Sir, – If politicians and bureaucrats wish to use artists – people of creativity, originality and vision – as tools in some fatuous “rebranding” exercise, may I respectfully suggest that they stick to dead ones? – Yours, etc,
MAEVE KENNEDY,
Rathgar Avenue,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole’s response to the Limerick City of Culture controversy is a good illustration of the type of ivory tower arrogance that often surrounds controversies in the arts world (“Artists insulted in Limerick debacle”, Opinion & Analysis, January 7th).
He says that linking art and culture to branding the place from which they originate is “deeply misconceived” and “an insult to artists”. He goes on to say that artists “question, transform, challenge, disturb, mock, make strange” but do not have “the slightest interest in taking part in a positive branding exercise”.
Pardon me, Mr O’Toole, but if €6 million of public money is to be spent on this project, then we have a right to expect that there is some dividend for the people of Limerick and not just the local arts “luvvies”. It is extraordinarily arrogant of him to suggest that the project should be organised and run by artists, solely for the benefit of these same artists.
If either Mr O’Toole or the artists of Limerick want to keep the world of arts and culture entirely to themselves, then I would respectfully suggest that they seek private sources of funding to do so. – Yours, etc,
THOMAS RYAN, BL
Mount Tallant Avenue,
Harold’s Cross,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – We should resist the temptation of raining on other people’s parade. This is Limerick’s year and perhaps the parochial Irish media would serve us better by dispatching correspondents to the City of Culture for a year rather than viewing the present juicy spectacle from a distance and with rarefied disdain.
Perhaps Fintan O’Toole should come to Limerick and see what is going on at ground level.
I think his article requires a follow-up from the author, based not on preconceived attitudes and cynicism, but on experiencing the events themselves, rather than damning the project from a safe distance of 120 miles. – Yours, etc,
NEIL O’BRIEN,
Affick,
Tulla ,
Co Clare.