Madam, - I am writing to register my disappointment and shock at the Bank of Ireland's decision to close its Arts Centre in Foster Place, Dublin.
Its decision is short-sighted. If another sector of the bank was, relatively speaking, performing as well as the Arts Centre is, it would be expanded rather than shut down.
Furthermore, the bank has not published details of how exactly it will re-allocate the funding it has been giving to the arts centre. It says it will use the same funding for different ways of "giving back to the community" from which it makes its money. However, until the bank publishes these details, or at least come up with a satisfactory reason for shutting down this vibrant hub of culture in the city centre, we have no choice other than to assume that the decision was motivated by corporate greed. - Yours, etc,
LYDIA MURTAGH, Ulverton Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Deirdre Falvey, writing about the closure of the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre (Artscape, April 15th) lamentably makes no mention of the wonderful and long-running series of readings, "Out to Lunch", organised selflessly by writer John McNamee. This is surprising, as the fate of these readings formed the core of a debate on RTÉ's Liveline involving myself and Poetry Ireland's Joseph Woods earlier in the week.
It is vital, and the right thing, to give honour where it is due, and it is inconceivable that mention of the centre's closing should exclude any reference to these readings, which served as a platform for so many writers, known and unknown, for so many years. I suggest that whoever is ultimately responsible for the building should seek to accommodate the readings elsewhere. - Yours, etc,
FRED JOHNSTON, Carn Ard, Circular Road, Galway.