An Assessment of the Current Needs of Artists working in

Presented by PLAN, | May 24th 2013 | www.prolan.ie | [email protected] Professional Limerick Artists Network TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Forward 1 2.0 Introduction 2 3.0 Background 3 4.0 Performing Arts Infrastructure; Current Status 4 4.1 PLAN’s mission statement 4 4.2 Partnership 4 5.0 Belltable Arts Centre 5 6.0 Overview of Artforms in Limerick City 6 6.1 Theatre 6 6.2 Music 7 6.3 Visual Arts 8 6.4 Literature 9 6.5 Dance 9 6.5.1 Street Dance 9 6.6 Film 10 7.0 Residencies 11 8.0 Current Needs for Artists in Limerick 11 9.0 A new Arts Centre for Limerick 12 9.1 Governance of an Arts Centre 11 9.2 Pilot Artistic Programme 12 9.3 Research for a new Arts Centre 12 9.4 City as Arts Centre 13 10.0 The next steps for PLAN 13

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network 1.0 FOREWORD

This assessment is presented as an overview of the current needs of professional artists working in Limerick City. In response to the closure of Belltable in January 2013, artists have begun to articulate a case for their having a greater role in the ethos and governance of publicly funded arts organisations that have direct impact on the livelihood of the individual artist. Since March 2013, artists have been meeting formally, on a weekly basis, and have formed PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists Network. PLAN comprises individual arts practitioners from theatre, music, literature, visual art, film, sound art, dance and design. The needs of the individual artist form the core of this document and particular emphasis is placed on the physical infrastructural needs of Limerick’s arts community.

PLAN sets out its position here in order to open discussion with Limerick City Council/Joint Local Authority, the Arts Council and other stakeholders so that artists working in Limerick can access the kind of supports that are essential to the creative process and that are in line with resources available in other Irish cities. The contents represent the opinions of a significant number of individual artists working in Limerick - it does not claim to represent all Limerick artists nor is it an audit of all arts activity in the city. PLAN welcomes diverse perspectives on the arts and invites any artist to attend a meeting of its network. The observations and suggestions herein mark a starting point for dialogue towards an open and comprehensive approach to planning and development for the arts in Limerick.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 1 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network 2.0 INTRODUCTION

There is a crisis in the arts in Limerick. This crisis affects all artists, particularly those involved in the performing arts. The recent liquidation of Belltable has brought into focus the vulnerability of the arts as a voluntary sector industry in need of constant vigilance and resource management. Limerick is now without an arts centre, without an Arts Council funded venue and falls far behind other cities in Ireland in terms of artistic infrastructure. Belltable’s closure has created a void in Limerick’s cultural life where once there existed a thriving resource for artists and audiences.

The energy that is generated through the arts in Limerick is being curbed. While artists continue to make work, the development of that work is prevented from reaching wider audiences and accessing many avenues of Arts Council funding. A funded arts centre is the natural partner for emerging and established artists who wish to take an idea from concept to realisation. Without such a body to encourage, support and endorse applications to the Arts Council, individual artists and emerging companies of artists face a stone wall in terms of developing new and existing work.

The status in some arts circles in Limerick is one of stagnation and paralysis. In response to this paralysis, individual artists have come together to form PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network. PLAN presents this document to Limerick City Council/Joint Local Authority, the Arts Council and to other stakeholders as a step forward for reinvigorating the arts in Limerick.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 2 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network 3. BACKGROUND

The year 2000 was one of the most productive years for artistic development in Limerick. Daghdha Dance Company had been selected by the Arts Council as a pilot project for Multi-Annual Funding. This new level of funding saw Daghdha receive €400,0001 in 2000, allowing the company to embark on a major programme of work both nationally and internationally. In the same year, Island Theatre Company was also selected by the Arts Council for Multi-Annual Funding with an allocation of €180,0002. The significance of Multi-Annual funding to both Daghdha and to Island went beyond a financial commitment from the national agency for funding the arts. Rather, Multi-Annual funding was interpreted as an imprimatur of the work undertaken by those companies who were lucky enough to be selected for this innovative funding arrangement.

