Shine the Light, Lead the Way – Mermaid's Friends & Seat Sponsorship Scheme

Mermaid is often thought of as a commercial venue. In fact, we are a registered charity that exists to bring high-quality artistic experiences to the people of County Wicklow and to support artists in the creation of new work.

Only 21% of our costs are covered by Wicklow County Council, with a further 19% from the Arts Council. The remaining 60% must be generated through ticket sales and the generosity of our supporters. With recent sharp increases in core costs and static public funding, the pressure on organisations like ours has never been greater.

We are calling on the people and businesses of County Wicklow to support Mermaid, so that we can continue to play a role in the county’s cultural life.

We are deeply grateful to our loyal Mermaid supporters, and we would love to welcome new ones on board.

Support us by becoming a Mermaid Friend or Sponsoring a Seat, full details below.

Be a Mermaid Friend

Choose from three levels of friendship: Be a Lantern, Be a Beacon or Be Sirius.

Our updated Mermaid Friends names come from a newly commissioned spoken-word piece by Colm Keegan. Read the full piece here, or see Youtube link below to watch and listen to it.

Mermaid Friends pay an annual subscription, see details below.

Be a Lantern - €120

The bright flame that helps us lead the way.

- 2 free tickets per season to a Mermaid selected show*.
- Concession rate on film screenings.
- 10% off in Críoch Café at Mermaid.
- Acknowledgement on Mermaid's website, brochure & in foyer.
- Invite to Friends only reception evening.
- Season brochure posted to you.

Be a Beacon - €500

Stand firm and luminous in your support for creative brilliance.

- 4 free tickets per season to a Mermaid selected show*.
- Concession rate on film screenings & Mermaid shows*.
- 10% off in Críoch Café at Mermaid.
- Acknowledgement on Mermaid's website, brochure & in foyer.
- Invite to Friends only reception evening.
- Season brochure posted to you.

Be Sirius - €1000+

Named after the star that shines brightest in the sky – take your places as a guiding light and the ultimate support for arts in your community.

- 6 free tickets per season to a Mermaid selected show*.
- Concession rate on film screenings & Mermaid shows*.
- 10% off in Críoch Café at Mermaid.
- Acknowledgement on Mermaid's website, brochure & in foyer.
- Invite to Friends only reception evening.
- Season brochure posted to you.

*Please note that Mermaid selected shows exclude rentals.

As Mermaid is a registered charity, your contribution can go even further. Donations from companies over €250 are eligible for tax relief. Learn more on revenue.ie.

Our Mermaid Friends

We are deeply grateful to our loyal Mermaid supporters:

Sponsor a Seat

Sponsor a Seat at Mermaid Arts Centre and get a personalised plaque, engraved with the name or dedication of your choice, mounted on your chosen seat for three years.

A seat plaque is a meaningful way to celebrate someone special, promote your business,or support the arts.

With a capacity of 242 seats and over 300 events each year, your message will be seen by thousands of audience members!

Sponsor a Seat Pricing Options:

€500 – Business
€300 – Individual

Sponsor a Seat Supporters

We are deeply grateful to our Sponsor a Seat supporters:

• Bray Municipal District
• Finnegan Bray
• Frank Duff's Bar
• Frank Duff's Lounge
• Key Plastics

Sponsor a Seat terms & conditions:

- Plaques remain in place for three years.
- Sponsoring a Seat doesn't guarantee access to that particular seat for shows.
- Maximum characters 70 (including spaces).

Donate Any Amount

If you aren't in a position to become a Mermaid Friend or Sponsor a Seat, any donation amount is greatly received.