Sir, - I appreciate the mention that Arthouse received in your report of the recent AAI awards (February 27th). Shay Cleary Architects designed a wonderful contemporary building to a complex evolving brief. Versatility and attention to the technical infrastructure were key requisites.
Arthouse is the first purpose-built, multimedia centre for the arts in the world. The challenge was huge in both the development of the brief and the design of the building, as there were no role models on which to work. Its architectural merit is not only that it is a beautiful building, but that it functions in practice to the best aspirations of its users.
It's unfortunate that the assessors had some doubts about what goes on in Arthouse. Frank McDonald suggests that this may have mitigated against the building winning an award. But in addition to promoting and advertising our facilities and artistic programme in artists' newsletters, magazines, broadsheets, on the Internet and prominently in our front window, Arthouse has, since we opened, been running weekly tours and regular Open Days. Many of our free talks, presentations, and seminars introducing artists to the creative use of the computer and telecommunication tools are regularly listed in The Irish Times.
Arthouse covers the full cycle of training, production, exhibition and promotion for the arts, harnessing technology to create and communicate. Apart from housing the Internet cafe, it also has a state-of-the-art training facility, a production unit and a public library that has developed Artifact, a visual database. Artifact contains over 3,500 images representing the work of 650 contemporary Irish artists. Arthouse has a ground-floor exhibition space and a large basement studio and event space.
The artistic programme has many opportunities for artists. It is currently supporting 35 artists under its annual "Call for Proposals' for new work. Arthouse also curates special projects. It is interesting that Dorothy Cross, an assessor on the AAI panel of adjudicators, is one of a number of artists currently working on the project "Digital Dimensions". This provides a fully supported training, production and exhibition opportunity to explore and utilise computer tools to create new work.
If Irish culture is to take its place in the Information Society, then it is critical that Irish artists open themselves to explore and harness the creative potential of new media. If anyone wishes to see beyond the front of Arthouse, please phone (01-6056800) for details of the weekly tour. - Yours, etc.,
Director, Arthouse,
Temple Bar Dublin 2.