Geoghegan concern at possible eviction of artists from studio

Fine Gael Councillor James Geoghegan has warned that 40 artists face the risk of “imminent” eviction from the Dean Arts Studios on Chatham Row.

Geoghegan flagged the issue at this month’s meeting of Dublin City Council, telling the meeting that artists at the studios discovered that new management was due to take over the facility without prior warning or notice.

One of the affected artists, Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide, spoke to the media in recent weeks about the issues they face.

“Despite what I believe was a very strong application to continue using the space, I and many others were really saddened by the news,” Higgins Ní Chinnéide told the Irish Independent in November.

“This opportunity to have free studio space and the many opportunities provided by the space sponsors will no longer be available.”

Geoghegan said there were “alarming” aspects of the decision-making process.

“The Arts SPC took a decision, with the establishment of a subcommittee, that has the effect of evicting an arts studio – Dean Arts Studio – from a premises owned by DCC,” he said.

Geoghegan told the meeting “the process was a sham.”

“Now we have an appalling situation where artists that have been thriving in this premises face the threat of eviction; this process has to be independently reviewed.”

“In a city starved of artist space, the logic of our city council turfing out a successful studio supporting 40 artists for free completely baffles me,” he added.

The lack of communication between the Council and the artists has been sharply criticised.

“One of the members of the subcommittee made it clear through a statement that they had no intention to ever award a licence to a private operator for that premises.”

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council’s Arts Office said that the concerns raised by Councillor Geoghegan have been referred to the subcommittee for consideration.

In a statement, Dublin City Council said it had “facilitated the meanwhile use of the Chatham Row building by the Dean Arts Studio and Press Up and recognise the good work done to facilitate a range of creatives who have resided in the building on a short-term basis”.

“Following meetings of the Subcommittee of the Arts, Culture, Leisure and Recreation Strategic Policy Committee established to explore longer term cultural uses and occupancy of the former DIT School of Music on Chatham Row, an Open Call process was initiated, with the full knowledge of Dean Arts Studio and Press Up.”

“Opportunities for existing artists to remain as residents under the new arrangements will be explored with the new operator,” the statement asserted.

“Dublin City Council looks forward to working with the new operator to deliver the next phase of cultural use of Chatham Row,” it added.