PHIZZFEST has taken home the award for 'Town Initiatives of the Year' at the Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards, securing a prize of €5,000.
Neighbouring Stoneybatter was a runner up in the ‘City Award’ category and took home a prize of €1,000.
Phizzfest, the grassroots arts and cultural organisation, really impressed the judges of this nationwide competition. At the awards ceremony earlier this month, MC Ciaran Mulooley noted that the judges recognised the power and symbolism of the initial arts activities in Phibsborough by a very dynamic group of people in highlighting the regeneration potential of the area.
The judging process, which took place on a sunny morning in August, was rigorous. It began with a presentation in a vacant premises in the Phibsborough Shopping Centre (now Phibsborough’s new arts centre, The Space), after which the judges were treated to a tour that included pitstops for poetry in Dalymount Park with poet John Cummins; theatre in McGeough’s Bohemian Bar with a performance from Eden by the Corps Ensemble; a children’s magic show outside Bang Bang Café; a rendezvous with Phibsborough Canoe Polo on the canal; and a reading from ‘Ulysses’ outside the Brian Boru.
It ended with a ‘My Streets’ tour with the inimitable Eddie Dooner.
Phizzfest aimed to show the judges that where the arts thrive, businesses benefit and communities blossom.
The prize money will be used to create experiences for the people of Phibsborough and build on the strong community spirit in the area.
Next year marks the 10th anniversary of Phizzfest and the festival will take place again over the May Bank Holiday Weekend, with a top line-up of music and theatre performances, literary and spoken word events, a history programme, visual arts and comedy in a range of venues in Phibsborough, including of course, The Space.