The Belltable Arts Centre was also well funded in 2000 with total Arts Council funding of €352,0003. Belltable was at this time, an established venue for touring theatre companies and had a vibrant visual art programme. UnFringed had become a fixture on the national theatre calendar and Belltable finances were manageable. Limerick Youth Theatre and Fresh Film were both accommodated within Belltable’s administrative facilities.

In 2000, direct Arts Council funding to these three city centre arts organisations amounted to €932,000. This level of funding was sustained for some time and was augmented by significant capital funding from the Department of Arts in subsequent years, allowing for the provision of two dance-dedicated spaces in John’s Square and the refurbishment of Belltable.

Arts Council annual funding to the performing arts in Limerick City, for the first quarter of 2013, is virtually non existent. Although allocations may have been made to Belltable and/or Daghdha, none of this funding is being made available to artists.

1 http://www.artscouncil.ie/Publications/an_chomhairle_ealaion_2000.pdf 2 http://www.artscouncil.ie/Publications/an_chomhairle_ealaion_2000.pdf 3 http://www.artscouncil.ie/Publications/an_chomhairle_ealaion_2000.pdf

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 3 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network 4.0 PERFORMING ARTS INFRASTRUCTURE; CURRENT STATUS

At the time of writing this report, Daghdha has just reopened with a new Director, Belltable remains closed and Island Theatre company is something of a distant memory. The Lime Tree Theatre facilitates mainstream theatre tours and Limerick Royal has unveiled plans, albeit subject to funding, for a new digital media arts and film centre. Opportunities now exist, through Limerick 2014, for artists to collaborate and resource projects through a new funding stream. The future holds great promise for the arts in Limerick but the question of infrastructure needs to be addressed. Limerick City deserves an arts centre that meets the needs of artists and their audiences and that is governed by a board with a healthy balance of artists, business people and other stakeholders. Artists in Limerick now wish to engage with Limerick City Council/Joint Local Authority, the Arts Council and other stakeholders to deliver a sustainable arts infrastructure for the city.

u 4.1 PLAN’S MISSION STATEMENT

To act as a representative body for artists in Limerick, operating as a forum and a lobby group, locally and nationally, on issues of common concern, relating to the practice, management and development of the arts in Limerick.

• PLAN proposes a partnership for the arts in Limerick, a partnership that is integral to the governance of all publicly funded arts bodies whose infrastructure affects both the artist and audience across all mediums of the arts in Limerick City.

• PLAN is committed to campaigning for an appropriate modern civic arts centre for our city. An institution that will support and sustain the diverse community of notable artists and art that Limerick City contributes to the country on a national and international stage.

u 4. 2 PARTNERSHIP PLAN believes that a three-way partnership is now essential to the delivery of a new sustainable arts centre model for Limerick. The partnership would initially comprise Limerick City Council/Limerick Joint Local Authority, The Arts Council and the arts community in Limerick. PLAN with some 60+ professional arts practitioners, can represent the artistic community in such a partnership. Other sectoral interest groups might be invited to participate once the three vital partners set out a shared vision.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 4 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network 5.0 BELLTABLE ARTS CENTRE

The closure of Belltable in January 2013 came at the end of a period of well publicised instability for Limerick’s Arts Centre and left many individual artists and unfunded companies without payment for work delivered during 2012. Following a refurbishment programme during 2012/2013, Belltable invested in the region of €2m into structural upgrades to the auditorium and the main gallery space. The alterations made through refurbishment fundamentally changed the former intimacy of the theatre space and diminished the main gallery to the extent that many artists now regard Belltable as no longer being suitable as a visual arts space.

In addition to this, a serious noise pollution issue in the lane behind Belltable undermined all performances from November 2010, during an official re-launch of the refurbished arts centre, until its closure in January 2013. Petitions from artists and citizens to both Belltable board as well as to Limerick City Council for action on this issue had little effect. Over this 26 month period, performing artists presented work in Belltable that was regularly sabotaged by sounds of angle grinders and chainsaws. The inability of Belltable management and board to deal with this issue was the subject of much discussion at local and national level. In particular, the lack of engagement with local arts practitioners, by Belltable management, on this very public issue caused frustration and dismay. Belltable and, to some extent, the arts in Limerick became the subject of ridicule throughout the artistic community nationally. An inertia replaced the former energy of Belltable and artists sought to produce and present their work in alternative venues around the city.

