Artane Artist Studios Open Amidst Troubling Times for Dublin’s Creative Scene

Published 12:52 9 Dec 2024 GMT

Updated 11:33 13 Dec 2024 GMT

Artane Artist Studios Open Amidst Troubling Times for Dublin’s Creative Scene

Amid widespread closures of cherished cultural spaces, Artane Artist Studios has brought a much-needed boost to Dublin’s Northside.

Deputy Lord Mayor Donna Cooney officially unveiled the studios on December 8 as part of Dublin City Council’s €9 million Space to Create programme. The initiative aims to deliver 60 affordable artist workspaces across the city.

Located at Artane Place, the studios occupy the historic site of the former Stardust tragedy, where 48 lives were lost in 1981. This transformation represents a vital investment in cultural infrastructure on Dublin’s Northside, an area often overlooked in arts funding.

Artane Artist Studios features 12 workspaces, 10 of which were awarded through a competitive open call process in 2022.

The site now hosts a diverse range of artists, including illustrator Chris Judge, textile artist Jennifer Dwyer, theatre maker Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, and costume designer Sinéad Lawlor. Other residents include visual artists Lynda Devenney, Malene Jacobson Brazel, Sharon O’Callaghan, and Cara Thorpe, as well as writer Gemma Kane. Two larger studios, introduced in 2023, house visual artist Alan Mongey and dancer-choreographer Ella Clarke.

At the launch, Deputy Lord Mayor Donna Cooney emphasized the city’s commitment to addressing the loss of artist workspaces:

"Dublin's unique character is deeply intertwined with its vibrant artistic community. We recognize the recent loss of artist workspaces and have a long-term plan to address this shortage. This includes the provision that 5% of all new developments in Dublin will be allocated to creative/cultural and community use. Working with developers to create lasting artist workspaces and reviving existing buildings to provide affordable options. Space to Create signifies a commitment to supporting artists and ensuring Dublin remains a hub of creativity enriched by working artists.”

The importance of the Artane Place was paramount to all involved in this location deeply resonates with the studio’s tenants. Dublin City Council and Xestra Asset Management collaborated closely with survivors and families of the Stardust tragedy to ensure that the redevelopment honors its history. Theatre artist Caitríona Ní Mhurchú reflected on her new studio, saying:

"On hearing I had been awarded a space in Artane Studios, my first reaction was what a profound act of generosity it is from the families and survivors of Stardust to allow an artist to create in this space. My second was how hopeful it is that a slow and collaborative approach to the art made here might find ways of not only highlighting this physical nexus of memory, trauma, and history but maybe even go some tiny way towards healing those invisible lines."

Over the past five years, Dublin has lost numerous beloved artist spaces. Unit 44, a haven for experimental artists in Stoneybatter, will close in 2025 after hosting over 275 events and 500 rehearsals. D-Light Studios in Ballybough faces an uncertain future due to required repairs and short-term leasing challenges. The Dublin Writers Museum shut permanently in 2022. The Science Gallery Dublin announced earlier this year that it would not reopen due to financial difficulties. Other closures, including Jigsaw and Abner Brown's Barbershop, illustrate the pressure of rising rents and redevelopment on Dublin’s creative spaces.

The Space to Create programme offers hope for reversing this trend. The partnership between the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Dublin City Council, and an anonymous donor will provide €3 million from each entity. Upcoming projects include 21 workspaces at Merchants Quay, 6 in Temple Bar, and 20 temporary units on Bridgefoot Street. Once completed, Dublin City Council will lease and manage these spaces to ensure long-term affordability for artists.