownesCultural Director Eugene Downes has served since 2019 in the newly created role of Cultural Director of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, leading the Irish Government’s cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations. In that capacity he is the Irish member of the Heads group of EUNIC (EU National Institutes of Culture). From 2013-18 he served as Artistic & Executive Director of Kilkenny Arts Festival (Ireland’s oldest multidisciplinary festival), and from 2007-12 as founding Chief Executive of Culture Ireland, the state body for the promotion and advancement of Irish arts worldwide, having authored a 2004 report on a new international cultural strategy for Ireland. From 2001-07, Eugene acted as cultural adviser to the President of Ireland, curating and producing events for more than 20 State and Official Visits worldwide, and acting as MC for the EU accession ceremony welcoming ten new Member States on 1 May 2004. Earlier experience as a diplomat included work on the Northern Ireland Peace Process (1995-97) and as Cultural Attaché in Moscow (1997-98). Eugene has presented a weekly classical music programme on Irish national public radio, and served as a Board member of ISPA, National Theatre of Ireland, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Royal Hibernian Academy of Art, Irish Theatre Institute and Druid Theatre.
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