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Minister Deenihan launches Irelands' first subsidised living spaces for artists in Limerick
· New scheme helps artists live and work in Limerick City, benefitting cultural and commercial life of city
Thursday 26th September, 2013: Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, will this evening launch the Artists' Apartments, 1-2 John's Square, Limerick.
The Artists' Apartments are subsidised living spaces designed to help artists live and work in Limerick City. The refurbishment of the Artists' Apartments at 1-2 St John's Square was supported by the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht ACCESS 11 Scheme under the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013 and Limerick City Council. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht provided funding of € 384,321 towards the refurbishment of the 8 Artist Apartments.
Speaking in advance of the launch, Minister Deenihan said: "St John's Square has a rich history as Limerick's oldest public space and is a gateway to the centre of the City. Limerick City Council has always been to the forefront in its commitment to the arts and was one of the first local authorities to jointly fund, with the Arts Council, the position of Arts Officer in 1988".
"The Artists' Apartments will make a real contribution to the creative vitality of Limerick City. They will be a vibrant presence in John’s Square, complementing both the cultural and commercial life of the city. I would like to congratulate all of the artists selected to reside in the apartments". Minister Deenihan concluded.