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02/05/2008 SΙAMUS BRENNAN-THOSE RECEIVING FUNDING MUST STRIVE TO OPEN UP ARTS, CULTURE & CREATIVITY TO MORE PEOPLE
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr. Sιamus Brennan, T.D., today (Friday, 2nd May) announced funding of over 10 million to 13 major arts and culture projects in twelve counties under the final round of investments under ACCESS II, the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme.
Funding under the ACCESS scheme is directed at the provision of high standard arts and culture infrastructure projects that deliver greatly enhanced facilities and expand opportunities across the country for increased access to and participation in arts, culture and heritage events and initiatives. The primary focus of the scheme is the refurbishment and enhancement of existing arts and culture facilities and support for new building projects in strategic geographic locations.
The first tranche of funding for ACCESS II, announced in April 2007, provided 32.5m in funding to 67 projects countrywide. The allocation today of 10.29 million to the promoters of 13 additional projects completes funding under the ACCESS II scheme. In total, 80 arts and culture projects will have been funded through investment of almost 43 million.
The funding announced today includes 2 million for the Garage Theatre in Monaghan, Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Co. Cork (1.6m), Ballina Arts Centre, Co. Mayo (1.2m), Limerick City Gallery of Art (960,000), Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin (740,000), Athlone Art Gallery, Co. Westmeath (650,000), Lathern Municipal Gallery, Nass, Co. Kildare (580,000) and Artlink, Buncrana, Co. Donegal (570,000).
Minister Brennan said: The ACCESS II scheme has been widely recognised as a significant contributor in the provision of high quality arts and culture infrastructure right around the country. The investment of almost 43 million of taxpayers money in improving and expanding facilities under this scheme alone is a strong vote of confidence in the importance of arts and culture in this country. And it strongly behoves those receiving the funding to make it a priority to strive to identify new and imaginative routes to open up opportunities to arts, culture and creativity for many more of our people, regardless of age, social background or nationality.
This year alone my Department is investing almost 250 million of taxpayers money in the arts and culture sectors. This is a strong endorsement of the importance of these sectors, not only to the cultural development and status of Ireland, but also in the contribution they are making to the economic and social progress of the country.
Under ACCESS II a total of 155 applications for funding were received. All applications were assessed by an Independent Selection Committee who made recommendations to the Minister, including a reserve list, which the Committee felt were worthy of support if further funding become available through the National Development Plan. The additional funding of 10.29m announced today is for projects on that reserve list.
The projects approved for funding in this final round of ACCESS 11 are:
Grants under ACCESS II Grant Allocation
Ballina Arts Centre, Mayo 1,200,000
Garage Theatre, Monaghan 2,000,000
Macnas Workshop Galway 470,000
Arthouse Stradbally, Laois 440,000
Artlink, Donegal 570,000
Athlone Art Gallery, Westmeath 650,000
Bailebourough Arts & Cultural Centre, Cavan 350,000
Graphic Studio, Dublin 340,000
Lathern Municipal Gallery, Kildare 580,000
Limerick City Gallery of Art 960,000
Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Dublin 740,000
Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Cork 1,600,000
Soltice Arts Centre, Meath 390,000
Total 10,290,000
NOTE- Details of each individual project and of the proposed use of the funding approved are attached.
Further information Tom Rowley, Press Advisor 087 8124723
Graphic Studio, Dublin - 340,000
Graphic Studio Dublin encompasses both the Graphic Studio Gallery in Dublin's Temple Bar and the Graphic Studio Workshop off Hanover Quay. The Graphic Studio Gallery is the oldest gallery in Dublin dealing exclusively in original contemporary prints. Funding is being provided towards the redevelopment of the Graphic Studio in order to provide an artistic facility incorporating traditional printmaking facilities as well as newer medium facilities, while increasing its current capacity and accessibility.
Lantern Municipal Gallery, Kildare - 580,000
Kildare County Councils municipal art collection is an eclectic assemblage of paintings, prints and sculptures. The collection boasts work from some of Irelands most acclaimed visual artists including Evie Hone, Patrick Pye, Patrick Collins, Charlie Brady, Sean Mc Sweeney, Robert Ballagh, Norah Mc Guinness, and many more. Funding is being provided towards the provision of Lantern Municipal Gallery, a new venue to house the municipal collection within the Aras Chill Dara campus, the Civic Offices for Kildare County Council. The arts exhibition space will be used to showcase, promote and exhibit the existing Municipal Art collection as well as accommodating fine art works, contemporary art installations and multi media exhibitions.
Limerick City Gallery of Art - 960,000
Limerick City Gallery of Arts contemporary programme exhibits a wide range of artworks and projects by local, national and international artists. The exhibition programme features work in many different media including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation and new media. Limerick City Gallery of Art also houses a fine Permanent Collection of works by early eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first century Irish artists. Funding is being provided towards the development of Limerick City Gallery to include a collection housing area, workshop space, cafe, library, reading area, upgrading of the administration area and overall renovation and renewal of the existing building and gallery spaces.
Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Dublin - 740,000
The Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre is located in Naul, Fingal, Co. Dublin. The centre is dedicated to the memory of Irish Musician, folklore and music collector, Sιamus Ennis and plays host to some of today's foremost musicians, songwriters and Artists. Funding is being provided towards the construction of a new performance venue with ancillary rehearsal and classroom facilities. It is envisaged that this new space will greatly increase the capacity of the venue and will enable the venue accommodate high profile acts.
Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Cork - 1,600,000
Sirius Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary non-profit centre for the arts in the East Cork area. Founded in 1988, it is dedicated to raising artistic awareness, and providing opportunities for participation in and enjoyment of the arts, achieved through a mix of activities including visual arts, a prestigious artists-in-residence programme, music, community arts and literature programmes. Funding is being provided towards the redevelopment of the Sirius Arts Centre, which will involve the redesign of the current facility to incorporate additional facilities and increased space for the visiting public.
Solstice Arts Centre, Meath - 390,000
Solstice Arts Centre, located on Railway Street in Navan, was opened in 2006 and incorporates a 320-seat theatre space with ancillary gallery spaces. The centre hosts a diverse range of art forms including touring and local drama groups, traditional and contemporary music, opera, ballet, the visual arts and many more. Funding is being provided towards the construction and fitting-out of an extension to Solstice Arts Centre for multi purpose activities including dance and rehearsal. This new space will be available to professional groups, local amateur groups and visiting national and international artists and companies.
Bailebourough Arts & Cultural Centre, Cavan - 350,000
The range of activities held at Bailebourough Arts & Cultural Centre includes lectures, workshops, dance classes, performances, film shows and teacher training courses, thereby operating an inclusive centre in arts, heritage and culture. Since October 2002, it has operated a full-time year round programme of events. Funding is being provided to Bailebourough Arts & Cultural Centre towards the conversion of the old coach house to include artist's studios, events space, kitchen, toilet and changing facilities.
Arthouse, Stradbally, Co. Laois - 440,000
Funding is being provided to Arthouse, Stradbally, Co. Laois, towards the conversion of the old courthouse into a new arts centre. Facilities will include a recording studio, a gallery, a coffee shop, and a sculpture garden. Converting the old courthouse into an arts centre would be a fitting use for this historical building and that the development would breathe new life into it.
Ballina Arts Centre- 1,200,000
Ballina Arts Centre has been providing an arts infrastructure for the town of Ballina since 1994, and is the main promoter of arts events in the town. Children, adults, older people, people with disabilities, artists and non-artists alike utilise their high quality accessible programmes. The grant aid to be provided by the Department will be used to enhance the existing Arts Centre to make provision for a 250 new seat theatre, and to improve the workshop and exhibition space. The Workshop and Outreach programme currently serves an audience of 1,800 people and the funds provided by DAST should help increase this figure to 2,500.
Garage Theatre Monaghan - 2,000,000
The theatre provides a venue for touring theatrical groups who produce a high quality of professional theatre. It also acts as a space for local amateur groups and is a resource for the local community. The theatre is located in a disused ward in St Davnet's Psychiatric Hospital, Armagh Road, Co Monaghan Opened in 1992 it was originally funded by the VEC, Monaghan Dramatic Society and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaνon. The funding to be provided by the Department will be used towards the construction of a purpose built theatre and ancillary facilities in the centre of Monaghan Town to replace the existing venue.
Macnas Workshop Galway 470,000
Macnas was founded in 1986 in Galway. Since then Macnas has established itself as one of the most exciting energies in the Arts in Ireland. Macnas brings together a blend of imagination, passion, wit and self-confidence in a variety of settings: in theatres, on streets, in school and in communities. The 470,000 to be given under the ACCESS II Scheme will go towards the construction of a custom-built space comprising of a scenic workshop, prop making workshop, rehearsal studio and costume workshop. It will give Macnas a training room and administration facilities. The aim is to provide a modern artistic centre to support Macnas and its productions.
Artlink Donegal 570,000
The Artlink EXPOSURE Gallery and Studio project aims to enhance community involvement with the arts and support for artists. The 570,000 will go towards creating a dedicated centre for Artists' residencies and Studios, incorporating an administrative base, Participatory Workshop and Exhibition space The studio project would function as a base for cultural exchange and learning between local, cross border, national and international partners.
The Athlone Art Gallery 650,000
The project aims to develop a dedicated contemporary gallery and artists' studios in Athlone. The gallery will be located at a landmark riverside site in the heart of Athlone. It will host, develop, curate and conserve a permanent collection of artworks together with a high quality series of temporary exhibitions that will be of significant interest to the people of Westmeath. The education and outreach aspect will allow for social inclusion and promote access to the arts for everyone.
