Minister O’Donovan secures new funding for artist workspaces
Minister Patrick O’Donovan has unveiled over €377,000 in capital grants to support the development of creative hubs across three counties. This initiative aims to provide affordable, secure environments for practitioners to experiment and collaborate nationwide.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has announced a significant investment of €377,336 to bolster the availability of creative spaces across Ireland. This allocation, provided under the Artist Workspaces Scheme, will facilitate the development of up to five new studios, ensuring that local authorities have the necessary resources to support their resident creative communities.
The funding is part of a broader €6 million capital investment programme designed to honour the government's commitment to expanding affordable infrastructure for artists. With this latest announcement, the total investment under the scheme has reached over €1.58 million, further building upon previous efforts such as the Space to Create Programme in Dublin. The minister emphasised the vital role these spaces play in strengthening local towns and inspiring future generations of Irish talent.
Local authorities in Carlow, Donegal, and Wexford have been selected as the latest beneficiaries, with specific projects identified in Tullow, Donegal Town, and Wexford Town. The scheme remains open for further applications, and the Department encourages additional local authorities to submit proposals to address the ongoing demand for workspace capacity. Comprehensive details and application guidelines are available on the official government website.