Project Arts Centre
Organisation
Project Arts Centre is Ireland’s leading centre for the presentation and development of contemporary art, dedicated to protecting the independent sector and nurturing the next generation of Irish artists across all forms of the performing and visual arts.
A home for contemporary arts, a producing house, a resource for artists and a critical hub, Project works with artists across all art forms to make and present extraordinary works that inspire and provoke.
Located in the heart of Dublin City, Project is home to two performance spaces (the Cube – capacity of 73-82 and the Space Upstairs, capacity of 180 – 220) and a gallery. The country’s busiest arts centre, Project hosts more than 600 events annually, as well as co-producing and touring productions as part of our Project Artist initiative.
For over five decades Project Arts Centre has been at the forefront of contemporary artistic practice in Dublin. Generations of artists and audiences have taken part in its programmes and the careers of Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, U2 and internationally renowned artists like James Coleman and Gerard Byrne were launched within these walls. Today we continue to focus on developing the artists and audiences of the future, helping to sustain Ireland’s cultural legacy.
Image Credit: Ros Kavanagh
When Project was founded in 1966 as Project 67, the founders came together with the philosophy that a creative person is capable of managing their own affairs. Project was an organisation set up, managed and governed by artists. At a time when art was largely created in established institutions Project focused on the artist, providing a place for independence, and space for artists whose work challenged the status quo.
Established during a time of great change in our country and across the world, looking to the future is embedded in our DNA. Over the years Project has always reflected these values, whether embracing the punk movement, presenting edgy contemporary performance or confounding audiences’ ideas of what constitutes an exhibition. We are proud of this legacy but it is not a history that lies heavy on our shoulders; it is a history of reinvention, of evolution, of looking to the future and of change – and that is what we will continue to do.
