1,000 signatures reached
To: Michael Martin, Simon Harris, Dublin City Council, An Post, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael
The Irish Academy of Fine Arts, at the GPO
This is the proposal to establish an Irish Academy of Fine arts, and house it in the GPO on O'Connell Street, in Dublin.
This is to be third level institution that will offer proper training to artists, focussing on basic transferrable skills, original thought, and the principles of beauty. Similar academies in other other cities in Europe, such as The Royal Academy in London, the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, the Repin Academy in St. Peterburg, the Royal Academy in Stockholm, are landmark institutions in landmark buildings, of which those cities are rightfully proud. We have a unique opportunity to establish one of our own.
This is to be third level institution that will offer proper training to artists, focussing on basic transferrable skills, original thought, and the principles of beauty. Similar academies in other other cities in Europe, such as The Royal Academy in London, the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, the Repin Academy in St. Peterburg, the Royal Academy in Stockholm, are landmark institutions in landmark buildings, of which those cities are rightfully proud. We have a unique opportunity to establish one of our own.
Why do we need an Academy? In Ireland, the current standard of Fine Art education is very low, to the detriment of individual graduates, and society at large. Basic skills are completely ignored, as are the principles of beauty, and students often emerge with an absurdly skewed view of what art actually is. Over the last three generations, art education has been undermined by a contemporary art ethos that champions skill-lessness, self indulgence and the wanton consumption of resources, and is now closer to a process of indoctrination than a process of training. The current model of art education is failing many of us, and we need a new one. An Academy of Fine arts would give us that.
An Academy could be established with a relatively small initial investment, that would pay itself off many, many times over for generations to come. It would bring life and colour to O'Connell Street. It would be a uniquely Irish institution, enriching and strengthening our culture on behalf of everyone who lives in Ireland.
Why is this important?
If we were to establish an academy and house it in the GPO, it would kill three very significant birds with one stone: Firstly, it would revolutionise art education in Ireland, and a revolution is what's needed. Secondly, it would give us an institution that would be a rallying point for our national pride and our national identity. And thirdly, it would be a catalyst for the regeneration of that part of the north inner city, which as you know, has been sorely neglected.
The establishment of an Academy in the GPO would also honour the memories of the men and women of 1916, and be in alignment with the ethos of the Rising, known as the Poet's Rebellion. The GPO is the building our nation was born in, it should not be used for shops and offices as the government are currently proposing, we can do much, much better.
The establishment of an Academy in the GPO would also honour the memories of the men and women of 1916, and be in alignment with the ethos of the Rising, known as the Poet's Rebellion. The GPO is the building our nation was born in, it should not be used for shops and offices as the government are currently proposing, we can do much, much better.