Artist is picked for €84,000 Rosses Point junction work
AN ARTIST has been selected to create an €84,000 art installation for the Rosses Point junction – but concerns were raised about the way in which the commission was awarded.
The project will be funded through the Per Cent for Art Scheme – an allocation of one per cent of the cost of a publicly funded capital, infrastructural and buidling development for the commissioning of art.
The piece will be installed upon the completion of ground work on the N4-N15 Urban Improvement Scheme. Director of services Dorothy Clarke described the approved project as “an additional piece to the enhancement works and will be a feature of a pocket park.”
The commission was awarded to Eilis O’Connell, a Derry-born sculptor based in Cork.
“Eilis O’Connell has been awarded the commission to create a landmark sculpture. The design proposals are well under way and the timescale for completion and deivery is the end of 2021, but with recent Covid-19 restrictions this will likely be pushed back. It will be installed when ground works are completed and the site has been landscaped.”
Dorothy Clarke went on to say the number of capital developments in Sligo means there will be funding for public art works which likely prompt the formation of a public art steering committee.
“€84,000 is available for this piece which will be very significant and visible at that junction. During the quarter one of 2021, there will be a proposal to members to re-instate a new public art programme for Sligo. Capital funding in recent years means there is increased amount of per cent for art funding.”
Cllr Sinead Maguire welcomed the project, but stated that a public steering committee had been discussed at a previous meeting and no meeting had to taken place to date.
Cllr Arthur Gibbons said the piece would make a fine addition to the junction and also praised the workers on site who, despite coming in for criticism, also deserve credit where it is due.
“I am in full support of any work that enhances that junction. The work gone in has been a credit to all involved, it is all taking shape. There has been criticism through frustration, but the condition that junction was left over Christmas has to be commended, it showed us the shape it is taking.”
Cllr Declan Bree queried whether there was a competitive element to the awarding of the commission.
Dorothy Clarke responded by stating that the Per Cent for Art Scheme allows for an artist to be directly awarded the project where tight time constraints exist.
“The scheme allows for artists to be given projects without going to competition and we have time constraints on this. “We also have one person working in the Arts Office at present with a busy schedule and a local competition would increase a heavy workload at this time.”
Cllr Bree said he had trouble in understanding why awarding without such a process is allowed. He also mentioned being elected to a public art committee in 2019 for which a meeting has not yet taken place. “In terms of council policy, can this council offer contracts to individuals without a competitive process? I want clarification because this is €84,000. What kind of signal does this send out? I am shocked. I also have to say that 20 months ago I sat in this chamber and was selected with Cllr Donal Gilroy to sit on the public art steering committee and I am waiting for a meeting of that committee to happen. We need explanations.”
Dorothy Clarke said she sought clarity on whether a direct awarding of the commissioned project was permitted and she was assured that it is. “I also asked the question of the competitive process and we were assured that with such tight deadlines, the award of a contract under this scheme is permissable and complies with criteria.”
Cllr Bree said he would like to see a proper report into the awarding of the project, warning that it could set a dangerous precedent which could render a public art steering committee irrelevant if they are not consulted on such processes.
“I am still unhappy and not sure what the time deadlines were when we were advised we were receiving this funding. We still don’t know who selected the artist. That isn’t good enough for me. That isn’t how I do business, I would like a proper report on this for our next meeting.
“We need more than two paragraphs, we are talking about precedent because if this acceptable this month, it is acceptable next month and next year. As far as I’m concerned it isn’t a way to do business.”