Kilkenny to benefit from scheme to increase artist workspaces

Fine Gael TD, John Paul Phelan, has welcomed a pilot scheme which aims to help local authorities increase the number of artist workspaces in their area.

The scheme was announced by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. and interested parties in this rich sector in Kilkenny should apply, Deputy Phelan said.

“Research conducted by this Department, and ongoing engagement with the creative and night-time economy sectors over the last number of years has revealed demand for artist workspaces far outweighs supply and that there is a widespread shortage of creative spaces such as studios and performance spaces.

 “This scheme recognises that Local Authorities are instrumental in delivering the infrastructure necessary to provide a number of artists´ workspaces nationwide. Almost half of all Visual Artists’ Workspace buildings (43%) are owned by Local Authorities. In view of this the Department engaged with a number of Local Authorities ahead of developing this scheme.

“The Local Authority arts office here in Kilkenny and similar offices nation-wide also play a crucial role in the growth, promotion and sustainability of the arts in Ireland including support to artists through grants, residencies and career development in their respective areas.

“This €6 million funding is in line with 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 capital investment commitments, as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.”

Speaking while visiting a recently developed artist workspace at Artane Place, Minister Martin commented: “As Minister for the Arts, I have been acutely aware of the pressures that artists and creatives, including those in the electronic music sector, have faced in finding suitable workspaces and that is why I made a commitment to provide capital funding towards the provision 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.  In 2023 my Department provided €3million to Dublin City Council for ‘Space to Create’ which will see the development of sixty artist workspaces in Dublin City.  Today’s launch will now address the shortage of workspaces in the rest of the country.”   

• Applications are now being accepted from today and further information can be found at the following link:  https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/46f4f-creative-arts-grants-and-funding/