Subsidised living space for artists in Limerick

A subsidised living space for artists has been officially launched in Limerick at the redeveloped cultural quarter in John's Square.

Limerick Arts Office is providing use of six newly refurbished residential apartments to recognised cultural practitioners, including contemporary visual artists, performers, musicians and writers.

Six artists will take up residency immediately, while two additional apartments are being made available to local arts organisations for short-term use to accommodate visiting artists engaged in local arts projects, or visiting international curators.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan said artists are going through a “very challenging time” .

“It is very difficult for them to maintain galleries and other workspaces and at the same time rent accommodation too, so the idea here is that they will have lower rent payments so it will help them obviously to maintain and keep their galleries and work spaces open.”

According to Sheila Deegan of Limerick Arts, there is a recognition that artists earn very little money, and she noted that a recent survey conducted by Visual Artists Ireland showed the average income for artists is around €17,000.

In order to apply for the scheme, applicants must be professional artists and prove that they are trying to make a career as a professional artists in accordance with the criteria set out by the Arts Council.