This year's Imagine Arts Festival is being moved online.
It had been hoped that live performances would have been able to take place however, that will no longer be possible due to Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions being imposed.
Three of Waterford's finest festivals take place under the umbrella of the Imagine Arts Festival, including the Waterford Writers Weekend and the John Dwyer Trad Weekend.
There will be an eclectic programme of online multi-disciplinary arts events to choose from under Imagine Arts from October 16th to 25th 2020.
Imagine Arts Festival Chairperson Jane Keen says, "To reflect Waterford's tenacity and rebelliousness, as reflected in the City's proud motto of Urbs Intacta Manet. In the true Waterford spirit, we have hung on to the last moment in the hope that we would be able to offer people live performances, music and readings to lighten up the dark days of COVID."
She added that "We have filmed as much as possible in order to provide an entertaining festival in this strange and difficult year. Our festival will be a feast for online audiences and we are already planning to be back with a bang in 2021 too!"
Festival Manager Nora Boland says, "We have been supporting artists from all genres through the hosting of Imagine Arts Festival for the last nineteen years and we are proud to continue to do that this year, our festival will now take place entirely online.
"Earlier this month the World Economic Forum published a study carried out by University College London. The COVID-19 Social Study found that engagement with the arts takes on a higher significance during unsettled times, helping with mental strain and unleashing the imagination to escape, innovate and create new ways of being.
"For our 2020 Imagine Arts Festival, our goal is to bring the joy and colour of the arts to our loyal audiences and broaden our reach to take events to nationally and internationally too.
"We're asking everyone to join us online from October 16th to 25th to enjoy, appreciate and support the arts at www.imagineartsfestival.com."