The changes to Belltable’s physical structure were controversial within Limerick’s arts community. The perceived deterioration in physical resources was less of an issue than a parallel deterioration in collaborative planning and support for artists. Prior to closure, Belltable had become somewhat of a retail outlet for the arts rather than a resource centre where artists could meet, promote each other’s work and seek support for projects. Whether Limerick’s future arts centre is to be based at 69 O’Connell St. or another location, PLAN identifies the need for artists to play a key role in its planning and governance.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 5 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network 6.0 OVERVIEW OF ARTISTIC ACTIVITY BY DISCIPLINE u 6.1 THEATRE There are currently eight to ten theatre producing companies/partnerships in Limerick, none of which receives annual funding from the Arts Council and very few of whom have received project funding. All of these entities share a common aim; to present professional theatre to a specific or broad audience base. All of the companies and partnerships would like to be in a position to apply for funding through the Arts Council’s Residencies programmes, Project funds and other schemes but are prevented from applying for certain tranches of funding due to the lack of a ‘funded venue’ to partner their application. In spite of the obstacles, many theatre productions reach audiences in venues such as the Savoy Hotel, Dolan’s Warehouse, The Loft (bar), Faber Studios, Ormston House and other ‘pop-up’ spaces.

The current lack of a subsidised venue to support and present work is a problem shared by Limerick’s amateur theatre practitioners as is the urgent need to source a space in which to store valuable set materials and props for all companies.

As a collaborative practice, theatre relies on the fusion of talents of many artists in order to embark upon ambitious work and bring ideas to fruition. Limerick theatre artists now meet in bars and cafes more than in theatres. The Lime Tree theatre in has been a welcome feature in the theatre landscape but the theatre community has suffered more than most other artistic disciplines through the closure of Belltable in January 2013. Apart from the obvious loss of an upgraded, 200+ seat auditorium, the loss of Belltable has caused a splintering within the theatre community as different companies opt to present work in many different locations.

Since March 2013 theatre practitioners have come together regularly through PLAN meetings and Limerick City of Culture 2014 meetings. The theatre community, collectively, is now discussing collaboration and sharing of ideas with a view to creating a landmark theatre event as part of the city’s designation next year. At all of these meetings the issue of working space is recurrent. A smaller, appropriately resourced venue is essential if professional theatre is to survive in the city.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 6 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network u 6. 2 MUSIC For music, venues such as the University Concert Hall, Millineum Theatre and The Lime Tree Theatre in Mary Immaculate College are suited to large scale music performances. The auditorium in the former Belltable building suited certain styles of work but not all. Few venues in Limerick cater for performances of contemporary music. Apart from an occasional, programmed contemporary piece in an ICO concert, University Concert Hall rarely features new work. Performances of new music rely on occasion venues and slack spaces in the city. There is no dedicated music space in Limerick. Compared with facilities in cities throughout the rest of Ireland Limerick, once again, falls far behind.

Emerging music artists face an under-resourced climate for work when performing and recording in Limerick. Licenced performance spaces are a natural home for some musicians and bands but there is a need for a performance space to cater for developing music artists and the growing interest in sonic art. Younger musicians and their audiences need to have access to a location that is alcohol free. There is a need for a small to medium scale performance space that caters for music artists who need to bring their work to a specific audience base.

There is currently no commercial or funded recording studio in Limerick City. A small recording facility exists in Learning Hub Limerick in Kileely, an excellent youth education facility whose future is now under serious threat due to funding. Mature musicians recall with enthusiasm a period of great productivity in the late 80s and early 90s when Xeric studios offered affordable and quality recording facilities.

In spite of such limited resources for music, young bands and electronic producers and artists are flying the flag for Limerick to considerable critical acclaim. Music artists associated with PLAN recognise that the search for excellence and distinction in the music industry as a whole needs more encouragement and resourcing.

Limerick musicians need access to performance, rehearsal and recording facilities, the latter with the kind of expertise that allows time for the artist to grow and develop. The synergy that produces excellence in music needs shared spaces for musicians to meet, to listen to each other’s work and to raise the bar in terms of artistic ambition.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 7 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network u 6. 3 VISUAL ARTS Limerick is well respected within the national and international visual arts world. EVA, LCGA, the , and LSAD are major contributors to the arts infrastructure of the city. Limerick Printmakers and the Bourn Vincent Gallery in the - the latter some three miles from the City Centre, exhibit works from local, national and international artists.

