COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF ARTS-CULTURE- GAEILGE-EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES SPC
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
HEADED ITEM NO.
HEADED ITEM: A. Reilly
1916 Commemoration - Summary to date
REPORT:
At the last meeting of the Strategic Policy Committee the following report was discussed:
"The following report was made to the December 2012 meeting of the Council:
"It is the practice of South Dublin County Council to pursue public art programming that encourages innovation and diversity across all artistic disciplines and art forms, of both temporary and permanent works of contemporary art, while valuing the aspirations of local communities. The Council, through the Arts Office follows models of best commissioning practice as provided by the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht particularly with regard to open national competition to identify proposals that will ensure quality, innovation, creativity and diversity. Outside of this programme, the Arts Office acts as advisor to schools, community and special interest groups regarding the commissioning of artwork. The County's Library Services have indicated that the county's rich archive of local history would be available to inform the commissioning context.
As far as the Arts Office is aware, no national or regional programme fund for the commemoration has been announced as yet. The Arts Office will investigate possible sources of funding and assist in an application made by a local special interest group."
Subsequently as part of a motion put before the Council at its June 2103 meeting the following was included in the report:
"With regard to commissioning a commemorative piece of art/sculpture and this being located in Tallaght Village as discussed at the December Council meeting http://intranet/cmas/documentsedit.aspx?id=34237&itemTxt=H-I1, no funding has been made available to date. The Arts Office will assist should such a source of funding arise and assist in an application made by a local special interest group at an agreed specified location. In the interests of advancing the matter as a countywide project it is considered that a report on the options on how a project could be commissioned should be considered by the Arts, Culture, Gaeilge, Education and Libraries SPC."
The following report is made to today's meeting of the Strategic Policy Committee:
South Dublin County has direct and visible connections to the leadership of the 1916 Rising through Patrick Pearse, Commandant-General of the Army of the Irish Republic and President of the Provisional Government, as appointed by the Military Council in April 1916.
There are two pieces of commemorative art to Patrick Pearse, which are found in the County in the grounds of the Pearse Museum, where the legacy of Patrick Pearse and his brother and fellow revolutionary William, has been maintained by the State for public and educational purposes since 1979.
The earlier sculptural piece Patrick Pearse by John Behan, Irish sculptor of international significance, is a bronze piece which was commissioned for the opening of the Pearse Museum in 1979.
The second piece Deartháireacha (Brothers) by Liam O'Neill was installed and unveiled in 2002. It was dedicated to the memory of the two Pearse brothers. The abstract sculpture was carved from twin trunks coming from a single root.
With regard to the proposal to commission a commemorative piece of art/sculpture as discussed at both the December and June Council meetings, the status remains the same and no funding has been made available by the state to date to support a commemorative programme.
A conservative estimate of the budget that would be required for the commissioning of a traditional bronze sculpture, its fabrication and installation would be approximately €70,000 +. Other materials such as stone may be less expensive. It is likely that should government funding become available for 1916 commemorative programmes that 100% of the cost of a project would not be provided as was the case with the Robert Emmet Centenary. Local fundraising would be required and/or a commemorative project budget put in place by the Council between now and 2015, otherwise a commission may not be feasible. A recommendation on the location for any piece would also have to be considered by the SPC.
Alternative to a sculptural work the Council might consider other artforms such as a commemorative piece for music for concert or marching bands across the county which would be performed as part of a concert in 2016, thereby ensuring countywide participation in the commemoration. "
Following discussion the Committee AGREED that a policy document would be prepared for further consideration by the Committee which would set parameters for considering issues such as budget options, suitability of locations and alternative artistic commissions. It was also agreed that the Library Service would prepare a report on a context for the celebration of the centenary and that this report would be presented to today's meeting of the Committee. This report is now attached for discussion.