Frequently Asked Questions

We have a fall and spring seasons, from September – December and January/February through June/July. We also hold a winter term of classes December–January. 

The current calendar is here. 

Typically, doors to our gallery open an hour before the event begins. Please check individual confirmation emails prior to your specific event to be sure this is the case. You are welcome to spend time in our gallery and enjoy our art exhibition during this time. Refreshments are available as well. 

Unfortunately we will not always know this information. If time is sensitive to your plans, please speak to our house manager before the event begins to learn about intermission times (if applicable) and how long the program is expected to run. 

Your submission will be carefully reviewed by IAC programming staff in tandem with IAC’s Executive Director. Proposals under consideration for future programming are reviewed with artistic advisors in the relevant disciplines, and decisions are made based on a variety of factors including artistic standard, disciplinary diversity, cultural relevance as it relates to our mission, timing, budget, and other strategic considerations. Proposals that are not selected are kept on file for a minimum of two years.

Not necessarily. Our mission is to project a dynamic image of the evolving culture of Ireland and Irish America, and we welcome proposals for work at the highest standard from artists of all backgrounds.

IAC welcomes submissions from individual artists and production companies that are planning to travel to New York to present their work, though as mentioned previously, we often program as much as 18 months in advance. IAC’s 99-seat Donaghy Theatre is often available to rent during the summer months (June-August), and classroom and rehearsal space is occasionally available during the spring and fall seasons.

IAC receives a high volume of excellent submissions across all of the disciplines. We work very hard to carefully review each submission, and therefore we ask for your patience. While we are unable to respond to each submission, we will reach out to those whose proposals are under consideration for an upcoming season.

1. Online at www.irishartscenter.org. Just click the “register” button next to the class(es) you wish to take.

2. Call 866-811-4111 with a credit card. This is Irish Arts Center’s ticketing system via “Ovationtix.” Please note there is an additional convenience charge for over the phone registration.  

3. Mail: If you would like to pay by check through the mail please include a note about what class you would like to register for and send it to ATTN: Education, Irish Arts Center 553 West 51st Street New York, NY 10019.  

4. Yes, you can register for a new membership, or renew your membership at the same time and still receive a discount Remember that even our most basic level of membership will save you $30 on all 8-week classes.

IAC asks that you register in advance for the class(es) you wish to take, through any of our convenient methods listed above.

We do not like to ask our instructors to take time from class to register students. By registering in advance, you allow us to have up-to-date registration lists for the instructors so that they can begin teaching right away.

There are three (3) terms of classes at Irish Arts Center: Winter, Spring, and Fall. Each term is eight (8) weeks long. The fee listed on the website covers all eight (8) weeks of classes. A few classes meet for two (2) hours on alternate weeks, including Banjo and Mandolin. You still get the full eight (8) hours.

All Level 1 classes are designed for an absolute beginner: someone who has never, for example, held a fiddle before; learned a bit of conversational Irish; or taken a step dance class. In most Level 1 classes, students come away with 2-3 tunes or dances before they move onto the next level. For many, if you have taken the specific dance or instrument previously, even if many years back, we recommend beginning at Level 2.

Should you find within the first two weeks of class you would like to switch levels, we are happy to accommodate providing there is space in the class you wish to move to. We want you to enjoy, and get the most out of, your class experience! Email classes@irishartscenter.org to request a move.

Irish Arts Center does not currently rent instruments, but please check our Instrument Rentals and Purchases page for information on locations around the city from which to rent or purchase. We do sell a limited number of tin whistles at the beginning of each term for $10 a-piece.

Irish Arts Center invites everyone to register for our classes regardless of economic circumstance. Limited scholarship funds and/or work-study are available to make participation possible for both children and adults who qualify based on financial need. Email classes@irishartscenter.org for more information. 

CLASS REFUND POLICY 

In order to receive a refund or credit, you must submit a refund/credit request in writing to classes@irishartscenter.org. 

Refunds and credits will be issued along the following guidelines:

Point of Sale Until 24 hours Before First Class = Full refund minus a $30 processing fee, or full credit to be used within one (1) year of request. 

24 Hours Before the First Class Until the Second Class Meeting= 50% refund, or full credit to be used within one (1) year of request.

After Second Class = 1 full credit to be used within one (1) year of request.  No refunds at this time. 

After Third Class = No Refunds or Credits. 
Please allow three to four weeks for processing of your refund request. Processing fees are not refundable. No cash refunds.

Irish Arts Center is not responsible for providing makeup classes or issuing refunds for programs missed as a result of illness, emergencies or other events beyond our control.
There are no refunds workshops unless request is received two weeks before the event date. 

Make up classes are only scheduled if the Irish Arts Center or instructor must cancel a class due to unavoidable reasons. Any make up sessions due to a student missing a class are not the responsibility of the center or instructor.

Unfortunately, we cannot currently allow students to audit a class before registering. If you would like more information on a class to help you decide, you can call 212-757-3318.

There are no classes on the following holidays that fall within a term. The Monday missed is automatically added to the end of the term. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 
President’s Day
Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples’ Day) 
Memorial Day

There are many benefits to becoming a member including priority booking, special discounts, exclusive invitations, and more. All the benefits are listed here. Your membership dues directly support our annual fund, which helps us bring the best of Irish arts and culture to our audience and community.

Membership is annual so you will be a member for a full year from the date of your membership purchase. You will received reminders when your membership is up for renewal. You can renew here.

Please contact Brian Schmidt at brian@irishartscenter.org or 212-757-3318 x223.

From time to time some of our generous corporate members offer discounts to our members. A full list of these will be provided on the membership page here. If none are listed for now, then there are currently no discounts outside of IAC.

Not yet, this is something we plan to work on for the year ahead. Currently, if you purchase a membership it is saved in our database (which is connected to OvationTix) and is automatically applied when purchasing tickets through us or through the OvationTix box office. Please be sure to create a login when purchasing tickets through our site.

We were originally incorporated under our Irish name "An Claidheamh Soluis, Inc." and our Tax ID # is: 51-0244834.

Donations in which you receive goods and/or services are not fully tax-deductible. This would include special events which you attend and certain levels of membership that come with thank you gifts.

No, unfortunately some special fundraising events like our Spirit of Ireland Gala are not included with your Claddagh Circle Membership.

Tickets cannot be refunded, but can be exchanged for different tickets if there is availability and if they are of equal value. This is not applicable for all shows. Please do not attempt to resell tickets on Irish Arts Center premises. 

All members must create a membership login on our website with an email address and password. It is important you login before purchasing tickets so our system can recognize your membership status. If you are creating a login for the first time, be sure to select that you are a "New Customer" even if you have previously attended an IAC event.

Individual members receive 20% off on one ticket per event. In order to receive your discount and purchase more than one ticket in the same transaction, first add one seat to your cart at the member's price (be sure you are logged in as a member before doing so). Next, choose any additional seats you would like to purchase and add them to your cart at the full price. This will either be called "Member Full Price" or an option will simply show up as a regular, full priced ticket; your membership will not necessarily show up as an option during this second step. 

If your membership allows you more than one ticket at a discount, be sure to follow the same steps above and add your designated allotment of discounted tickets to your cart first, followed by the selection of seats at the full price.

For more information, please see our Capital Campaign page.

We expect the new facility to be fully operational in 2020.

View the spaces planned for our new building here. 

We're keeping it! The existing IAC theatre will be renovated and optimized, preserving its character, making it even more intimate, fixing the sightlines, optimizing it for live music and spoken word.

Check out our supporters here.

Learn More on the capital website.

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