The use of slack spaces by a number of Limerick artists has seen a flourish of activity in visual art within highly visible locations in the city in recent times. The Creative Limerick initiative has worked with artists to make use of otherwise abandoned premises. This development has provided opportunities for graduate, emerging and established artists to engage local audience outside of the context of a commercial gallery space. The use of unoccupied commercial premises by artists, has invigorated both the arts and the city centre and is generally seen as a positive development for artists and audiences. Many PLAN members have benefited from support from the aforementioned organisations but some members now feel that we have developed an over-reliance on slack spaces for exhibiting work.

The lack of policy around the provision of temporary spaces to artists, particularly in the event of an economic up-turn, is a worrying phenomenon. Probably the most worrying aspect of the uncertainty associated with slack space use is Limerick Printmakers’ current dependence on such a premises in Sarsfield St. – a property with major commercial viability even in the current economic climate.

PLAN has identified the need for a supported commercial gallery space in the city. For some years, Belltable provided such an outlet for local artists at a cross section of career points. Even with its diminished wallspace, following refurbishment, Belltable provided a commercial outlet for artists to sell and exhibit. Long standing artists from the greater Limerick area now find it difficult to sell work. A functioning arts centre with a gallery within its walls or in an outside location/s, should serve to meet some of these artists’ needs.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 8 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network u 6. 4 LITERATURE In recent discussions with individual writers and poets as part of the PLAN initiative a desire has been clearly expressed for the establishment of an International Literary Festival for Limerick on par with Cuirt in Galway or the Mountains To Sea festival in Dun Laoghaire. This aim might be met by expanding one of the respected existing literary events in the city or by initiating a new festival. Belltable was the traditional key focal point for writers and poets in Limerick. It provided access to information, supported funding applications, offered space for readings and launches. Smaller scale, informal readings also take place in two city centre bars, where different groups meet on a regular basis. Limerick also boasts two annual literary publications, Revival, produced by Limerick Writers Centre, and The Stony Thursday Book now produced by the Cuisle festival.

u 6. 5 DANCE Limerick City welcomes and will benefit once again from the revival of Daghdha, its landmark dance company. PLAN acknowledges the important role of Daghdha and of its two quality dance studios in the heart of one of the city’s most historic quarters. Unfortunately, many dance artists have left the city since Daghdha closed in 2011 and it will take some time to rebuild a sense of dance community again. During the past two years a degree of frustration was experienced by artists and their audiences on the lack of transparency around the issues that led to the suspension of this space and the city’s formidable dance company. Questions put to board members of the company, by individual artists, about the inexplicable delay in reopening Daghdha were unanswered.

u 6. 5.1 STREET DANCE PLAN also acknowledges the work of the somewhat underground street dance community that plays an important role in the new Make a Move Hip Hop festival. There is a strong support for dance in Limerick City, augmented by a number of undergraduate and post graduate courses in the Irish World Academy at University of Limerick.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 9 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network u 6. 6 FILM

The film community in Limerick is a vibrant and varied one. With films from Limerick featuring on the world festival circuit such as Keith Bogue’s Buddy and Sidhe Film’s Vanner, there is a recognised community of film makers in the City. Limerick’s documentary filmmakers have had work broadcast internationally. Film production and multi-media courses in LIT, Mary I and UL ensure that there will be many more film makers coming through into the sector. Behind the Scenes is a well-established network of Film makers who meet once a month to discuss film in Limerick and the Mid-west. Despite the vast array of talent and expertise in the film industry in Limerick, the facilities available to film makers in Limerick is non-existent. There is a lack of meeting space for film makers in the city.

Cinemas in Limerick are now based out of town and the Belltable which had a screening facility is closed. There is a need for a film centre in the city which can provide hiring facilities, screening rooms, workshop space. The film community in Limerick supports the proposed Royal Cinema renovation as this would provide the support to Limerick filmmakers in line with Cork, Galway and Dublin.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 10 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network 7.0 RESIDENCIES

PLAN welcomes the recent call to artists for residency programmes in Mary Immaculate College. Residencies and joint venture programmes through theatre, literature, music and visual art are common place in other Irish cities but are rare in Limerick. Residencies in health, education and community settings, in collaboration with Limerick City Council and the Arts Council, would inject a new energy into artists and community settings.

