The Irish Aerial Creation Centre are leading the development of an Arts Cluster in Limerick. Currently we are recruiting artists to relocate to Limerick to benefit from employment offered by the company on a full time and part time basis. We have recruited a rigger, four teachers and a performer to date and continue to develop the sector. We aim to develop a fully flegged cluster with a range of collaborations in a wide variety of disciplines. Our goal is to create an arts centre in the city centre of significant scale to occupy a city block. We are currently consulting with local and national government and agencies, potential partners and funders to develop a project of scale which will showcase and develop the arts sector in Limerick to become a world leader with cutting edge facilities. Current project partners include the University of Limerick and Technical University of the Shannon. This will bring together all organisations in a single campus where creativity will soar and lead to incredible results while the city becomes identified as a world renowned centre for the arts, collaboration and education.

THE VENUE – Limerick Art’s Hub and performance space.

The concept of this development is to enable all types of performance to take place and collaborate in a creative atmosphere, working with the local community combining the professional and amateur alike.

The Vision

The VENUE will provide adaptable performance spaces capable of hosting performances from 250 to 3000. Staging will be flexible to cater for any performing show, opera or concert. The VENUE will have the capability of hosting more than one event. It will also provide lecture and performance spaces for educational institutions, and host the arts departments of a number of the local third level colleges. Studios and a media centre.

The VENUE will become a platform of lifelong learning, creative production, cutting edge performance, participation, celebration, cultural and artistic expression which is innovative and very ambitious.

So what will the VENUE be capable of?

Hosting concerts for 3,000 people. The outer shell will be capable of moving to provide large indoor venues and the flexibility to become a plaza when not in use.

Based on a design akin to the SHED in New York and the Holland Performing Arts Centre in Omaha, Nebraska, this will provide a fully adaptable black box solution.

Having at least four theatre seated spaces over four floors.

Multiple scale theatres and studios which are empty box spaces.

Being the home to many local performers and companies.

Hosting events, exhibitions, spectacles, festivals, education, community and voluntary events, courses, dance studios, classes and rehearsal spaces, recording and production facilities, catering school and accommodation for users, leaseholders, students and visitors.

Basement access for trucking and parking over one or two floors.

Offices and studios for a host of local, regional and national arts organisations.

Hosting the Irish Aerial Creation Centre and Fidget Feet with the required space as per their feasibility study.

Next Steps

Stakeholder Consultation

Business Model Development

Create cluster to foster creativity collaboration development and appreciation of the arts

Principals

Create a sense of discovery and learning

Maintain affordability and enhance sustainability

Enhance collaboration and creativity

Develop role as creative hub for professionals and the community

Maximise strategic partnerships

Mission

A welcoming destination where artists, arts organisations and the community come together to explore, create, perform, entertain and be inspired.

The Plan

The VENUE will develop a strategic plan to become sustainable following capital development. The capital spend will be in the order of €75 - €150 million.

The VENUE will be a flagship national attraction. It will create a hub of creativity and performance in the Mid-West.

The VENUE will be the nucleus of an Arts Campus which will include Third Level education facilities, Student Accommodation, commercial space, office space, parking, retail and hospitality.

Selecting the Site

Feasibility study and master plan

Cleeves or Colbert Quarter

Develop artist renderings of the completed building and campus

The Shed New York

This is an example of the building type.

The Shed, New York

Its scale, function and capability

https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/industry/architectural-details-the-shed-at-hudson-yards/

Schools and Youth

The city council needs to support the arts office to expand and develop a strong program which should be led by a schools and youth arts officer. Using the Danish model Limerick can pilot the development of the arts in schools while making better use of financial resources and creating much improved arts engagement across all age groups leading to the expansion of a strong professional cluster in the city.

Here are a couple of links that you might find useful:

TISS: https://www.theatreinschoolsscotland.co.uk/

Aprilfest: https://www.info.aprilfestival.dk/

This allows the schools and youth groups to lead while the funding is managed and reported by them resulting in greater growth and participation across the sector. The Schools and Youth Arts officer would be tasked with the development of the schools festival and attracting artists and performance companies to participate while informing schools and getting them to engage. While the Creative schools program is in existence the schools find it very cumbersome and artists funding is too small to make any significant difference.

Local Economic and Community Plan for Limerick City and County 2023-2028 - Submissions

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