Kildare County Council Arts Service

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Architecture

‘Heneghan Peng's Aras Chill Dara, which has sloping glass walls, is architecture with a capital A’
Frank McDonald, Environment Editor

Recent capital projects by the local authority, particularly housing developments and the Aras Chill Dara building, are statements by Kildare County Council of their commitment to creating buildings of significance. 

The consideration of ‘Space’ as a concept - public space, alternatives spaces for making art and displaying art and raising the profile of Architecture as an art form, through critical debate, commissions, competitions and exhibitions will inform future work in this field.

Guiding policy
Aras Chill Dara, Naas, is a monumental statement by Kildare County Council to ‘lead by example’ in the field of architecture.  Through such work, Kildare County Council intends to strengthen visual culture, to increase public awareness and understanding and to aim for to architectural excellence.

Exploring and broadening definitions of the arts
Kildare County Council aim to raise public awareness and to create debate around the Built Environment, and Architecture as an art form

Redefining ways of working
The Architecture as Art form projects for Kildare County Council shall be managed under the supervision of the Kildare County Arts Officer
Encourage the use of architectural competition as a means for commissioning work
Encourage meaningful collaboration between architects and artists, particularly in relation to Per Cent for Art schemes

Documenting the arts
With Kildare County Council Architects Department, develop an interpretive service to include an on-line archive and database of significant architecture in the county
Document the presentations and discussions on Architecture within the Critical Debate series

Promoting best practice
Encourage higher design standards for arts buildings in County Kildare
Initiate an Architect in Education programme
Initiate an annual architectural touring exhibition programme in Aras Chill Dara

Commissioning new work
Examine the feasibility of hosting a Student Architecture competition

Capacity building in the arts
Provide opportunities for the sharing of information and ideas between Visual artists in the County and Architects
Provide professional development opportunities for architects regarding the potential of Public Art commissions

Development of arts infrastructure
Carry out an audit of existing buildings and upcoming developments, in terms of potential arts facilities in the county.