8.0 CURRENT NEEDS OF ARTISTS IN LIMERICK

Through a series of meetings during March and April, 2013, members of PLAN have identified the following needs as urgent:

1. An administrative base from which to organise meetings, make proposals and engage with as broad a range as possible of Limerick artists.

2. A social space where artists of all disciplines can meet informally to discuss ideas and collaborative projects.

3. A cohesive marketing and promotion and shared box office facility for the arts in the city.

4. A funded venue, with internal or external facilities to exhibit, present and share artistic excellence as part of an integrated approach to artistic development in the city; a venue to support artists and partner Arts Council applications – an instantly recognisable arts resource where touring programmes from theatre, music, visual arts and other disciplines can be welcomed and can be allowed to develop.

5. An arts plan for Limerick investigating the needs of artists and audiences in terms of supports and programmes that allow for the creation of work in an atmosphere that is conducive to excellence, productivity and public engagement.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 11 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network 9.0 A NEW ARTS CENTRE FOR LIMERICK

Whether or not 69, O’Connell St. becomes a base for a new city centre arts centre, the following points will be key to researching and assessing best practice.

u 9.1 GOVERNANCE OF AN ARTS CENTRE

In order to achieve vision and sustainability in an arts centre, a balance of representatives from civil society and from public life should constitute the board of directors. Civil society might be represented at board level by artists, business people and community activists. Government agencies might be represented by education bodies, local authority or tourism bodies. Models in Ireland and elsewhere will be studied to ascertain best practice in governance.

u 9.2 PILOT ARTISTIC PROGRAMME

In order to deliver on the needs already highlighted, PLAN will make submissions to Limerick City Council and to the Arts Council for funding. Initially, funding will be sought for a pilot artistic programme, to run during July and August 2013, as an action based feasibility study into new methods of operation and support for Limerick’s diverse artistic community and their audiences.

u 9.3 RESEARCH FOR A NEW ARTS CENTRE PLAN recognises the need for a functioning arts centre in Limerick, one that attracts funding at local and national level. PLAN will work with all stakeholders of the arts in Limerick in researching models that best suit Limerick – a model that is appropriate to a city in flux, with a growing diversity and a challenging social landscape. PLAN proposes to actively research models in Ireland and elsewhere and will include in its remit an exploration of using the entire city as an arts centre.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 12 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network u 9.4 THE CITY AS ARTS CENTRE The needs of an artistic community and the demands of audience and communities change over time. Thirty-three years after its inaugural performance, Belltable is unlikely to be in a position to deliver a comprehensive programme to a diverse population of 80,000 people. A single venue arts centre can work but is not the only option. Limerick City has many venues that have been used or are currently in use by artists to share their work with audiences.

At its first meeting, PLAN discussed the idea of an arts centre having a central planning and administrative base and using several spaces throughout the city for performance, exhibition, installation and engagement. As a group made up exclusively of individual artists, PLAN values the idea of resourcing artistic work in a number of creative spaces rather than funding a single venue. 10.0 THE NEXT STEPS FOR PLAN

• PLAN will undertake formal research into options for new models of arts centres and new ways of facilitating the creative process. Dialogue between the arts and different sectors in the city as well as colloquies with invited partners and colleagues will feature as part of an exploration process.

• PLAN invites Limerick City Council and the Arts Council to begin negotiations around Limerick’s future in the context of a new model of arts centre.

• PLAN acknowledges the work of national advocacy bodies including Visual Artists Ire land, Theatre Forum as well as the recently formed community body, Creative Communities Limerick.

• PLAN will work with all of Limerick’s arts institutions, voluntary sector, businesses, education bodies and government agencies who share an ambition for Limerick to build a cultural infrastructure in Limerick that befits a city of this scale and population.

As Limerick plans to celebrate 2014 as the first National City of Culture, Limerick artists have an unprecedented opportunity to investigate new possibilities for collaborative working processes. Already, Limerick City Council/Joint Local Authority and PLAN share one ambition; that 2014 will leave a legacy for a vibrant and sustainable artistic future for artists, audiences and communities in our city.

May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network PAGE 13 Professional Limerick Artist’s Network May 24th, 2013 Presented by PLAN, Professional Limerick Artists’ Network