As plans for a Ben Dunne art warehouse in Dublin 12 are lodged with Dublin City Council, the former supermarket tycoon-turned-fitness centre entrepreneur has revealed further plans for a money-back guarantee to his new art customers if they are not satisfied with what they have bought.
Dunne is seeking permission for a change of use of a 650sq m (7,000sq ft) former cricket pavilion into an art warehouse on the grounds of his Carlisle health and fitness centre in Kimmage, Dublin 12.
The planning application comes just a month after Dunne announced his intention to "open up" the closed shop of the Irish art world by charging artists just 25 per cent commission on sale price, compared to the 50 per cent usually charged by galleries.
His plans to bring the low-cost model to the world of art galleries will involve much lower commission rates and also allowing buyers to return a work of art within six months if they are not happy with it, he said.
Dunne, who has a "deep interest in Irish art", hopes that the opening of an art warehouse will encourage more people to buy art and help young artists.
"Because there are only 139 art galleries in Ireland a lot of artists can't get exposure," he says. It is only the odd artist who exhibits outdoors at Merrion Square who gets to exhibit in a gallery, he added.
Since he announced his plans for a low-cost gallery hundreds of artists have written to him asking if they could exhibit in his new space, he said. Galleries outside of Dublin have also been in contact saying they would like a place to exhibit in the capital. Plans for the gallery, designed by McDonnell and Dixon architects, will see the 1940s clubhouse significantly refurbished, although the footprint of the scheme will remain the same.
The proposed building will be of contemporary design with elements of glazing giving a transparent effect. Traditional brick from the old building will be included and a tiled pitched roof will be added. The building will look out onto a landscaped sculpture courtyard. The building will incorporate the art gallery, a coffee area and administration space.
If the low-cost gallery model works, he intends to open a chain of art warehouses in Ireland, he said.
