AN ARTS organisation whose primary aim is to create a platform for artists to help them showcase their work in Ireland and abroad is planning to establish their Irish base at a disused fire station south Dublin.
MART, which was set up in 2006 by Ciara Scanlan and Matthew Nevin, has helped around 300 emerging contemporary artists to showcase their work at a number of exhibitions in Galway, Limerick, Dublin, London and several cities in the US in recent years.
Ciara and Matthew, who both live in Rathmines, are now planning to set up a new visual arts depot that will include two galleries, a screening room for video installations, an art shop and up to a dozen studios at the old fire station in Rathmines.
The fire station was previously occupied by the Dublin Civil Defence and Dublin Fire Brigade but MART has agreed a deal to rent the building from Dublin City Council.
Exhibitions at the new space at the fire station will involve many of the 300 artists who have already engaged with MART, as well as more local artists who have recently expressed a desire to have their work exhibited at the new centre.
Ciara Scanlan said the aim of the organisation is to create a platform to enable new media, installation, sculpture, experimental film, and performance artists to hold exhibitions of their work and create an art resource that is accessible, interesting and enjoyable to the public.
She said that the organisation’s International Arts Exchange Network will mean that art curators from around the world will come and curate the work of local artists in exhibitions at the new centre.
Ciara also said the exchange network would potentially provide Dublin based artists who take part in MART exhibitions with the opportunity to exhibit their work internationally.
“We help people to make a platform for new artists to show their work,
? she explained.
“We are working with Culture Ireland and we are going to bring in international curators, so local artists will get the opportunity to work with people from different parts of the world. In turn these curators might show Irish artists work in America or elsewhere.
“So many Irish artists find it hard to get their work shown internationally and I suppose we are a big exporter of arts by emerging Irish artists.
“We got a lot of good press when we were in America and we also did a lot of shows in London and around Europe, so I think that we have supported Irish artists in their efforts to get their work seen by people who might never have seen it otherwise,
? she added.
MART is also seeking donations from the public to help it raise the e3,000 it needs to open the old fire station. It is trying to raise money to buy a fire certificate, as well the cost of the installation of electrical wiring at the building.
In order to raise the funds MART recently offered awards based on the amount donated. The awards included an original art work from one of centre’s artists, as well as the opportunity to hold an art exhibition at the centre for five days.
Anyone who wants to donate to the opening of the centre or who wants learn more about MART can log on to www.mart.ie