Dublin City Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Ruairí Ó Cuív as Public Art Manager.  Mr. Ó Cuív's role with the City Council will be to develop and manage programmes arising from existing and new Per Cent for Art commissioning opportunities.  He will support the development and implementation of policy in relation to Public Art in the city including policy on Commemorative Public Art, Gifts to The City, Temporary Public Art and opportunities arising from private development.  His contract for services as Public Art Manager is for a one year period

Jack Gilligan, City Arts Officer, welcomes the opportunity of working with Ruairí Ó Cuív. "He has enormous experience and knowledge in the area of Public Art, including the changing practices within contemporary art. I am sure he will bring great dedication and dynamism to the city's public art programme" he said.

Notes to the Editor:

Biography 

Ruairí Ó Cuív began his career as History of Art lecturer at Sligo RTC.  He co-founded Ireland’s first professional art installation and transport company in 1982.  In 1987 he was appointed curator of exhibitions at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and in 1989 at the Douglas Hyde Gallery where he curated exhibitions by Kathy Prendergast and Anselm Kiefer among others.  In 1991 he was appointed Director of Temple Bar Gallery and Studios where he was responsible for the re-development of the gallery and studios complex as well as curating exhibitions by artists such as Andrew Kearney, Grace Weir and Diana Copperwhite.  Since 1996 he has worked as an independent curator and arts consultant specialising in public art and as art advisor to building projects such as Red, South Dublin Arts Centre.  Public Art projects have included a commissioning programme for Kerry County Council in visual art, digital media, music, literature, drama and dance. He has also curated public art projects for the HSE, Department of Education and Science, and Letterkenny Institute of Technology.   His writing has been widely published in many catalogues and publications including A Review of the Per Cent for Art Scheme in Cork City, 1986-2003 published in 2006.  Mr. Ó Cuív will commence his appointment with Dublin City Council on 1st December 2008. 

Per Cent for Art Scheme

The Per Cent for Art Scheme was first introduced in Ireland in 1988 by the Department of the Environment.  Under the Scheme Local Authorities may apply for art project funding of up to 1% of construction costs of all Government funded capital projects, subject to a maximum limit of €64,000.  As well as providing familiar sculptural works throughout the country the scheme has, more recently, facilitated the commissioning of music, literature, film, video, multi-media and sound art as well as theatre, dance, opera, performance and live art.