Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
619. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has examined any proposals to facilitate, on a national basis, the use of vacant retail premises by exhibiting artists based on successful schemes such as Space Invaders in County Galway which uses empty retail units to support local artists. [13608/16]
View answerI am aware and supportive of the use of vacant premises by artists and arts organisation and I understand that a number of such buildings are currently being utilised by arts organisation across the country. No particular proposals for a nationwide approach have been put to my Department and, in general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers and the owners of vacant buildings are best suited to respond to the specific local circumstances involved.
