Refurb work at Number 12 East Essex Street

From this Saturday January 30^th the ground floor space here at 12 East Essex Street (formerly the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre) will close so that we can refurbish the space and re-open as a new multi-use venue in April.

We have decided to change the way we use the space so that it makes a better contribution to the Cultural Quarter. There are a number of stages involved in creating our planned multi-use space in what was formerly the Information Centre. 

This new space will be the venue for TBCT’s new programme of audience engagement events throughout the year, as well as providing box-office, ticketing and event information facilities.  This new space will be available for rent and full details for enquiries will be available on our website from March.

The No Grants Gallery will continue to operate here at 12 East Essex Street hosting visual artists of all disciplines along with expanding its current remit to be socially inclusive of all visual artist groups and communities.

We will launch our full programme of events for 2010 in February and look forward to seeing you on the streets and spaces of Temple Bar this year.

“The Hybrids” – Bartosz Kolata Exhibition opens tomorrow at NGG (No Grants Gallery)

Temple Bar Cultural Trust are delighted to present our next art exhibition taking place at the No Grants Gallery at the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. This exhibition will run from 12th-26th January.

Bartosz Kolata was born in 1979 in Torun, Poland. In 2006 he graduated Art Conservation and Restoration at Nicolaus Copernicus University UMK with Master of Art Degree. Since 2005 he lives in Dublin.

Speaking about his upcoming exhibition ‘The Hybirds’ Bartosz said “A human being is a creature between the angel and the beast and all his life he redesigns himself to find his own way to become one of them. The closer you are to your goal the more likely it is that you are what you reject.

Youth and beauty are the most desired values of the XXI century. This exhibition is showing the board which went beyond a limit. Amid pressures to be beautiful in our personal and professional life, the plastic surgery seems to be the easiest and the best option. People want to look young, rather than different, to have the face it their mind’s eye, not the one in the mirror. Reaching the goal without any wariness. The desire became an obsession, beauty and naturalness changed into the monstrosity.

They transformed themselves into the hybrids, lost somewhere between their dreams and reality, with unnatural wince. The metamorphosis is a grotesque. But still fascinating.”

Opening Night Thursday 14^th January at 6pm – admission free

“Ponta da Vista – Point of View” – Association Punho Forte Ireland Exhibition now open at NGG (No Grants Gallery)

Brought to you by Association Punho Forte Ireland, an Irish organisation that works to support social innovation in favela communities in the city of Itacare in Bahia, Northern Brazil. Established in 2008 Association Punho Forte Ireland provides financial and technical support to two small community projects in the city of Itacare. Working with children from disadvantaged communities they provide a collection of educational, sporting and cultural activities.

This exhibition running from 14th December – 7th January 2010 is a result of a children’s photography workshop. All photos were taken by children aged 5 -15 and all the proceeds go straight back into the projects. The photographs are colour prints 8×10 of various characters and scenes from the children’s neighbourhoods and combined provide a joyful and colourful look at their surroundings which through and adult’s eyes might be dark and depressing.

Opening Night Thursday 17^th December 2009

Book your day out in Temple Bar! Book lovers have lots to look forward to in Temple Bar in the coming weeks…

This evening sees the launch in the No Grants Gallery (NGG) of Nude a new collection of short stories by Nuala Ní Chonchúir to coincide with a visual arts exhibition called Naked Ambition presented by the Three Rock Art Group which open in our NGG tomorrow Thursday 26^th November and runs until 9th December. 

The launch of Nude comes hot on the heels of the opening in Temple Bar of Dublin’s newest independent bookshop, Gutter Bookshop, at Cow’s Lane in the Old City area of Temple Bar.  This bookshop sells a great range of titles and has a fantastic kids’ section, as well as stationery and gift ideas.  

Booklovers can also check out the wonderful Temple Bar Book Market every weekend on Temple Bar Square.  

Dermot McLaughlin, CEO of Temple Bar said: “Independent bookshops are essential and Temple Bar Cultural Trust welcomes the Gutter Bookshop as a new addition to Temple Bar’s book culture. Readers need more choice and the passionate people who run independent bookshops, and the booksellers at the Temple Bar Book Market, provide that extra layer of adventure and choice that readers love.  Writers need more outlets that are prepared to take risks and not succumb to commercial pressure and skewed artistic direction from accountants and bankers. Dublin prides itself as a city of literature.  That means a city where writers and readers are cherished and supported and Temple Bar is a great place for this.”

So if you’re thinking of giving the gift of reading this Christmas then the literary offering in Temple Bar is well worth a look!

 NGG is located at the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre at 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Chocolate inspired visual arts exhibition opens tomorrow at NGG (No Grants Gallery)

“Come with me and you’ll see a world of pure imagination” – Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, 1971

Featuring up to 30 of Ireland’s up and coming artists, this is an exhibition of paintings, textile art, sculpture, written-word and video installation that are inspired by, and in some instances made by chocolate!

This exhibition is being opened by Master Chocolatier Dirk Schonkeren, of Helena Chocolates, who has been appointed Ireland’s Chocolate Ambassador. Dirk is one of just 70 chocolate Ambassadors worldwide and is the first Chocolatier in Ireland to receive this honour.

Venue: Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Date: Opening 22nd October – ending 3rd November
Tickets: FREE – No ticket/booking required

This event is brought to you by Temple Bar Cultural Trust as part of the Temple Bar Chocolate Festival.