Murray is the artistic director and co-founder of Solas Nua (meaning new light in Gaelic), a Washington nonprofit and the only contemporary Irish arts organization in the United States. Murray is responsible for all programming.
How did the idea of Solas Nua come about?
I’m from Ireland, and while I was there I wrote for an Irish theater magazine. For one of my assignments I was asked to look at the Irish theater scene in D.C. When I discovered there wasn’t a scene, I decided to establish one. Even though our embassy is here, I felt there was a real void in Irish culture for the city.
Can you explain contemporary Irish art?
I think contemporary Irish art reflects the recent cultural climate in Ireland. It wasn’t until about 15 years ago that new communities from places like Nigeria and Poland came to Ireland. I think the art reflects where our country is going. Many of the artists emphasize Irish culture, and how it can be defined now.
Why do you think it’s important to emphasize the arts?
I think the arts show where we are going as a society. Good art always raises questions — it shows what we want out of ourselves.
What programs does your organization offer?
We offer Irish Popcorn!, which is a free monthly Irish film screening. We also have a visual arts seasons where Irish artists show their exhibitions. The D.C. Irish Writers Festival showcases 10 writers from Ireland who try to explore with their writing. And on St. Patrick’s Day we pass out free books by Irish authors at the D.C. Metro stops.
What is the Capital Irish Film Festival?
The festival just opened and will continue through Dec. 11 at the Goethe Institut. It will feature 50 Irish films with a cross section of tales, documentaries and film shorts. The defining feature of all the films is that they show some detail of life in Ireland.
Kristen Byrne
