Upcoming Dublin arts space represents chance to help those in drug recovery, say councillors
Plans for a proposed arts and cultural space, housing 20 artist’s workspaces, are progressing on Dublin’s Merchant’s Quay, beside the capital’s only dedicated drug injection centre.
Dublin City Council’s (DCC) Arts Office recently showed off a pre-Part 8 presentation for the project, which would revitalise the historic 7, 8 and 9 Merchant’s Quay buildings.
Two of the three buildings are protected structures, and previously housed a Franciscan publication centre, St Anthony’s Theatre, and an 18th-century townhouse, the latter of which was restored by the Dublin Civic Trust.
Number 9 also has an archaeologically-significant early 17th-century slipway at basement level, which the council wants to preserve and present as part of a broader refurbishment of the buildings.
The authority is aiming to create a flexible cultural amenity that addresses the long-standing shortfall in artist spaces in the capital, while also rejuvenating the 80-person theatre on the ground floor.
Funding for the project is in the order of €9.5m, with €4m sourced from an anonymous donor, and the remainder from the council’s capital budget and the Department of Culture.
Lesley Byrne, a Social Democrats councillor, said she supported the project wholeheartedly, but further consideration should be given to a partnership with the neighbouring injection centre.
"I do think there’s a real opportunity here for the arts and the essential services that already operate in the area to coexist, and actually for the arts, especially theatre, to support recovery and community engagement,” she said.
"There’s great examples internationally where people in addiction have taken part in creative programmes, which helps build their recovery and their social skills and a sense of belonging.”
Ms Byrne said it was equally important that the facility is managed properly, to avoid any “tension” that may arise between the two institutions.
"Done well, it could be a very progressive, supportive model for creative-led regeneration and recovery,” she said.
"But I would hate it to get to a stage where a certain cohort of theatre-goers would find it difficult for that to coexist beside people who need the support of what’s happening in Merchant’s Quay.”
Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan agreed, saying that the council should also explore partnership opportunities with rehabilitation group Recovery through Art, Drama and Education (RADE).
"They have done art exhibitions, drama, television, film, art exhibitions in City Hall, so I would hope that we can build links with them to ensure that they can avail of and be part of any development of an artist’s quarter in the area,” he said.
Ray Yeates, DCC’s arts officer, said the council had a “long relationship” with RADE, and that “they would seem like a very natural match”.
"We will have some kind of process, I would say, some kind of open call or nominations, for the selection of artists into it … they’ll be highly sought after spaces,” he said.
Mr Yeates added that the current environment on the quayside beside the proposal was “very challenging”.
"it’s going to require some creativity and work to make this work,” he said. “We can only grasp the nettle here, and step in and run this space and try and make it as positive as possible.”
DCC is hoping to have the new facility open by early 2028.