Madam, – Like many arts organisations throughout Ireland, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios (TBGS) received a significant cut in its public funding this year.
Although severe, the cut of 35 per cent is manageable since the company’s finances are in good order. A budget was prepared by the director in consultation with the board and was passed in February last. This budget adhered to the constraints imposed and allowed for some gallery costs.
Keeping within the budget, the director proposed salary reductions which, while significant, ensured that all staff would be kept and the integrity of TBGS maintained.
In spite of this, a radical re-structuring of the organisation is about to be implemented, which apparently will lead to needless redundancies for staff, and the effective ending of one of Ireland’s best established and highly-regarded contemporary art exhibitions programmes. It will also damage the reputation and future development of an arts organisation which occupies a central place in Ireland’s visual arts infrastructure.
Part of the restructuring plan includes removing the role of exhibitions curator and director, and making the public gallery “self-financing”. As we understand it, this restructuring plan is being undertaken without consultation with the director or indeed some of the major stakeholders.
Having built up a world-renowned reputation for cultural excellence over the past two decades, for Temple Bar, and for Ireland generally, it makes no sense to let staff go and effectively dismantle one of the key elements that contributed to this international reputation without open consultation.
TBGS is a publicly-funded institution, and the proposed changes will impact negatively on its ability to continue providing a service to the public. The gallery that is core to the Temple Bar Gallery and Studios remit, is the most effective means of providing that public service, while also contributing to the development of cultural tourism.
Serious questions need to be asked about how and why this new direction is being proposed for Temple Bar Gallery and Studios. – Yours, etc,