DUBLIN ARTS COUNCIL

Art in public places - the dublin arts council art in public places program's goal is to enhance the quality of life for dublin's residents and to strengthen the city of dublin as a destination for visitors. The collection includes both large and small visual artworks acquired through a variety of models in which dublin arts council (dac) is actively engaged, including major gifting, committee-directed projects, calls for entries and jurying, on-loan programs with an acquisition component, interactive projects, contributions to the city's interior collection and projects which define a community initiative. Dac deepens engagement with the riverboxes, a geocaching inspired public art collection, and creates a number of initiatives to engage the community in creative pursuit. In 2017, the city of dublin contract mckay lodge art conservation to appraise the collection. The value of the collection was 3.8 million at that time. The dublin art in public places program began in 1988 and has grown to more than 70 large and small-scale permanent, temporary, and interactive public art projects today. Dublin arts council maintains that public art should inspire an emotional response, provoke questions, and invite interaction while encouraging ingenuity and creative discovery by artists. The collection of public artworks distinguishes our community and creates a sense of place while contributing to dublin's aesthetic legacy. In collaboration with the city of dublin, the dublin arts council adopted its first public art master plan in march 2021. In 2024, finalist presentations for the muirfield drive public art commission were held, which resulted in the selection committee unanimously recommending artist ivan depea and his proposal, s/wing. An agreement was signed by the artist and dublin city manager in 2024. Fabrication is underway for the project at the muirfield and whittingham drive location, with an anticipated completion and public dedication in early 2026. Beginning in june 2024, dac collaborated with the city of dublin to launch its "public art speaks" program, a series of one-day events that aimed to reintroduce the permanent public art collection. Selected artworks came to life through guest speakers, art-making and engaging activities that invited viewers to revisit, reconsider and reimagine public artwork in the collection. Featured works included watch house & circle mound at coffman park, going, going... Gone at daree fields and the simulation of george m. Karrer's workshop located in historic dublin. As part of this program, dac developed a digital public art map and a series of public art educational videos. Design work was also contracted for the creation of a printed version of the map which will be available in the fall of 2025.