All children will have free attendance to children’s events at the 2009 Kilkenny Arts Week in August as part of taxback.com’s new sponsorship partnership with the festival.

The current economic climate has hit many families hard and with household budgets tighter than ever, many children may not get the opportunity to attend an event like the Kilkenny Arts Festival.

To help make this possible, taxback.com is covering the costs of all 2000 children’s tickets* available for the festival to ensure local children have the opportunity to experience this exciting event.

“As a parent, I am acutely aware that the crisis in the economy is impacting on the family budget,” says festival CEO Damien Downes. “At Kilkenny Arts Festival we took the view that children didn’t create this mess so why should they suffer for it? With the very kind support of taxback.com we are delighted that we can continue to offer an excellent programme of events for children this year.”

“We have been exploring ways of making the festival more inclusive so this sends out the message that Kilkenny Arts Festival is for everyone. Book your tickets now before it’s too late!”

The festival is on from August 7 to 16 and includes a kaleidoscope of family experiences, from Italian fairytales, to interactive rhythm workshops, creative dance for kids, art workshops, puppetry, sleepovers and storytellers. The Children’s Programme has been curated by Donegal storyteller and writer, Joe Brennan.

“We are delighted to be able to give children the opportunity to enjoy this great family event, especially at a time when the current economic climate means many families are having to cut these kinds of extra expenses out of their budgets,” says taxback.com CEO Terry Clune.

“This sponsorship is part of our company’s International Community Outreach Programme through which our offices around the world support local community projects. Our financial headquarters is in Kilkenny so when the opportunity came up to help local families participate in the festival we jumped at it.”

For Further Media Information on Kilkenny Arts Festival
Christine Monk 01 675 0840 or 087 675 5329
christinemonk@eircom.net

*How will the initiative work?

• Tickets are only available at the Festival box office.

• Children can attend free of charge at children’s events only.

• Accompanying adults must pay for their tickets.

• Free tickets are restricted to two events per family.

• Each adult may bring five children to performance events and two children to workshops and smaller events.

• Parents and guardians are requested to sign up to the

• Kilkenny Arts Festival mailing list when collecting their tickets