John's Square

Veronica Nicholson, ‘Guerrillas of Love: Intervention #1’ Intervention Love: of ‘Guerrillas Nicholson, Veronica

Ireland commissioned report (pp. 11-12). (pp. report commissioned Ireland

Above: Above:

, Dublin: The Arts Council and Arts Council of Northern Northern of Council Arts and Council Arts The Dublin: , Ireland

Conditions of Artists in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Northern and Ireland of Republic the in Artists of Conditions for Artists for

The Living and Working Working and Living The (2010), McKimm Cathie and McAndrew

Hibernian Consulting, Insight Statistical Consulting with Dr. Clare Clare Dr. with Consulting Statistical Insight Consulting, Hibernian

Living Spaces Living

No. 2 Pery Square and the Hunt Museum. Hunt the and Square Pery 2 No.

of Art and Design, Limerick City Gallery of Art, Culture House at at House Culture Art, of Gallery City Limerick Design, and Art of

complements strong existing cultural landmarks, Limerick School School Limerick landmarks, cultural existing strong complements

and the community into the future. the into community the and

The refurbishment of the Artists’ Apartments adds to and and to adds Apartments Artists’ the of refurbishment The

. average workers average

This supports a wide range of activities and services to our scouts scouts our to services and activities of range wide a supports This 1

Ireland in 2008 was considerably lower than than lower considerably was 2008 in Ireland

volunteers, the St. John’s Scout Group building was refurbished. refurbished. was building Group Scout John’s St. the volunteers, of Limerick City. Limerick of

variety of external partners through residencies. through partners external of variety

total average personal income for an artist in in artist an for income personal average total

Recently, through Grant aid, the generosity of a benefactor, and and benefactor, a of generosity the aid, Grant through Recently,

urban environment and attract artists to live in the heart heart the in live to artists attract and environment urban

activities for the City and to establish new relationships with a a with relationships new establish to and City the for activities Ireland research report, which found that that found which report, research Ireland

a resource for existing arts organisations that provide cultural cultural provide that organisations arts existing for resource a scheme will encourage living and working within the the within working and living encourage will scheme of Northern Ireland commissioned an all all an commissioned Ireland Northern of

passed through the unit, which is steeped in scouting history. scouting in steeped is which unit, the through passed

other two apartments are reserved for short-term use, both as as both use, short-term for reserved are apartments two other

In 2010 The Arts Council and Arts Council Council Arts and Council Arts The 2010 In

that support the creative process and outputs. The The outputs. and process creative the support that

since 1950. During that time thousands of young people have have people young of thousands time that During 1950. since

Application for six of the apartments is through an open call. The The call. open an through is apartments the of six for Application

of supports, including better living facilities. facilities. living better including supports, of

St John’s 3rd/14th scout group has been based in John’s Square Square John’s in based been has group scout 3rd/14th John’s St

Limerick Council’s cultural strategy to create conditions conditions create to strategy cultural Council’s Limerick

that artists living in the city required a range range a required city the in living artists that

the provision of these affordable living spaces is part of of part is spaces living affordable these of provision the

was formulated in response to recognition recognition to response in formulated was

(The Bishop’s Own) Bishop’s (The

The subsidised living space scheme for artists artists for scheme space living subsidised The

This refurbishment houses eight apartments for artists, artists, for apartments eight houses refurbishment This

Scout Group Scout /14 3 John’s St

RD th

individuals, organisations and development. and organisations individuals,

and a sustainable approach to supporting supporting to approach sustainable a and

Cultural Quarter is an example of this vibrancy vibrancy this of example an is Quarter Cultural

Capital, vibrant and sustainable. The Living Living The sustainable. and vibrant Capital,

play in positioning the city as Ireland’s Cultural Cultural Ireland’s as city the positioning in play

used for various functions. various for used

history and future of Limerick, in the role they they role the in Limerick, of future and history

the late 19th century decline had set in, and the houses were were houses the and in, set had decline century 19th late the

practitioners have a significant place in the the in place significant a have practitioners

were later added and fitted exactly into the original pattern. By By pattern. original the into exactly fitted and added later were

Artists, arts organisations and cultural cultural and organisations arts Artists,

into the architectural design scheme. Two larger end houses houses end larger Two scheme. design architectural the into

The design stressed form, and individual identity was subsumed subsumed was identity individual and form, stressed design The

sides of the square. square. the of sides

success. Eight houses identical on the outside were set on three three on set were outside the on identical houses Eight success.

be adapted to an urban situation, John’s Square is a notable notable a is Square John’s situation, urban an to adapted be

As a demonstration of how a Palladian country house could could house country Palladian a how of demonstration a As

Quarter

continued to be inhabited by wealthy county families. county wealthy by inhabited be to continued A Living Cultural Cultural Living A

The houses were large and commodious and for many years years many for and commodious and large were houses The

Artists’ Studios. Artists’

in the 1750s, they were done so at a cost of £630 per house. house. per £630 of cost a at so done were they 1750s, the in

John of the Cross Church, and the nearby Limerick Limerick nearby the and Church, Cross the of John

be based upon the same plan. When the houses were built built were houses the When plan. same the upon based be

Dance Limerick studios and performance space in St. St. in space performance and studios Limerick Dance in the form of a square, all to be built at the same cost and to to and cost same the at built be to all square, a of form the in John’s Square: Square: John’s

In 1751, John Purdon put forward a proposal to build houses houses build to proposal a forward put Purdon John 1751, In to a cluster of cultural facilities, the Artists’ Apartments, Apartments, Artists’ the facilities, cultural of cluster a to

John’s Square is now a reinvigorated area that is home home is that area reinvigorated a now is Square John’s Limerick’s earliest modern public space. public modern earliest Limerick’s

A vibrant artistic community artistic vibrant A History A - Square John’s

The Artists’ Apartments, 1-2 John’s Square “ The art of city making is a challenge. Our goal should Dance be the city as artefact, where designed and accidental environments of streets, buildings, landmarks and Dance Limerick is based at 1 & 2 John’s Square. The premises houses a fully equipped dance studio with mirrors, a sound open spaces are brought to life with human activity. system and offices. Across the square is a beautiful performance Cities are communities of people, living organisms, space in the St. John of the Cross Church. community networks and social dynamics.” John’s Square Public Realm Enhancement Scheme Dance Limerick’s purpose is to act as a resource hub for Charles Landry professional dance artists providing a platform for artistic dialogue, research, creation, presentation, promotion and practical support for contemporary dance and its production. Alongside this, the programme will feature a range of performances, talks and projects for the wider public. Dance Limerick is currently funded by the Arts Council and Limerick Local Authorities.

For further information contact: Limerick Arts Office Subsidised living space scheme for artists City Hall Merchant’s Quay 1-2 John’s Square, Artists’ Apartments Limerick

Phone: +353 (0)61 407363 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @limerickartsoff www.limerickcity.ie

Except as otherwise noted, all photography by Deirdre Power Make a Move Festival Dance Limerick Studio Design by copperreed.com Photo: Damien Wilson/widumedia.com Photo: Conor Buckley Photography