Artists across the country can rejoice as a €6 million funding initiative has been announced to address the shortage of suitable workspaces and studios. Minister for Arts Catherine Martin unveiled the pilot scheme, which will provide capital grants to local authorities to develop appropriate spaces in vacant buildings.
The funding comes in response to research showing a high demand for artists’ workspaces, far exceeding the current supply. Grants of up to €300,000 will be allocated to densely populated areas like Cork City Council and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, with grants of up to €150,000 for other local authorities.
Meanwhile, artists in Dublin are taking action to highlight ongoing frustrations with the lack of creative spaces. They are calling for more support from large scale developers and are urging Dublin City Council and the Government to provide additional assistance.