Fire Station Artists‘ Studios

Fire Station Artists’ Studios offers residencies to international visual artists for 1 to 3 months. These ‘short term’ residencies aim to support artists with a clear and developed rationale, e.g. an exhibition or commission opportunity in Ireland; links made with Irish curators, galleries or other artists in Ireland. In 2014 Fire Station Artists’ Studios have introduced an additional residency scheme, inviting international curators to apply for short-term flexible residencies(from 3 days to 4 weeks) in 2014-15. The aim of this residency programme is to provide opportunities for international curators to familiarise themselves with the Irish visual art scene, undergo research and make connections.

Fire Station Artists’ Studios are located in the city centre of Dublin, within walking distance of all major tourist sites and transport hubs. The neighbourhood is safe and subject to regeneration projects that involve the variety of communities living in Dublin’s north inner-city.
Fire Station cannot provide an allowance to artists. Studio spaces and facilities are subsidised but rent has to be paid; long-term redisencies cost from €411 per month and short-term residencies cost from €130 per month. The organisation will offer support in whatever way possible to get grant aid. Light, heat and internet are covered in the rental charges. Only the international curator residency offers a free combined live and work studio, a €200 award towards travel and structured support.

All of the studios come furnished with household basics: bed, sofa, kitchen table and chairs and household utensils and bed linen. Access to all of the centre’s facilities is for free or at a subsidized rental cost. The Fire Station Artists’ Studios was established in 1993 to provide support for professional visual artists. Fire Station provides subsidised combined living and working studios for 10 Irish and international artists, large scale sculpture workshop facilities and training opportunities for artists. All residencies at Fire Station – both short-term and long-term – are self-directed. There are some communal spaces and occasional social events are organised, however the emphasis is on self-directed research and practice.