Acceptance of Tender and appointment of contractor for County Arts Centre

SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY ARTS CENTRE

Acceptance of Tender and appointment of contractor

On Friday 9^th January Mayor Eamonn Maloney, on behalf of South Dublin County Council officially appointed Townlink Construction Ltd.as the main contractor to undertake the construction of the new County Arts Centre which will be located adjacent to the LUAS line, towards the front of County Hall Tallaght. The project, which has a contract value of in excess of 9M , was commissioned by the Community Services Department and developed under the direction of Eddie Conroy, Acting County Architect.

The addition the new facility in Tallaght will compliment existing cultural facilities such as the Civic Theatre and the County Library in what is emerging as a cultural quarter in the centre of Tallaght. The County Library is itself currently undergoing significant expansion and refurbishment as part of the new Belgard Square development.

The new County Arts Centre will provide opportunities for organisations of diverse artistic disciplines, to support access to arts activities in participation based programmes as outlined in South Dublin County Councils Arts Development Strategy.

Construction of the new County Arts Centre will begin on Monday 19^th February 2007, with the erection of hoarding around the perimeter of the site and while there may be some inconvenience to the public every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum including maintaining the walkway through the South Dublin County Council complex. The construction period is estimated to be approx 15 months.

With regard to the development of the County Arts Centre Project, South Dublin County Council invited tenders by public advertisement in the EU Journal and national newspaper in May 2006. Tenders were received on Friday 3^rd November 2006. Walsh and Associates, Construction Cost Consultants acted as consultants to the project.

Townlink Ltd are a well-established firm with proven experience in projects with high design/detail content. They have worked on previous occasions for South Dublin County Council, in particular Tallaght Court House and Killinarden Enterprise Centre. They have carried out projects similar in scale and technology to the County Arts Centre Project at Amien St. and in Cabinteely.

SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY ARTS CENTRE: PROFILE

South Dublin County Council in the development of this arts infrastructure project has set aside the traditional style arts centre based on one building and one organisation undertaking the programming. The Council has developed a model that encourages a strategic approach to the development of the arts across the county taking into account:

        The geography and demographics of South Dublin County.

        The presence of existing arts organisations.

        The relationship between the local authority and the arts centre

It is proposed that an arts centre company be established to manage a flagship development in Tallaght and also, in the long-term, to manage a network of facilities across the county. The programming of activities in the arts centre facilities will be undertaken by a range of existing arts organisations including Tallaght Community Arts Centre, and new service providers.

This structure allows for flexibility in programming activities and scope to offer tenders for the use of space - taking into account offers made to Tallaght Community Arts Centre at the initial stage of this development. It allows for contracting out services such as artist studios management, application procedures and liaison with artists.

The new flagship building in Tallaght is designed to reflect current approaches to the making and delivery of arts. Alongside two high quality exhibition spaces (including a white cube) and an 80 seat performance space, the emphasis is on process and participation. The definition of space reflects the primary aim of the arts centre, to support the artist and participant in the conception and making of art.

The arts centre development in Tallaght, which is taking place alongside a major extension of the County Library and which is adjacent to the Civic Theatre, offers opportunity for the creation of a synergetic cultural nucleus in Tallaght, which should have a countywide impact.

THE VISION FOR THE ARTS CENTRE

The remit of the arts centre is to support contemporary art practise by providing spaces and opportunities for:

        Artists to make, perform or exhibit art.

        Arts organisations and individuals to deliver arts programmes and events.

        Individuals and communities to engage with the arts.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission for the arts centre is to develop the arts in South Dublin County countywide, through the support of professional and participatory arts activities and through the provision of infrastructure dedicated to the arts.

OBJECTIVES

        Support and develop the arts countywide.

        Encourage all art forms.

        Support professional productions and exhibitions of art by local, national and international artists.

        Provide opportunities for communities to participate in arts activities.

        Encourage professional arts organisations and artists to work and live in South Dublin County.

        Provide spaces for productions, exhibitions and process-based activities.

        Provide workspace for arts organisations and artists.

DESIRED OUTCOMES

        Countywide arts activity.

        Supporting best practice and excellence in the arts.

        Diversity of programming.

        High footfall.

FACILITIES

Ground Floor

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

Art Store

Caf / Servery

Reception

Toilets

Performance Space

Changing Rooms with Showers

Art Workshop Room

Outdoor sculpture yard

Floor 1

Office facilities

Staff Facilities

5 Music Rooms

Dance Rehearsal Studio

Floor 2

Office Facilities

3 Incubator Units

2 Large Multimedia Rooms

Top Floor

Offices

6 Artist studio spaces