Dublin City Council has launched a new research project into the provision of arts and culture spaces, programmes, activities and services within the Dublin North-West area of the city.
The study will seek to explore how artists and arts organisations interact with the community, identify existing barriers to participation, and generate new ideas to improve arts infrastructure in Dublin North-West in the future.
Dublin North-West has become one of the fastest growing administrative areas of Dublin City, covering neighbourhoods such as Ballymun, Finglas, parts of Glassnevin (Ballygall), Santry area of Fingal and the Whitehall area to the West of Swords Road.
Despite a steady growth in resident numbers and community initiatives, the provision of arts and cultural infrastructure in the area remains lower than other parts of the Dublin.
Ray Yates, City Arts Officer at Dublin City Council Arts commented:
“Dublin North-West is home to many of the city’s great artists and creative programmes, yet the area does not automatically spring to mind when identifying a thriving arts and culture community.
“We are excited to launch this research survey, which will act as a localised arts and culture study into North-West area of the city.
“The ambition for this project is to comprehensively understand the needs of artists, those who wish to participate in and learn through the Arts and the needs of audiences in the North West area and through this understanding support informed and considered future arts and cultural provision.”
The project builds on recent similar research undertaken in the Dublin North-Central area, which recognises the fundamental link between arts infrastructure and developing sustainable places; that art provides mutual benefits to both the artist and the community in which they create.
The first phase of the research project includes a survey which is being hosted at www.dublinnorthwest-arts.ie and the deadline for responses is Friday 15th September 2023 at 5pm.
The survey is being undertaken by Turley Strategic Communications and the survey will be followed by a series of focus groups scheduled to take place in September and October 2023, managed by Thrive Audience Development.