From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
By: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Catherine Martin
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Dia dhaoibh a chairde, agus failte mhór romhaibh go léir.
Is lá an-speisialta é seo d’ealaíontóirí na hÉireann, go háirithe dóibh siúd atá lonnaithe inár bpríomhchathair.
It is truly wonderful to be here today at the former Filmbase building to launch Space to Create, an impressive initiative that will provide up to sixty artist workspaces here in Dublin in partnership with Dublin City Council.
I would like to start by taking this opportunity to thank the Lord Mayor of Dublin, my party colleague Caroline Conroy, whose support has been key to us being here today.
I would also like to give special credit and thanks to Richard Shakespeare and Ray Yeats from Dublin City Council. And of course, Ray is our MC today also. Dublin City Council personnel have been involved with this project from its inception and I am very grateful for all of their hard work and dedication in getting us this far.
It would be remiss of me not to also thank the Artists Workspaces Committee, chaired by Councillor Cat O’Driscoll and with my party colleague Councillor Clare Byrne, through which a comprehensive long term plan has been set out to address the shortfall of artist workspaces.
Much of our cultural infrastructure is initiated by our local authorities and they have been a crucial resource in the delivery of arts and culture interventions over many decades. Their collaboration and commitment in supporting a vibrant and accessible arts sector and their response to the needs within communities is fully recognised and appreciated by the government.
Artists across Ireland can struggle to find suitable workspace, but research finds this problem to be most pronounced in Dublin. The nationwide consultations as part of the Creative Ireland Programme revealed a widespread desire for creative spaces such as studios, performance spaces and simple work spaces where artists and other creatives can experiment and collaborate.
As Minister for the Arts, I am strongly aware of the pressures that artists and creatives have faced in finding suitable workspaces, especially here in our capital city. That is why I am so happy to be able to direct €3 million in funding to this initiative which, along with a further investment through Dublin City Council, will see 60 artists provided with turnkey workspaces as well as opportunities to use performance and gallery space and flexible office spaces.
This funding speaks to the government’s commitment under The Programme for Government to increase the provision of affordable workspaces for artists and creative practitioners and ensure the timely delivery of arts and culture investment commitments, such as our national cultural institutions, as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
Tá na healaíona chomh tábhachtach sin dúinn mar dhaoine. This government recognises the invaluable contribution the arts and our artists make to society on a daily basis. The arts contribute to individual and societal well-being, as well as enhancing Ireland’s reputation as a country with a rich cultural and artistic history.
However, without space to develop, nurture and hone their craft, an artist simply cannot grow, never mind thrive. I believe that with today’s launch my department, in collaboration with Dublin City Council, have sown the seeds for artistic growth in our capital city.
I would also like to thank my party colleague TD Patrick Costello who has constantly spoken to me about the need for artists studios and his support of Pallas Studios for whom he advocates consistently.
Equally, I want to thank Cllr Hazel Chu who has worked to support the arts and culture through her work on my night time economy task force, and who has spoken to me about supporting artists groups in her own area, such as the mArt group.
Michelangelo is known to have said “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” With Space to Create, I am excited to see what our artists will set free.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.