The government is investing $5.2 million to bring a variety of arts programs to the United States during a major year-long initiative featuring 2,000 artists and 400 events that will highlight the Irish culture. The 40-city Imagine Ireland project will feature theatre, dance, literature, music, film and visual arts, Irish officials said Friday in announcing the project at a news conference at Lincoln Center.

Highlights include a five-month exhibition and performances at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of Gerald Barry's opera "The Importance of Being Earnest" with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Actor and cultural ambassador to Ireland Gabriel Byrne, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Ireland's Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin delivered the announcement Friday morning at Lincoln Center.

[caption id="attachment_12958" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption=" Liv O'Donoghue, Philip Connaughton and Grant McLay of the Rex Levitates Dance Company"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_12959" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption=" Liv O'Donoghue, Philip Connaughton and Grant McLay of the Rex Levitates Dance Company"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_12960" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="Writer Colum McCann, actor Gabriel Byrne, musician Julie Feeney and playwright Frank McGuinness"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_12964" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="CEO Culture Ireland Eugene Downes, actor Gabriel Byrne, Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin, writer Colum McCann and NY City Council Speaker Christine Quinn"][/caption]
photos by Krissie Fullerton