Cork's nomination as European City of Culture 2005 offers an extraordinary opportunity for commissioning and developing public art in an urban context.
The director of the National Sculpture Factory in Cork, Ms Mary McCarthy, said interesting times were ahead for Cork with both the City of Culture and the development of the docklands project to look forward to in the coming years.
"We are very excited about the docklands project but it is important that it be linked to the city centre itself. We need to make sure the design and architecture fits in with its surroundings."
The docklands on either side of the Lee will be transformed over the next few years to include 6,000 homes, apartments, retail and office space, culture and leisure facilities, and part of the UCC campus.
Ms McCarthy said artists should play a key consultancy role in the City of Culture and Dockland projects. "Cities are very often defined by their cultural vibrancy and I think this is a particularly crucial time for Cork. We are hoping to create more of an awareness of the cultural sector and how it can contribute to these projects."
The National Sculpture Factory was set up in 1989 at Albert Road. It was to meet a need for a large-scale, well equipped studio space where artists could work in a safe, flexible environment.
Artists in the NSF retain control over their work, but have access to the skills of a technician if they need help with technical processes.
The factory provides a range of equipment not normally available in the studio. It has a resource area, to enable artists to review and view other artists' work.