Project Arts Centre

Project Arts Centre is Ireland’s leading centre for the development and presentation of contemporary art, dedicated to protecting and nurturing the next generation of Irish artists across all forms of the performing and visual arts. Annually the centre presents over 620 events and curates and co-ordinates 6 exhibitions, as well as supporting the presentation and touring of the work of 34 independent artists as part of our Project Catalyst initiative.

For four and a half decades Project Arts Centre has been at the forefront of contemporary artistic practice. Generations of artists and audiences have taken part in its programmes and we have helped to launch the careers of many Irish artists including Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Jim Sheridan, U2 and have exhibited the work of internationally renowned artists like James Coleman and Gerard Byrne and remains committed to supporting and developing the artists of the future.

Founded in 1967 after a successful three-week festival at the Gate Theatre in 1966, Project Arts Centre had several homes before it opened for business in a converted factory on East Essex Street in 1975. This building was demolished in 1998 and a new purpose-built space containing two auditorums, a gallery and a bar opened on the same site in 2000. Project Arts Centre has often been controversial and has sometimes had internal difficulties but throughout its history it has played an important role in the Irish arts scene. One of the companies that has had a long association with the Project is Rough Magic Theatre. The centre is also a key venue for many of the city's performing arts festivals including Dublin Dance Festival, Dublin Writers Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival and Dublin Theatre Festival.

Project Arts Centre is in Dublin's Temple Bar. Its current Artistic Director is Cian O'Brien(since 2011) and its Curator of Visual Arts is Tessa Giblin (since 2006).

External links

• Project Arts Centre's website