The process which artists must undertake to create and display art in our public spaces must be reformed and become transparent, according to Social Democrats arts spokesperson Sinéad Gibney.
Deputy Gibney said:
“The SEEN collaborative artwork project, led by Joe Caslin, recently highlighted that there is no framework for supporting, assessing, and approving public art in Dublin City Council.
“Who gets to decide what qualifies as art to be displayed in the city, and what the public gets to observe and enjoy in their day-to-day life, is a completely opaque matter.
“There is no clear process for artists to undertake when seeking permission to create or display art in public spaces. The criteria for what qualifies as appropriate artistic expression is vague, and challenging art often falls by the wayside when being considered by local authorities.
“There is total confusion when it comes to applying for street art, and artists are not adequately informed as to how they might secure permission to contribute to our cultural environment.
“Public art should not be subject to the same planning process as alterations to structures, for instance – a coherent, streamlined procedure must be implemented at local authority level so that artists know the exact conditions they must satisfy to create public works.
“In relation to Dublin City Council, there is no publicly accessible policy, guidance document or webpage which sets out explicit criteria for what is or is not a suitable installation. A policy on art in the public domain is going to be developed by the DCC Arts Office, and Social Democrats Councillors will be engaging with this process.
“Dublin’s street art is regularly relegated to construction work hoardings and electricity boxes – the City and its inhabitants deserve more than an afterthought when it comes to arts and culture on our streets.
“Art, if it is to be worthwhile, should be challenging. We must alter the way in which we view artistic expression in our towns and cities and adapt policy to allow for more vibrant public spaces.”
June 24th, 2026