12.3 - Challenges

The nature of cities and their role in attracting those interested both in creating art and cultural experiences and those who wish to engage and participate, is one of the key parts of making Cities great places; but it can also create pressures. The impact of both local gentrification and City wide economic growth, creates demand for spaces and raises the cost of land. This can have negative impacts on the affordability to live in the city for those in the creative arts and also in relation to affordability and accessibly to larger type spaces needed to undertake art and cultural expression.

The interaction of land use policy and culture is a challenge to many modern cities as they grow and there is no single approach that best addresses this matter. The City Council does have a role in addressing these competing pressures, including through the provisions of the development plan.

As Dublin continues to grow, there is a challenge in protecting the arts and cultural assets of the city whilst allowing sustainable growth; and in expanding the range of spaces and places available to allow the pace of cultural growth match our population growth. This challenge must be met in all parts of the city, including the regeneration of industrial lands and of older social housing complexes; in new build in the suburbs; and in addressing gaps within the existing inner and outer city suburbs to enable new facilities. All of this must be done in tandem within the densification of the city to meet the targets of the National Planning Framework and RSES.